1944 in sports

1944 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II

American football

• Green Bay Packers defeats 14-7 New York Giants in New York City for the NFL title

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League – Fitzroy wins the 48th VFL Premiership (Fitzroy 9.12 (66) d Richmond 7.9 (51))

Baseball

• May 7 – Chucho Ramos made his major league debut as first baseman and outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds. He was the third baseball player from Venezuela to play Major League Baseball.
• June 10 – 15-year old Joe Nuxhall becomes the youngest baseball player to pitch a game in major league history.
• World Series – St. Louis Cardinals defeats St. Louis Browns, 4 games to 2.
• Hall of Fame election – Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis is elected by the Hall of Fame Committee in December following his death the previous month. The long-delayed selection of at least 10 players from the 19th century is promised the following year.

Basketball

NBL Championship

• Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons win three games to none over the Sheboygan Redskins

Boxing

• August 4 – the "War Bonds Fight". $36m is raised to fund the war effort as Beau Jack wins a ten round decision over arch-rival Bob Montgomery at New York's Madison Square Garden. A few weeks later, they were both drafted on the same day by the U.S. Army.

Golf

Men's professional

• Masters Tournament - not played due to World War II
• U.S. Open - not played due to World War II
• British Open - not played due to World War II
• PGA Championship - Bob Hamilton

Men's amateur

• British Amateur - not played due to World War II
• U.S. Amateur - not played due to World War II

Women's professional

• Women's Western Open - Babe Zaharias
• Titleholders Championship - not played due to World War II

Horse racing

Steeplechases

• Cheltenham Gold Cup –
• Grand National –

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Sirius
• Canada – Queen's Plate won by
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes –
  2. Epsom Derby –
  3. St. Leger Stakes –
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Pensive
  2. Preakness Stakes – Pensive
  3. Belmont Stakes – Bounding Home

Ice hockey

• Stanley Cup – Montreal Canadiens sweep the Chicago Black Hawks in 4 straight games.

Olympic Games

1944 Winter Olympics

• The 1944 Winter Olympics, due to take place at Cortina d'Ampezzo, are cancelled due to World War II

1944 Summer Olympics

• The 1944 Summer Olympics, due to take place at London, are cancelled due to World War II

Rowing

The Boat Race

• Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is not contested due to World War II

Rugby union

• Five Nations Championship series is not contested due to World War II

Speed skating

Speed Skating World Championships

• not contested due to World War II

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – not contested
• Australian Women's Singles Championship – not contested

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – not contested
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – not contested

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – Yvon Petra (France) defeats Henri Cochet (France) — score to be ascertained
• French Women's Singles Championship – Raymonde Jones Veber (France) † details to be ascertained

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Frank Parker (USA) defeats Bill Talbert (USA) 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
• American Women's Singles Championship – Pauline Betz Addie (USA) defeats Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) 6–3, 8–6

Davis Cup

• 1944 International Lawn Tennis Challenge – not contested

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year: Byron Nelson, PGA golf
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year: Ann Curtis, Swimming