1931 in sports - Definition and Overview

See also: 1930 in sports, other events of 1931, 1932 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.

Auto Racing

• 24 hours of Le Mans: Earl Howe and Tim Birkin, driving an Alfa Romeo 8C.
• Louis Schneider wins the Indy 500.

Baseball

• World Series: The St. Louis Cardinals (101-53, NL) defeated the Philadelphia Athletics (107-45, AL) four games to three.
• MVP Awards: NL: Frankie Frisch; AL: Lefty Grove
• Debutes: Billy Herman (August 29), Ernie Lombardi (April 15), Red Rolfe (June 29), Dixie Walker (April 28), Paul Derringer (April 16).
• Major trades:
  • December: The St. Louis Cardinals traded Burleigh Grimes to the Chicago Cubs for Bud Teachout and Hack Wilson.

Basketball

• Northwestern University wins the College Basketball Title.

Boxing

• Heavyweight Champion: Undisputed Max Schmeling

Cycling

• Giro d'Italia won by Francesco Camusso of Italy
• Tour de France - Antonin Magne of France
• World Cycling Championship: Learco Guerra of Italy

Figure Skating

• World Figure Skating Championships:
  • Men's champion: Karl Schäfer, Austria
  • Women's champion: Sonja Henie, Norway
  • Pairs champions: Emilia Rotter & László Szollás, Hungary

Football (American)

• Green Bay Packers win the NFL title with a 13-2 record.
• USC wins the College Football Title.

Football (Australian Rules)

• Victorian Football League
  • Geelong wins the 35th VFL Premiership (Geelong 9.14 (68) d Richmond 7.6 (48))
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to Haydn Bunton (Fitzroy)

Football (Canadian)

• Grey Cup: Montreal AAA win 22-0 over the Regina Roughriders

Football (Soccer)

• FA Cup - West Bromwich Albion defeated Birmingham, 2 - 1

Golf

• US Open - Billy Burke
• British Open - Tommy D. Armour
• PGA Championship - Tom Creavy

Thoroughbred Horse Racing

• Australia - Melbourne Cup - White Nose
• Canada - Queen's Plate - Froth Blower
• France - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Pearl Cap
• Ireland - Irish Derby Stakes - Sea Serpent

• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. Two Thousand Guineas Stakes - Cameronian
  2. Epsom Derby - Cameronian
  3. St. Leger Stakes - Sandwich

• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby - Twenty Grand
  2. Preakness Stakes - Mate
  3. Belmont Stakes - Twenty Grand

Harness Racing

• Hambletonian - Calumet Butler
• Kentucky Futurity - The Protector

Ice Hockey

• Stanley Cup: The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks three games to two.

• World Hockey Championship
  • Men's: Gold: Canada, Silver: U.S., Bronze: Austria

Rugby Union

• Six Nations Championship - Wales

Snooker

• World Snooker Championship: Joe Davis beats Tom Dennis 25-21

Tennis

• Grand Slam in tennis men's results:
  1. Australian Open - Jack Crawford
  2. French Open - Jean Borotra
  3. Wimbledon championships - Sidney Wood
  4. US Open - H. Ellsworth Vines

• Grand Slam in tennis women's results:
  1. Australian Open - Coral Buttsworth
  2. French Open - Cilly Ausem
  3. Wimbledon championships - Cilly Aussem
  4. US Open - Helen Wills Moody

• Davis Cup - France wins 3-2 over Great Britain

Births

• Ernie Banks
• Ken Boyer
• Jim Bunning
• Mickey Mantle
• Eddie Mathews
• Willie Mays
• Bill Virdon
• Don Zimmer

Deaths

• September 17 – Marvin Hart, former heavyweight boxing champion
• Jack Chesbro
• Charles Comiskey
• Roger Connor
• Knute Rockne