SPORTS EVENTS

1960

 

 

Alpine skiing

• The men's Olympic Gold Medal:
  • Downhill: Jean Vuarnet, France
  • Slalom: Ernst Hinterseer, Austria
  • Giant Slalom: Roger Staub, Switzerland
  • The women's Olympic Gold Medal:
  • Downhill: Heidi Biebl, West Germany
  • Slalom: Anne Heggtveit, Canada
  • Giant Slalom: Yvonne Rüegg, Switzerland
• FIS Alpine World Ski Championships:
  • Men's combined champion: Guy Perillat, France
  • Women's combined champion: Ann Heggtveit, Canada, who became the first non-European to win a world championship title in Alpine skiing.

American football

• NFL Championship: the Philadelphia Eagles won 17–13 over the Green Bay Packers at Franklin Field in Philadelphia
• Cotton Bowl (1959 season):
  • The Syracuse Orangemen won 23–17 over the Texas Longhorns to win the college football national championship
• National Football League names Pete Rozelle commissioner of the league. The league expanded to Dallas for the 1960 season and Minneapolis-St.Paul for the 1961 season. The Chicago Cardinals relocated to St. Louis.
• The American Football League (AFL) played its first season
• First black pro football placekicker: Gene Mingo (Denver Broncos, AFL)
• First Hispanic pro football quarterback: Tom Flores (Oakland Raiders, AFL)
• AFL Championship: Houston Oilers won 24–16 over the Los Angeles Chargers

Association football

• England – FA Cup – Wolverhampton Wanderers won 3–0 over Blackburn Rovers
• The Soviet Union beat Yugoslavia 2–1 to win the first European Football Championship

 

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League
  • Melbourne wins the 64th VFL Premiership to McDonalds (Melbourne 8.14 (62) d Collingwood 2.2 (14))
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to John Schultz (Footscray)

Baseball

• World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates win 4 games to 3 over the New York Yankees. The Series MVP is New York's Bobby Richardson.
• October 13 – 1960 World Series Game 7 at Forbes Field – Pittsburgh Pirates player Bill Mazeroski becomes the first person to end a World Series with a home run, and still the only player to do it in the decisive seventh game.
• The Winnipeg Goldeyes win the Northern League championship.

Basketball

NBA Finals

• Boston Celtics win four games to three over the St. Louis Hawks

Boxing

• March 16 – Flash Elorde won the world junior lightweight title with a seventh-round knockout of Harold Gomes in Quezon City, Philippines.
• June – Floyd Patterson recovered the world heavyweight title from Ingemar Johansson, becoming the first-ever boxer to do so.
• September 5 – Cassius Clay wins the gold medal in boxing at the Rome Olympic Games.

Canadian football

• Grey Cup – Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 34–9

Cycling

• Tour de France – Gastone Nencini of Italy
• Giro d'Italia – Jacques Anquetil of France

Field hockey

• Olympic Games (Men's Competition) in Rome, Italy
  • Gold Medal: Pakistan
  • Silver Medal: India
  • Bronze Medal: Spain

Figure Skating

• January 30 - US Figure Skating championship Civic Ice Arena in Seattle January 30
  • US female championship won by Carol Heiss
  • US male championship won by David Jenkins
  • The Pairs won Nancy Ludington / Ron Ludington
  • Ice dancing won Margie Ackles / Charles Phillips

Golf

Men's professional

• Masters Tournament – Arnold Palmer
• U.S. Open – Arnold Palmer
• British Open – Kel Nagle
• PGA Championship – Jay Hebert
• PGA Tour money leader – Arnold Palmer – $75,263

Men's amateur

• British Amateur – Joe Carr
• U.S. Amateur – Deane Beman

Women's professional

• Women's Western Open – Joyce Ziske
• LPGA Championship – Mickey Wright
• U.S. Women's Open – Betsy Rawls
• Titleholders Championship – Fay Crocker
• LPGA Tour money leader – Louise Suggs – $16,892

Harness racing

• United States Pacing Triple Crown races –
  • Cane Pace – Countess Adios
  • Little Brown Jug – Bullet Hanover
  • Yonkers Trot – Duke of Decatur
  • Kentucky Futurity – Elaine Rodney
• Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship –
  • Pacers: Caduceus

Horse racing

Steeple Chases

• Cheltenham Gold Cup – Pas Seul
• Grand National – Merryman II

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by
• Canada – Queen's Plate won by Victoria Park
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Puissant Chef
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Chamour
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Martial
  2. The Derby – St. Paddy
  3. St. Leger Stakes – St. Paddy
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Venetian Way
  2. Preakness Stakes – Bally Ache
  3. Belmont Stakes – Celtic Ash

