1897 in sports

1897 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Professional championships

Western Pennsylvania champions – Greensburg Athletic Association

Association football

England

The Football League – Aston Villa 47 points, Sheffield United 36, Derby County 36, Preston North End 34, Liverpool 33, Sheffield Wednesday 31
FA Cup final – Aston Villa 3–2 Everton at Crystal Palace, London.
Aston Villa becomes the second club to complete The Double in English football

Scotland

Scottish Football League – Hearts
Scottish Cup – Rangers 5–1 Dumbarton at Hampden Park^[1]

Athletics

John J. McDermott wins the first running of the Boston Marathon, then known as the B.A.A. Road Race^[2]
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Australian rules football

VFL Premiership

Formation of Victorian Football League (now Australian Football League) with initial clubs being Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne
Essendon wins the 1st VFL Premiership (under the finals system used this year only, no Grand Final is played)

SANFL Premiership

Port Adelaide

WAFL Premiership

West Perth

Baseball

National championship

Boston Beaneaters wins the National League championship

Events

Temple Cup – Baltimore Orioles 4–1 Boston Beaneaters

Boxing

Events

17 March — Bob Fitzsimmons knocks out James J. Corbett in the 14th round to win the World Heavyweight Championship in the first championship fight ever captured on film.^[3]

Lineal world champions^[4]

World Heavyweight Championship – James J. Corbett → Bob Fitzsimmons
World Middleweight Championship – title vacant
World Welterweight Championship – Tommy Ryan
World Lightweight Championship – George "Kid" Lavigne
World Featherweight Championship – George Dixon → Solly Smith
World Bantamweight Championship – Jimmy Barry

Canadian Football

The Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union is founded
Ontario Rugby Football Union - Hamilton Tigers
Quebec Rugby Football Union - Ottawa College
There is no MRFU champion this year due to scheduling issues
Northwest Championship - St John's
Dominion Championship - Ottawa College defeats Hamilton 14-10

Cricket

Events

Two English teams toured the West Indies under A A Priestley and Lord Hawke
A Philadelphian team tours England

England

County Championship – Lancashire
Minor Counties Championship – Worcestershire
Most runs – Bobby Abel 2099 @ 44.65 (HS 250)
Most wickets – Tom Richardson 273 @ 14.45 (BB 8–49)
Wisden Five Cricketers of the Year – Frederick Bull, Willis Cuttell, Frank Druce, Gilbert Jessop, Jack Mason

Australia

Sheffield Shield – New South Wales
Most runs – Jack Lyons 404 @ 57.71 (HS 113)
Most wickets – Tom McKibbin 44 @ 14.88 (BB 8–74)

India

Bombay Presidency – Europeans

South Africa

Currie Cup – Western Province

West Indies

Inter-Colonial Tournament – Barbados

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships

World Men's Champion – Gustav Hügel (Austria)

Golf

Major tournaments

British Open – Harold Hilton
U.S. Open – Joe Lloyd

Other tournaments

British Amateur – Jack Allan
US Amateur – H. J. Whigham

Horse racing

England

Australia

Melbourne Cup – Gaulus

Canada

Queen's Plate – Ferdinand

Ireland

Irish Grand National – Breemount's Pride
Irish Derby Stakes – Wales

USA

Kentucky Derby – Typhoon II
Preakness Stakes – Paul Kauvar
Belmont Stakes – Scottish Chieftain

Ice hockey

Stanley Cup

Montreal Victorias win a 3rd Stanley Cup, defeating Ottawa.

Motor racing

Nice Speed Week

The first regular motor racing venue is Nice, France, where an annual "Speed Week" is established. To fill out the schedule, most types of racing event are invented here including the first hill climb, from Nice to La Turbie, and a sprint that has been called the forerunner of drag racing.