- Mar 3 31st Grand National: George Stevens wins his 4th GN aboard 100/7 outsider The Colonel; repeats with back-to-back victories the following year
- Mar 15 With 10 salaried players, Cincinnati Red Stockings become baseball's first professional team
- Apr 18 1st international cricket match, held in San Francisco, won by California
- Apr 23 1st professional baseball exhibition game - Cincinnati Red Stockings 24, Cincinnati amateurs 15
- May 4 Cincinnati Red Stockings play their 1st official baseball game, a win against the Great Western Base Ball Club, 45-9
- Jun 2 Cleveland's Forest City play their 1st baseball game, against the Cincinnati Red Stockings
- Jun 5 3rd Belmont: C Miller aboard Fenian wins in 3:04.25
- Sep 16 British Open Men's Golf, Prestwick GC: At just 18 years of age, Tom Morris Jr. retains his title; beats fellow Scot Bob Kirk by 11 strokes
- Sep 16 Golf's 1st recorded hole-in-one by Tom Morris at Prestwick's 8th hole, Scotland
- Oct 26 1st American steeplechase horserace at Westchester, NY
- Nov 6 1st US college football game, players used their hands or feet, Rutgers 6 Princeton 4
- Nov 17 Englishman James Moore wins 1st bicycle race, racing 13K Paris to Rouen
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions