1948 in sports

1948 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

American football

Rose Bowl (1947 season):
- The Michigan Wolverines won 49-0 over the USC Trojans to win the college football national championship
Michigan Wolverines – college football national championship
Cleveland Browns defeated the Buffalo Bills 49–7 in the All-America Football Conference championship game.
Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chicago Cardinals 7–0 in the National Football League championship game. The game at Shibe Park was played in a blizzard.

Association football

England

First Division – Arsenal win the 1947–48 title.
FA Cup – Manchester United beat Blackpool 4–2.

33 athletics events were contested at the Olympic Games in London, including debuts for the men's 10 km walk; and the women's 200 metres, long jump and shot put. Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands captured four gold medals.

Australian rules football

Victorian Football League

Melbourne wins the 52nd VFL Premiership, drawing the 1948 VFL Grand Final with Essendon 10.9 (69) to 7.27 (69), and winning the replay 13.11 (89) to Essendon's 7.8 (50)
Brownlow Medal awarded to Bill Morris (Richmond)

South Australian National Football League

2 October – Norwood wins its twenty-first SANFL premiership, defeating West Torrens 15.16 (106) to 7.7 (49)
Magarey Medal awarded to Ron Phillips (North Adelaide)

Western Australian National Football League

9 October – South Fremantle wins its fourth premiership and second in succession, defeating West Perth 13.9 (87) to 9.9 (63)
Sandover Medal awarded to Merv McIntosh (Perth)

Baseball

January 29 – Commissioner Happy Chandler fines the Yankees, Cubs, and Phillies $500 each for signing high school players.
February 27 – Hall of Fame election – voters select the recently deceased Herb Pennock, and Pie Traynor, as the newest inductees; Traynor is the first third baseman elected by the writers in 9 elections.
August 16 – death of Babe Ruth
World Series – Cleveland Indians defeat Boston Braves, 4 games to 2.
Negro World Series – Homestead Grays defeat the Birmingham Black Barons, 4 games to 1.

Basketball

NCAA Basketball Championship

Kentucky beat Baylor 58–42

BAA (NBA) Finals

Baltimore Bullets win four games to two over the Philadelphia Warriors

NBL Championship

Minneapolis Lakers win three games to one over the Rochester Royals

Boxing

June 25 – At New York's Yankee Stadium – Joe Louis knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 11th round to retain his heavyweight title for the 25th time. Shortly after the bout, Louis announced his retirement from boxing.

Field hockey

Olympic Games (men's competition) in London, Great Britain
- Gold: India

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships
- Men's champion: Dick Button, United States
- Ladies' champion: Barbara Ann Scott, Canada
- Pair skating champions: Micheline Lannoy & Pierre Baugniet, Belgium

Golf

Men's professional

Men's amateur

British Amateur – Frank Stranahan
U.S. Amateur – Willie Turnesa

Women's professional

Ice hockey

NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – Michigan Wolverines defeat Dartmouth College Big Green 8-4 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to win the first official NCAA championship
Stanley Cup – Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings in 4 straight games to win their 5th Stanley Cup title.

Horse racing

Citation becomes the 8th horse to win the US Triple Crown
Shiela's Cottage becomes the first mare to win the Grand National since 1902 and only the twelfth since the race's inception

Steeplechases

Cheltenham Gold Cup – Cottage Rake
Grand National – Sheila's Cottage

Hurdle races

Champion Hurdle – National Spirit

Flat races

Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Rimfire (horse)
Canada – Queen's Plate won by Last Mark
France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Migoli
Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Nathoo
English Triple Crown Races:
1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – My Babu
2. Epsom Derby – My Love
3. St. Leger Stakes – Black Tarquin
United States Triple Crown Races:
1. Kentucky Derby – Citation
2. Preakness Stakes – Citation
3. Belmont Stakes – Citation

Motor racing

Indianapolis 500 – Mauri Rose wins the 32nd running in the Blue Crown Spark Plug Special Deidt–Offenhauser
21 February – following negotiations in Daytona Beach, "Big Bill" France launches NASCAR

Olympic Games

1948 Summer Olympics takes place in London, United Kingdom
- United States wins the most medals (84) and the most gold medals (38).
1948 Winter Olympics takes place in St. Moritz, Switzerland
- Norway and Sweden both win the most medals (10 each), and the most gold medals (4 each).

Radiosport

First CQ World Wide DX Contest held in October and November. This annual event would go on to become the radio contest with the largest participation worldwide.