Ice hockey

• The American Olympic men's ice-hockey team won the United States' first Olympic hockey gold medal with a record of 7–0–0 during the tournament.
• Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
• Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
• Stanley Cup – Montreal Canadiens win 4 games to 0 over the Toronto Maple Leafs
• World Hockey Championship
  • Men's champion: Canada defeats the United States
• NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – University of Denver Pioneers defeat Michigan Technological University Huskies 5–3 in Boston

Olympic Games

• 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome, Italy
  • USSR wins the most medals (103), and the most gold medals (43)
• 1960 Winter Olympics held in Squaw Valley, United States
  • USSR wins the most medals (21), and the most gold medals (7)
• First Paralympic Games held in Rome, Italy
  • Italy wins the most medals (80) and the most gold medals (29)
• First Winter Universiade held in Chamonix, France

Rugby union

• 66th Five Nations Championship series is shared by England and France

Swimming

• June 12 – Marianne Heemskerk from the Netherlands breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly during a meet in Leipzig, East Germany – 2:34.4.
• July 10 – US swimmer Michael Troy breaks his own world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) at a meet in Evansville, Indiana, clocking 2:15.0.
• July 23 – Thirteen days after breaking his own world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) Troy once again bettered the world's best time in that event, this time at a meet in Toledo, Ohio clocking 2:13.4.
• August 4 – Less than a month before the Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, Troy again breaks the world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course), when he clocks 2:13.2 at a meet in Detroit, Michigan.
• September 2 – Michael Troy wins the men's 200m butterfly (long course) at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy by breaking his own world record – 2:12.8.

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – Rod Laver (Australia) defeats Neale Fraser (Australia) 5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 8–6, 8–6
• Australian Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Jan Lehane O'Neill (Australia) 7–5, 6–2

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Neale Fraser (Australia) defeats Rod Laver (Australia) 6–4, 3–6, 9–7, 7–5
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Maria Bueno (Brazil) defeats Sandra Reynolds Price (South Africa) 8–6, 6–0

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) defeats Luis Ayala (Chile) 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
• French Women's Singles Championship – Darlene Hard (USA) defeats Yola Ramírez (Mexico) 6–3, 6–4

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Neale Fraser (Australia) defeats Rod Laver (Australia) 6–4, 6–4, 9–7
• American Women's Singles Championship – Darlene Hard (USA) defeats Maria Bueno (Brazil) 6–4, 10–12, 6–4

Davis Cup

• 1960 Davis Cup – Australia 4–1 Italy at White City Stadium (grass) Sydney, Australia

Volleyball

• 1960 FIVB Men's World Championship in Rio de Janeiro won by the USSR

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Rafer Johnson, Track and field
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Wilma Rudolph, Track and field

 

1961

 

American football

• NFL Championship: the Green Bay Packers won 37–0 over the New York Giants at Lambeau Field
• Rose Bowl (1960 season):
  • The Minnesota Golden Gophers lose 17–7 to the Washington Huskies; still voted national champions
• The Ohio State Buckeyes boycott a trip to the Rose Bowl the following January resulting in student protests on campus.
• AFL Championship – Houston Oilers won 10–3 over the San Diego Chargers

Association football

England

• FA Cup final – Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Leicester City. Tottenham also were division 1 champions, making them the first British club to win the double.

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League
  • August 12: Richmond becomes the only team to fail to kick a goal in a match since 1921, scoring only 0.8 (8) to St. Kilda's 12.19 (91).
  • September 23: Hawthorn wins the 65th VFL pennant and its first, beating Footscray 13.16 (94) to 7.9 (51)
  • John James wins the 34th Brownlow Medal

Bandy

• 1961 Bandy World Championship is held in Norway and won by Soviet Union.

Baseball

• The American League expands to 10 teams, adding the Los Angeles Angels and the new Washington Senators. The league schedule is expanded from 154 to 162 games.
• January 16 – Mickey Mantle becomes the highest paid player in Major League Baseball by signing a contract that will pay him $75,000 per season.
• April 11 – The former Washington Senators play their first home game in Metropolitan Stadium as the Minnesota Twins
• July 13 – In his majors debut, Milwaukee Braves outfielder Mack Jones tied a post-1900 National League record by collecting three singles and a double in his first game.
• Roger Maris hit 61 home runs during the regular season, establishing a record for the longest season. Babe Ruth's record of 60 still stood for the shorter season.
• October – World Series – New York Yankees win 4 games to 1 over the Cincinnati Reds. The series MVP is Whitey Ford of the Yankees.

Basketball

• NCAA Men's Basketball Championship –
  • Cincinnati wins 70–65 over Ohio St.
• NBA Finals –
  • Boston Celtics won 4 games to 1 over the St. Louis Hawks
• The twelfth European basketball championship, Eurobasket 1961, was won by the Soviet Union.

Boxing

• June 3 in Los Angeles – Emile Griffith knocked out Gaspar Ortega in the 12th round to retain the Welterweight Championship

Canadian football

• Grey Cup – Winnipeg Blue Bombers win 21–14 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Cycling

• August 1 – death of Adrie Voorting (aged 30), Dutch road bicycle and track cyclist
• Giro d'Italia won by Ercole Baldini of Italy
• Tour de France – Jacques Anquetil of France
• UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race – Rik Van Looy of Belgium

Figure skating

• The World Figure Skating Championships in Prague are canceled after the entire USA team of skaters, officials, leaders and chaperones are killed in a plane crash on 15 February en route to the competition.
• Among the dead are:
  • Bradley Lord (21), USA men's figure skating champion;
  • Maribel Vinson-Owen, USA women's figure skating champion and coach;
  • Maribel Yerxa Owen (20), USA women's figure skating champion;
  • Laurence Owen (16), USA women's figure skating champion.

Golf

Men's professional

• Masters Tournament – Gary Player becomes the first international golfer to win the Masters.
• U.S. Open – Gene Littler
• The Open – Arnold Palmer
• PGA Championship – Jerry Barber
• PGA Tour money leader – Gary Player – $64,540
• Ryder Cup – United States wins 14½ to 9½ over Britain in team golf.

Men's amateur

• British Amateur – Michael Bonallack
• U.S. Amateur – Jack Nicklaus

Women's professional

• Women's Western Open – Mary Lena Faulk
• LPGA Championship – Mickey Wright
• U.S. Women's Open – Mickey Wright
• Titleholders Championship – Mickey Wright
• LPGA Tour money leader – Mickey Wright – $22,236

Harness racing

• United States Pacing Triple Crown races –
  • Cane Pace – Cold Front
  • Little Brown Jug – Henry T. Adios
  • Messenger Stakes – Adios Don
• United States Trotting Triple Crown races –
  • Hambletonian – Harlan Dean
  • Yonkers Trot – Duke Rodney
  • Kentucky Futurity – Duke Rodney
• Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship –
  • Pacers: Massacre

Horse racing

Steeple Chases

• Cheltenham Gold Cup – Saffron Tartan
• Grand National – Nicolaus Silver

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Lord Fury
• Canada – Queen's Plate won by Blue Light
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Molvedo
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Your Highness
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Rockavon
  2. The Derby – Psidium
  3. St. Leger Stakes – Aurelius
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Carry Back
  2. Preakness Stakes – Carry Back
  3. Belmont Stakes – Sherluck

Ice hockey

• Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
• Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
• Stanley Cup – Chicago Black Hawks win 4 games to 2 over the Detroit Red Wings
• World Hockey Championship –
  • Men's champion: Trail Smoke Eaters from Canada
• NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – University of Denver Pioneers defeat St. Lawrence University Saints 12–2 in Denver, Colorado

Radiosport

• First European Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships held in Stockholm, Sweden. This event was the first organized international competition in the sport.

Rugby league

• 1961 New Zealand rugby league season
• 1960–61 Northern Rugby Football League season / 1961–62 Northern Rugby Football League season
• 1961 NSWRFL season

Rugby union

• 67th Five Nations Championship series is won by France

Swimming

• August 13 – USA's Becky Collins breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly (long course) during a meet in Philadelphia – 2:32.8.
• August 19 – US swimmer Carl Robie takes over the world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) from his compatriot Michael Troy at a meet in Los Angeles, clocking 2:12.6.

