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1944 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Note – many sporting events did not take place because of World War II

American football

• Green Bay Packers defeats 14-7 New York Giants in New York City for the NFL title

Australian rules football

• Victorian Football League – Fitzroy wins the 48th VFL Premiership (Fitzroy 9.12 (66) d Richmond 7.9 (51))

Baseball

• May 7 – Chucho Ramos made his major league debut as first baseman and outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds. He was the third baseball player from Venezuela to play Major League Baseball.
• June 10 – 15-year old Joe Nuxhall becomes the youngest baseball player to pitch a game in major league history.
• World Series – St. Louis Cardinals defeats St. Louis Browns, 4 games to 2.
• Hall of Fame election – Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis is 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.

Boxing

• August 4 – the "War Bonds Fight". $36m is raised to fund the war effort as Beau Jack wins a ten round decision over arch-rival Bob Montgomery at New York's Madison Square Garden. A few weeks later, they were both drafted on the same day by the U.S. Army.

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 –
• Grand National –

Flat races

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by
• Canada – Queen's Plate won by
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes –
  2. Epsom Derby –
  3. St. Leger Stakes –
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Pensive
  2. Preakness Stakes – Pensive
  3. Belmont Stakes – Bounding Home

Ice hockey

• Stanley Cup – Montreal Canadiens sweep the Chicago Black Hawks in 4 straight games.

Rugby union

• Five Nations Championship series is not contested due to World War II

Awards

• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year: Byron Nelson, PGA golf
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year: Ann Curtis, Swimming

References