1883 in sports explained

1883 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Events

Modification of the scoring rules produces a system of four points for a touchdown, two points for kicks after touchdowns, two points for safeties, and five for field goals.

Association football

England

FA Cup final – Blackburn Olympic 2–1 Old Etonians (aet). This is the first time that the FA Cup is won by a professional team and by a team from the north of England.
Burnley FC moves to its present ground at Turf Moor and plays its first game there in February against Rawtenstall, but loses 6–3.
Bristol Rovers founded as Black Arabs FC.

Scotland

Scottish Cup final – Dumbarton 2–1 Vale of Leven (replay following 2–2 draw)^[1]

Baseball

National championship

National League v. American Association – Boston Beaneaters (NL) v. Philadelphia Athletics (AA) cancelled

Events

The NL, AA, and Northwestern League limit competition in the Tripartite Agreement, the first National Agreement and the birth of so-called "Organised Baseball".
6 September — Chicago White Stockings set a still standing record for Major League Baseball by scoring 18 runs in a single inning (the 7th) in a game against the Detroit Wolverines.

Boxing

Events

American heavyweight champion John L. Sullivan has a scare when he is knocked down in the first round of his fight against Charley Mitchell in New York City. He recovers to secure a technical knockout when police intervene after the third round and stop the fight. Sullivan goes on tour across America, fighting mainly in exhibition bouts; none of his genuine challengers last more than three rounds.^[2]

Cricket

Events

England tours Australia to play a Test series of three matches, England winning 2–1 and so regaining The Ashes for the first time.

England

Champion County^[3] – Nottinghamshire
Most runs – Walter Read 1,573 @ 47.66 (HS 168)
Most wickets – Ted Barratt 148 @ 15.90 (BB 8–28)

Australia

Most runs – Alec Bannerman 434 @ 54.25 (HS 101*)
Most wickets – Eugene Palmer 51 @ 11.52 (BB 7–65)

Golf

Major tournaments

British Open – Willie Fernie

Horse racing

England

Australia

Melbourne Cup – Martini-Henry

Canada

Queen's Plate – Roddy Pringle

Ireland

Irish Grand National – The Gift
Irish Derby Stakes – Sylph

USA

Kentucky Derby – Leonatus
Preakness Stakes – Jacobus
Belmont Stakes – George Kinney

Ice hockey

The first Montreal Winter Carnival ice hockey tournament is held as part of the Montreal Winter Carnival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in late January and early February. It is the first championship ice hockey tournament and is won by the Montreal McGill University team.
5 March – The Ottawa Hockey Club is founded.

Luge

Events

First organised competition takes place in Davos, Switzerland

Rowing

The Boat Race

15 March — Oxford wins the 40th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

Rugby football

Home Nations Championship

The inaugural series is won by England

Other events

Foundation of Hull Kingston Rovers and Hunslet

Tennis

England

Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – William Renshaw (GB) defeats Ernest Renshaw (GB) 2–6 6–3 6–3 4–6 6–3

USA

American Men's Singles Championship – Richard D. Sears (USA) defeats James Dwight (USA) 6–2 6–0 9–7

World

The 7th pre-open era 1883 Men's Tennis tour gets underway 30 tournaments are staged this year from 24 April to 12 November.

Notes and References

Web site: Scottish Cup Past Winners Scottish Cup Scottish FA . www.scottishfa.co.uk . 5 February 2021.
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/sully.htm Cyber Boxing Zone – John L Sullivan
A semi-official seasonal title proclaimed by media consensus prior to December 1889 when the official County Championship is constituted.
Web site: Epsom Derby History, Winners, & Facts Britannica . www.britannica.com . 29 December 2021 . en.