1944 in sports

Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II. The 1944 Summer Olympics was also cancelled due to WWII. It was going to be held in London, United Kingdom. For more visit1944 Summer Olympics.

1944 in sportsdescribes the year's events in world sport.

American football

• NFL Championship:theGreen Bay Packerswon 14–7 over theNew York Giantsat the Polo Grounds
• Army Cadets–college footballnational championship

Association football

• La Ligawon byValencia CF
• German football championshipwon byDresdner SC
• Serie A– not held due tothe conquest of Italy.^[a]
• Primeira Ligawon bySporting CP
• There is no major football competition in England, Scotland or France due to World War II. In England,several regional leaguesare played but statistics from these are not counted in players’ figures.

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League
  • July 29:North Melbourne11.21 (87) pipRichmond14.2 (86) in the only VFL/AFL match where the winning team scored three fewer goals than the loser.
  • September 30:Fitzroywins the 48thVFL PremiershipdefeatingRichmond9.12 (66) to 7.9 (51)in the Grand Final.

Baseball

• May 7 –Chucho Ramosmade his major league debut asfirst basemanandoutfielderwith the Cincinnati Reds.He was the thirdbaseballplayer fromVenezuelato playMajor League Baseball.
• June 10 – 15-year-oldJoe Nuxhallbecomes the youngestbaseballplayer to pitch a game in major league history.
• World Series–St. Louis CardinalsdefeatsSt. Louis Browns,4 games to 2.
• Negro World Series–Homestead GraysdefeatBirmingham Black Barons,4 games to 1.
• Hall of Fame election– CommissionerKenesaw Mountain Landisis 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 PistonsoverSheboygan Redskins(3–0)

Lithuania

• BC Žalgiriswas founded inKaunas(former part ofSoviet Union).

Boxing

• August 4 – the "War Bonds Fight". $36m is raised to fund the war effort asBeau Jackwins a ten-round decision over arch-rivalBob Montgomeryat New York City'sMadison Square Garden.A few weeks later, they were both drafted on the same day by theU.S. Army.

Cricket

Events

• There is nofirst-class cricketin England, Australia or South Africa due to World War II. A few first-class matches are played in the West Indies and New Zealand but are not part of any official competition.

India

• Ranji Trophy–Western IndiabeatBengalby an innings and 23 runs.
• Bombay Pentangular–Muslims

Cycling

Tour de France

• Not contested due to World War II

Giro d'Italia

• Not contested due to World War II

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships

• Not contested due to World War II

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–not held due to World War II
• Grand National–not held due to World War II

Hurdle races

• Champion Hurdle–not held due to World War II

Flat races

• Australia –Melbourne Cupwon bySirius^[b]
• Canada –King's Platewon byAcara
• France –Prix de l'Arc de Triomphewon byArdan^[c]
• Ireland –Irish Derby Stakeswon bySlide On
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes–Garden Path
  2. The Derby–Ocean Swell
  3. St. Leger Stakes–Tehran
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby–Pensive
  2. Preakness Stakes–Pensive
  3. Belmont Stakes–Bounding Home

Ice hockey

• Stanley Cup–Montreal Canadienssweepthe Chicago Black Hawksin four straight games.

Motor racing

Events

• No major races are held anywhere worldwide due to World War II

Olympic Games

1944 Winter Olympics

• The1944 Winter Olympics,due to take place atCortina d'Ampezzo,are cancelled due to World War II

1944 Summer Olympics

• The1944 Summer Olympics,due to take place at London, are cancelled due to World War II

Rowing

The Boat Race

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

Rugby league

• 1944 New Zealand rugby league season
• 1944 NSWRFL season
• 1943–44 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season/1944–45 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season

Rugby union

• Five Nations Championshipseries 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) defeatsHenri Cochet(France) —score to be ascertained
• French Women's Singles Championship–Raymonde Veber(France) †details to be ascertained

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship–Frank Parker(USA) defeatsBill Talbert(USA) 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
• American Women's Singles Championship–Pauline Betz Addie(USA) defeatsMargaret 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

Notes

^aEttore Rossi did organise a"Campionato Alta Italia"for teams fromnorthern Italy,whilst insouthern Italyonly regional competitions followed by playoffs were held.
^bOwing to government bans on weekday sport, the Melbourne Cup was run on a Saturday from 1942 to 1944.
^cThe 1944 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was run atLe Tremblayover 2,300 metres.