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – Roy Emerson (Australia) defeats Rod Laver (Australia) 1–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4
• Australian Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Jan Lehane O'Neill (Australia) 6–1, 6–4

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Rod Laver (Australia) defeats Chuck McKinley (USA) 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Angela Mortimer Barrett (Great Britain) defeats Christine Truman Janes (Great Britain) 4–6, 6–4, 7–5

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – Manuel Santana (Spain) defeats Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2
• French Women's Singles Championship – Ann Haydon (Great Britain) defeats Yola Ramírez (Mexico) 6–2, 6–1

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Roy Emerson (Australia) defeats Rod Laver (Australia) 7–5, 6–3, 6–2
• American Women's Singles Championship – Darlene Hard (USA) defeats Ann Haydon (Great Britain) 6–3, 6–4

Davis Cup

• 1961 Davis Cup – Australia 5–0 Italy at Kooyong Stadium (grass) Melbourne, Australia

Multi-sport events

• Pan Arab Games held in Casablanca, Morocco
• Second Summer Universiade held in Sofia, Bulgaria

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Roger Maris, Major League Baseball
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Wilma Rudolph, Track and field

1962

 

Alpine skiing

• FIS Alpine World Ski Championships –
  • Men's combined champion: Karl Schranz, Austria
  • Women's combined champion: Marielle Goitschel, France

American football

• NFL Championship: the Green Bay Packers won 16–7 over the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium
• Sugar Bowl (1961 season):
  • The Alabama Crimson Tide won 10–3 over the Arkansas Razorbacks to win the AP and UPI Poll national championship
• The NCAA-record consecutive stadium sellout streak began at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, which is still continuing today.
• AFL Championship – Dallas Texans won 20–17 over the Houston Oilers in double overtime

Artistic gymnastics

• World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
  • Men's all-around champion: Yuri Titov, USSR
  • Women's all-around champion: Larisa Latynina, USSR
  • Team competition champions: men's – Japan; women's – USSR

Association football

• Football World Cup in Chile – Brazil won 3–1 over Czechoslovakia

United Kingdom

• FA Cup final – Tottenham Hotspur won 3-1 versus Burnley
• Football League First Division – Ipswich Town F.C won the First Division

Europe

• European Cup – Benfica won their second European Cup 5–3 against Real Madrid

Athletics

• Seventh European Championships held from September 12 to September 16 at Belgrade
• Commonwealth Games Championships held in November at Perth, Western Australia

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League
  • Essendon wins the 66th VFL Premiership (13.12 (90) d Carlton 8.10 (58))
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to Alistair Lord (Geelong)

Baseball

• The National League expands to 10 teams, adding the Houston Colt .45's and the New York Mets. The league expanded its schedule from 154 to 162 games.
• January 23 – Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson are selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first years of eligibility.
• October: National League pennant playoff: After finishing tied for the league lead, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants played-off for the title. The Giants won the series 2 games to 1, thereby winning the National League championship.
• World Series – New York Yankees win 4 games to 3 over the San Francisco Giants. The Series MVP was Ralph Terry, New York.

Basketball

• March 2 – In Hershey, Pennsylvania, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scored 100 points against the New York Knicks, breaking several National Basketball Association records.
• NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship –
  • Cincinnati wins 71–59 over Ohio St.
• NBA Finals –
  • Boston Celtics won 4 games to 3 over the Los Angeles Lakers

Boxing

• March 24 – Emile Griffith regained the World Welterweight Championship by knocking out Benny the "Kid" Paret in the 12th round. Paret died ten days later on April 3 as a result of severe head injuries sustained in the fight.
• September 25 – Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson, two minutes and six seconds into the first round, to become World Heavyweight Champion.

Canadian football

• Grey Cup – Winnipeg Blue Bombers win 28–27 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Cycling

• Giro d'Italia won by Franco Balmamion of Italy
• Tour de France – Jacques Anquetil of France
• UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race – Jean Stablinski of France

Golf

Men's professional

• Masters Tournament – Arnold Palmer
• U.S. Open – Jack Nicklaus
• British Open – Arnold Palmer
• PGA Championship – Gary Player
• Canadian Open – Ted Kroll
• PGA Tour money leader – Arnold Palmer – $81,448

Men's amateur

• British Amateur – Richard Davies
• U.S. Amateur – Labron Harris Jr.

