1885 in sports
1885 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
College championship
England
- FA Cup final – Blackburn Rovers 2–0 Queen's Park (Glasgow) at The Oval
- 20 July — the Football Association legitimises professionalism
- Millwall FC founded by workers on the Isle of Dogs as Millwall Rovers.
- Southampton FC founded as Southampton St Mary’s by members of St Mary’s Church YMCA.
Scotland
- Scottish Cup final – Renton 3–1 Vale of Leven at Hampden Park (replay following 0–0 draw)
National championship
- National League v. American Association – Chicago NL ties St Louis A's, 3 games to 3 with one tie.
Events
- The Cuban Giants, composed mainly of African-American players from Philadelphia, is the first black professional baseball team on a reasonably permanent basis. It will sometimes join a league and use a regular home park but more often tour independently.
Events
- 29 August — John L. Sullivan's six round defeat of Dominick McCaffrey in Chester Park, Cincinnati, inaugurates the modern World heavyweight boxing championship under Queensberry Rules.[1] The bout is described as being "to decide the Marquess of Queensberry glove contest for the championship of the world". Sullivan will hold the title until 1892.[2]
- World Middleweight Champion Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey defeats 12 challengers during the year, most of them by knockouts.[3]
- Future World Heavyweight Champion James J. Corbett is the most successful amateur boxer on America's Pacific Coast and takes part in an exhibition bout with Dempsey.[4]
Lineal world champions[5]
- World Heavyweight Championship – John L. Sullivan
- World Middleweight Championship – Jack Nonpareil Dempsey
Events
- Nottinghamshire wins the county championship title for a third successive season
England
- Champion County[6] – Nottinghamshire
- Most runs – Walter Read 1,880 @ 44.76 (HS 163)
- Most wickets – George Lohmann 142 @ 14.36 (BB 8–18)
Australia
- Most runs – Billy Barnes 520 @ 43.33 (HS 134)
- Most wickets – Bobby Peel 35 @ 19.22 (BB 7–27)
Events
- Inaugural British Amateur Championship held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Major tournaments
Other tournaments
England
- Grand National – Roquefort
- 1,000 Guineas Stakes – Farewell
- 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Paradox
- Epsom Derby – Melton
- Epsom Oaks – Lonely
- St. Leger Stakes – Melton
Australia
- Melbourne Cup – Sheet Anchor
Canada
- Queen's Plate – Willie W.
Ireland
- Irish Grand National – Billet Doux
- Irish Derby Stakes – St. Kevin
USA
- Kentucky Derby – Joe Cotton
- Preakness Stakes – Tecumseh
- Belmont Stakes – Tyrant
Events
- 31 January — the Montreal Hockey Club defeats the McGill University 1–0 to win the 1885 Montreal Winter Carnival Ice Hockey Tournament
The Boat Race
- 28 March — Oxford wins the 42nd Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
Home Nations Championship
- The 3rd series of the Home Nations Championship is not completed
Other events
- Establishment of London Welsh RFC and Connacht Rugby
England
- Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – William Renshaw (GB) defeats Herbert Lawford (GB) 7–5 6–2 4–6 7–5
- Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Maud Watson (GB) defeats Blanche Bingley (GB) 6–1 7–5
USA
- American Men's Singles Championship – Richard D. Sears (USA) defeats Godfrey M. Brinley (USA) 6–3 4–6 6–0 6–3
America's Cup
- The New York Yacht Club retains the America's Cup as Puritan defeats British challenger Genesta, of the Royal Yacht Squadron, 2 races to 0
References
- ^ Cyber Boxing Zone – Lineal Heavyweight Champions. Retrieved on 6 June 2009. Archived 2009-06-08.
- ^ Cyber Boxing Zone – John L Sullivan. Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
- ^ Cyber Boxing Zone – Jack Nonpareil Dempsey. Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
- ^ Cyber Boxing Zone – James J Corbett. Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
- ^ "Cyber Boxing Zone". Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ A semi-official seasonal title proclaimed by media consensus prior to December 1889 when the official County Championship is constituted.