- Mar 19 42nd Grand National: Tommy Beasley aboard Irish 8/1 chance Empress wins by 2 lengths from defending champion The Liberator
- Apr 9 British Open Men's Golf, Musselburgh Links: Scotsman Bob Ferguson wins first of 3 straight titles; beats Peter Paxton by 5 strokes
- Apr 24 Amateur Athletic Association, governing body for men's athletics in England & Wales, is founded in Oxford, England
- May 18 6th Kentucky Derby: George Garrett Lewis aboard Fonso wins in 2:37.5; race run in estimated 5 inch deep dust
- May 28 8th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Grenada wins in 2:40.5
- May 31 League of American Wheelmen (1st US bicycle association), forms in Newport, Rhode Island
- Jun 10 MLB Boston Red Caps' outfielder Charley Jones becomes 1st to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning, both off of Tom Poorman in a 19-3 win over the visiting Buffalo Bisons
- Jun 12 Worcester Ruby Legs pitcher Lee Richmond throws first perfect game in MLB history in 1-0 win over Cleveland Blues at the Agricultural County Fair Grounds, Worcester
- Jun 14 14th Belmont: L Hughes aboard Grenada wins in 2:47
- Jun 17 Providence Grays MLB pitcher John M. Ward throws a perfect game beating the Buffalo Bisons, 5-0; second perfect game in National League in 6 days; next one takes 84 years
- Jul 15 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Reigning champion John Hartley beats Herbert Lawford 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
- Sep 6 Commencement of 1st Test Cricket in England, v Australia at The Oval
Debut of W. G. Grace
Sep 6 W. G. Grace scores 152 in debut Test Cricket innings, v Australia at The Oval
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