Horse racing

Steeple Chases

• Cheltenham Gold Cup – Mandarin
• Grand National – Kilmore

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Even Stevens
• Canadian Triple Crown:
  1. Queen's Plate – Flaming Page
  2. Prince of Wales Stakes –
  3. Breeders' Stakes –
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Soltikoff
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes –
• English Triple Crown:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Privy Councillor
  2. The Derby – Larkspur
  3. St. Leger Stakes – Hethersett
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Decidedly
  2. Preakness Stakes – Greek Money
  3. Belmont Stakes – Jaipur

Ice hockey

• Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
• Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens
• Stanley Cup – Toronto Maple Leafs won 4 games to 2 over the Chicago Black Hawks
• World Hockey Championship –
  • Men's champion: Sweden defeated Canada
• NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – Michigan Technological University Huskies defeat Clarkson University Golden Knights 7–1 in Utica, New York

Rugby league

• 1962 New Zealand rugby league season
• 1962 NSWRFL season
• 1961–62 Northern Rugby Football League season / 1962–63 Northern Rugby Football League season

Rugby union[edit]

• 68th Five Nations Championship series is won by France

Swimming

• February 20 – Australian swimming ace Kevin Berry takes over the world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) from USA's Carl Robie at a meet in Melbourne, clocking 2:12.5.
• August 11 – Carl Robie regains the world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) and betters the world's best time twice in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, clocking 2:12.4 and, eventually, 2:10.8.
• August 19 – US swimmer Sharon Finneran breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly (long course) during a meet in Chicago, Illinois – 2:31.2.
• August 25 – Sharon Finneran breaks her own world record in the women's 200m butterfly (long course) during a meet in Los Altos, California – 2:30.7.
• October 23 – Australia's Kevin Berry takes over the world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) once again, clocking 2:09.7 at a meet in Melbourne, Victoria.

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – Rod Laver (Australia) defeats Roy Emerson (Australia) 8–6, 0–6, 6–4, 6–4
• Australian Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Jan Lehane O'Neill (Australia) 6–0, 6–2

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Rod Laver (Australia) defeats Martin Mulligan (Australia) 6–2, 6–2, 6–1
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Karen Hantze Susman (USA) defeats Věra Pužejová Suková (Czechoslovakia) 6–4, 6–4

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – Rod Laver (Australia) defeats Roy Emerson (Australia) 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–2
• French Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Lesley Turner (Australia) 6–3, 3–6, 7–5

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Rod Laver (Australia) defeats Roy Emerson (Australia) 6–2, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
• American Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Darlene Hard (USA) 9–7, 6–4

Events

• Rod Laver became only the second man in tennis history to win the Grand Slam in tennis.

Davis Cup

• 1962 Davis Cup – Australia 5–0 Mexico at Milton Courts (grass) Brisbane, Australia

Volleyball

• 1962 FIVB Men's World Championship in Moscow won by the USSR

Yacht racing

• The New York Yacht Club retains the America's Cup as Weatherly defeats Australian challenger Gretel, of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, 4 races to 1; it is the first time in 81 years a country other than Great Britain has challenged for the Cup

Multi-sport events

• Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia
• 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Perth, Australia
• Central American and Caribbean Games held in Kingston, Jamaica
• Second Winter Universiade held in Villars, Switzerland

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Maury Wills, Major League Baseball
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Dawn Fraser, Swimming
• ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year: Jim Beatty, Athletics

1963

American football

• NFL Championship: the Chicago Bears won 14–10 over the New York Giants at Wrigley Field
• January 29 – First inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are announced
• September 7 – the Pro Football Hall of Fame opens in Canton, Ohio with 17 charter members.
• Rose Bowl (1962 season):
  • The Southern California Trojans won 42–37 over the Wisconsin Badgers to win the college football national championship. This is the first postseason bowl game to feature the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the country.
• AFL Eastern Division Playoff – Boston Patriots win 26–8 over the Buffalo Bills
• AFL Championship – San Diego Chargers win 51–10 over the Boston Patriots on January 5, 1964
• The Heisman Trophy – Roger Staubach, Navy
• Instant replay is used for the first time during the broadcast of the Army–Navy Game.

Association football

• FA Cup final – Manchester United won 3–1 over Leicester City
• August 24 – Founding of the German Football League – Bundesliga

Athletics

• May – Athletics at the 1963 Pan American Games held in São Paulo

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League
  • Geelong wins the 67th VFL Premiership (Geelong 15.19 (109) d Hawthorn 8.12 (60))
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to Bob Skilton (South Melbourne)

Bandy

• 1963 Bandy World Championship is held in Sweden and won by Soviet Union.

Baseball

• June 22 – Phillies center fielder Tony Gonzalez plays his 200th straight errorless game to help rookie Ray Culp beat Roger Craig and the Mets 2–0.
• World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers win 4 games to 0 over the New York Yankees. The series MVP is Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles.

Basketball

• NCAA Men's Basketball Championship –
  • Loyola (Illinois) wins 60–58 over Cincinnati
• NBA Finals –
  • Boston Celtics win 4 games to 2 over the Los Angeles Lakers
• Basketball World Championship –
  • Brazil World Champion

Boxing

• July 22 – Sonny Liston wins the Heavyweight Championship of the world by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the 1st round of their bout in Las Vegas.
• August 27 to September 7 – Pan American Games held in São Paulo, Brazil.

Canadian football

• Grey Cup – Hamilton Tiger-Cats win 21–10 over the B.C. Lions

Cycling

• Giro d'Italia won by Franco Balmamion of Italy
• Tour de France – Jacques Anquetil of France
• UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race – Benoni Beheyt of Belgium

Figure skating

• World Figure Skating Championships
  • Men's champion: Donald McPherson, Canada
  • Ladies' champion: Sjoukje Dijkstra, Netherlands
  • Pair skating champions: Marika Kilius & Hans-Jürgen Bäumler, Germany
  • Ice dancing champions: Eva Romanová & Pavel Roman, Czechoslovakia

Golf

Men's professional

• Masters Tournament – Jack Nicklaus
• U.S. Open – Julius Boros
• British Open – Bob Charles
• PGA Championship – Jack Nicklaus
• PGA Tour money leader – Arnold Palmer – $128,230
• Ryder Cup – United States wins 23 to 9 over Britain in team golf.

Men's amateur

• British Amateur – Michael Lunt
• U.S. Amateur – Deane Beman

Women's professional

• Women's Western Open – Mickey Wright
• LPGA Championship – Mickey Wright
• U.S. Women's Open – Mary Mills
• Titleholders Championship – Marilynn Smith
• LPGA Tour money leader – Mickey Wright – $31,269

Harness racing

• United States Pacing Triple Crown races –
  • Cane Pace – Meadow Skipper
  • Little Brown Jug – Overtrick
  • Messenger Stakes – Overtrick
• Speedy Scot won the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Triple Crown races –
  • Hambletonian – Speedy Scott
  • Yonkers Trot – Speedy Scott
  • Kentucky Futurity – Speedy Scott
• Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship –
  • Pacers: Cardigan Bay

Horse racing

Steeple Chases

• Cheltenham Gold Cup – Mill House
• Grand National – Ayala

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Gatum Gatum
• Canadian Triple Crown:
  1. Queen's Plate – Canberra
  2. Prince of Wales Stakes – Canberra
  3. Breeders' Stakes – Canberra
  4. Canberra becomes the country's second Triple Crown winner, and the last until 1989.
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Exbury
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Ragusa
• English Triple Crown:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Only for Life
  2. The Derby – Relko[1]
  3. St. Leger Stakes – Ragusa
• United States Triple Crown:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Chateaugay
  2. Preakness Stakes – Candy Spots
  3. Belmont Stakes – Chateaugay

Ice Hockey

• Stanley Cup – Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 1.

Radiosport

• Third Amateur Radio Direction Finding European Championship held in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Rugby league

• 1963 New Zealand rugby league season
• 1963 NSWRL season
• 1962–63 Northern Rugby Football League season / 1963–64 Northern Rugby Football League season

Rugby union

• 69th Five Nations Championship series is won by England
• New Zealand All Blacks team tours Great Britain and is defeated only once: 3–0 by Newport RFC on 30 October

Swimming

• July 27 – US swimmer Susan Pitt breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly (long course) during a meet in Philadelphia, clocking 2:29.1.

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – Roy Emerson (Australia) defeats Ken Fletcher (Australia) 6–3, 6–3, 6–1
• Australian Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Jan Lehane O'Neill (Australia) 6–2, 6–2

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Chuck McKinley (USA) defeats Fred Stolle (Australia) 9–7, 6–1, 6–4
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Billie Jean King (USA) 6–3, 6–4

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – Roy Emerson (Australia) defeats Pierre Darmon (France) 3–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
• French Women's Singles Championship – Lesley Turner (Australia) defeats Ann Haydon Jones (Great Britain) 2–6, 6–3, 7–5

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Rafael Osuna (Mexico) defeats Frank Froehling (USA) 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
• American Women's Singles Championship – Maria Bueno (Brazil) defeats Margaret Smith (Australia) 7–5, 6–4

Events

• Federation Cup – USA 2–1 Australia (inaugural event)

Davis Cup

• 1963 Davis Cup – United States 3–2 Australia at Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (grass) Adelaide, Australia

Volleyball

• Volleyball at the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo won by Brazil (both men's and women's tournaments)

Multi-sport events

• Fourth Pan American Games held in São Paulo, Brazil
• Fourth Mediterranean Games held in Naples, Italy
• Third Summer Universiade held in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Sandy Koufax (Major League Baseball)
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Mickey Wright (LPGA golf)
• ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the year: Valery Brumel (track and field)
• Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: Pete Rozelle NFL

1964

 

Alpine skiing

• Men's Olympic gold medal:
  • Downhill: Egon Zimmermann, Austria
  • Slalom: Josef Stiegler, Austria
  • Giant Slalom: François Bonlieu, France
• Women's Olympic gold medal:
  • Downhill: Christl Haas, Austria
  • Slalom: Christine Goitschel, France
  • Giant Slalom: Marielle Goitschel, France
• FIS Alpine World Ski Championships –
  • Men's combined champion: Ludwig Leitner, Germany
  • Women's combined champion: Marielle Goitschel, France

American football

• NFL Championship: the Cleveland Browns won 27–0 over the Baltimore Colts at Cleveland Stadium
• Cotton Bowl (1963 season):
  • The Texas Longhorns won 28–6 over the Navy Midshipmen to win the college football national championship
• Heisman Trophy – John Huarte QB, Notre Dame
• AFL Championship – Buffalo Bills win 20–7 over the San Diego Chargers

Association football

England

• FA Cup final – West Ham United won 3–2 over Preston North End

International

• Spain beat the Soviet Union 2–1 to win the European Championship.
• In October during the celebration of the 1964 Summer Olympics FIFA gives the right to host the Football World Cup in 1970 to Mexico.
• The 1964 Jutland Series runs from 30 March to 15 November in Denmark

Athletics

• March 6 – Tom O'Hara sets a new world record for the indoor mile run by completing it in 3 minutes and 56.4 seconds

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League
  • Melbourne wins the 68th VFL Premiership (Melbourne 8.16 (64) d Collingwood 8.12 (60))
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to Gordon Collis (Carlton)

Baseball

• February 15 – death of Ken Hubbs (22), Chicago Cubs player, in an air crash just before the season began
• April 17 – The New York Mets play their first game at brand-new Shea Stadium and lose 4–3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Willie Stargell hits the first home run in the stadium's history, a second-inning solo shot off the Mets' Jack Fisher.
• June 21 – Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a perfect game in a 6–0 victory over the New York Mets.
• World Series – St. Louis Cardinals win 4 games to 3 over the New York Yankees. The Series MVP is pitcher Bob Gibson of St. Louis.
• AL MVP – Brooks Robinson 3B, Baltimore Orioles
• NL MVP – Ken Boyer 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
• AL Rookie of the Year – Tony Oliva OF, Minnesota Twins
• NL Rookie of the Year – Dick Allen 3B, Philadelphia Phillies
• Cy Young Award – Dean Chance, Los Angeles Angels

Basketball

• NCAA Men's Basketball Championship –
  • UCLA wins 97–83 over Duke
• Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year – Gary Bradds F, Ohio State
• NBA Finals – Boston Celtics won 4 games to 1 over the San Francisco Warriors
• NBA MVP – Oscar Robertson G, Cincinnati Royals
• NBA Rookie of the Year – Jerry Lucas F, Cincinnati Royals

Boxing

• February 25 in Miami Beach, Florida – Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston by TKO in the 7th round to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
• On December 14 in Philadelphia, Joey Giardello won a 15-round decision over Rubin "Hurricane" Carter to win the World Middleweight title.

Canadian football

• Grey Cup – B.C. Lions win 34–24 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Cycling

• Giro d'Italia won by Jacques Anquetil of France
• Tour de France – Jacques Anquetil of France
• UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race – Jan Janssen of Netherlands

Field hockey

• Olympic Games (Men's Competition) in Tokyo, Japan
  • Gold Medal: India
  • Silver Medal: Pakistan
  • Bronze Medal: Australia

Figure skating

• World Figure Skating Championships
  • Men's champion: Manfred Schnelldorfer, Germany
  • Ladies' champion: Sjoukje Dijkstra, Netherlands
  • Pair skating champions: Marika Kilius & Hans-Jürgen Bäumler, Germany
  • Ice dancing champions: Eva Romanová & Pavel Roman, Czechoslovakia

Golf

Men's professional

• Masters Tournament – Arnold Palmer
• U.S. Open – Ken Venturi
• British Open – Tony Lema
• PGA Championship – Bobby Nichols
• PGA Tour money leader – Jack Nicklaus – $113,285

Men's amateur

• British Amateur – Gordon Clark
• U.S. Amateur – William C. Campbell

Women's professional

• Women's Western Open – Carol Mann
• LPGA Championship – Mary Mills
• U.S. Women's Open – Mickey Wright
• Titleholders Championship – Marilynn Smith
• LPGA Tour money leader – Mickey Wright – $29,800

Harness racing

• United States Pacing Triple Crown races –
  • Cane Pace – Race Time
  • Little Brown Jug – Vicar Hanover
  • Messenger Stakes – Race Time
• Ayres won the United States Trotting Triple Crown races –
  • Hambletonian – Ayres
  • Yonkers Trot – Ayres
  • Kentucky Futurity – Ayres
• Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship –
  • Pacers: Minuteman

Horse racing

• Northern Dancer becomes the first Canadian–bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby

Steeple Chases

• Cheltenham Gold Cup – Arkle
• Grand National – Team Spirit

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Polo Prince
• Canada – Queen's Plate won by Northern Dancer
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Prince Royal
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Santa Claus
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Baldric
  2. The Derby – Santa Claus
  3. St. Leger Stakes – Indiana
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Northern Dancer
  2. Preakness Stakes – Northern Dancer
  3. Belmont Stakes – Quadrangle

Ice hockey

• Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
• Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens
• Stanley Cup – Toronto Maple Leafs won 4–3 over the Detroit Red Wings
• World Hockey Championship –
  • Men's champion: Soviet Union defeated Sweden
• NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – University of Michigan Wolverines defeat University of Denver Pioneers 6–3 in Denver, Colorado

Lacrosse

• Guelph Mohawks win the first Castrol Cup.
• Vancouver Carlings win the Mann Cup.
• Oshawa Green Gaels win the Minto Cup.

Rugby league

• 1964 New Zealand rugby league season
• 1964 NSWRFL season
• 1963–64 Northern Rugby Football League season / 1964–65 Northern Rugby Football League season

Rugby union

• 70th Five Nations Championship series is shared by Scotland and Wales

Snooker

• The World Snooker Championship is revived in a challenge format:
  • John Pulman beats Fred Davis 19-16
  • John Pulman beats Rex Williams 40-33

Swimming

• February 29 – in Sydney, Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser sets a new world record in the women's 100m freestyle (long course) competition: 58.9 seconds.
• March 29 – Australia's Kevin Berry sets a new world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) at a meet in Sydney, clocking 2:06.9.
• July 12 – US swimmer Sharon Stouder breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly (long course) with one second, during a meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, clocking 2:28.1.
• August 2 – Sharon Stouder once again breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly (long course), this time in Los Altos, California, clocking 2:26.4.
• October 18 – Kevin Berry breaks his own world record in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) on the last day of the swimming competition at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, with a time of 2:06.6.

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – Roy Emerson (Australia) defeats Fred Stolle (Australia) 6–3, 6–4, 6–2
• Australian Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Smith Court (Australia) defeats Lesley Turner Bowrey (Australia) 6–3, 6–2

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – Manuel Santana (Spain) defeats Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) 6–3, 6–1, 4–6, 7–5
• French Women's Singles Championship – Margaret Court (Australia) defeats Maria Bueno (Brazil) 5–7, 6–1, 6–2

UK

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Roy Emerson (Australia) defeats Fred Stolle (Australia) 6–4, 12–10, 4–6, 6–3
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Maria Bueno (Brazil) defeats Margaret Smith Court (Australia) 6–4, 7–9, 6–3

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Roy Emerson (Australia) defeats Fred Stolle (Australia) in straight sets 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
• American Women's Singles Championship – Maria Bueno (Brazil) defeats Carole Caldwell Graebner (USA) in straight sets 6–1, 6–0

Davis Cup

• 1964 Davis Cup – Australia 3–2 United States at Harold Clark Courts (clay) Cleveland, United States

Volleyball

• Volleyball at the 1964 Summer Olympics won by USSR (men) and Japan (women)

Yacht racing

• The New York Yacht Club retains the America's Cup as Constellation defeats British challenger Sovereign, of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, 4 races to 0

Multi-sport events

• 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan
  • United States wins the most gold medals (36) but the Soviet Union wins the most overall medals (96).
  • This Olympic opening ceremony is the first time a live Olympic telecast program by geostationary communication satellite.
• 1964 Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria
  • USSR won the most medals (25), and the most gold medals (11).
• Third Winter Universiade held in Špindlerův Mlýn, Czechoslovakia

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Don Schollander, Swimming
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Mickey Wright, LPGA golf
• ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year: Don Schollander, Swimming
• Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year – Ken Venturi – Golf