1945 in sports

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

1945 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

American football[edit]

NFL Championship: the Cleveland Rams won 15–14 over the Washington Redskins at Cleveland Stadium
Army Cadets – college football national championship

Association football[edit]

England

With the end of World War II, the FA Cup is reinstated for the 1945–46 season; played on a two–legged basis. However, clubs are not yet prepared for a full league programme, so the Football League does not resume; regional leagues remain for another year.

France

26 August: French Division 1 football is resumed for the first time since 1938–39.

Germany

There is no major football in Germany due to World War II and the Allied occupation.

Portugal

Primeira Liga won by S.L. Benfica.

Spain

La Liga won by Barcelona.

Italy

Serie A – not contested due to World War II.

Yugoslavia (Serbia)

Partizan Belgrade was founded in Humska area, Belgrade.^{[citation needed]}
Red Star Belgrade was founded in Dedinje area, Belgrade on March 4.^{[citation needed]}

Australian rules football[edit]

Victorian Football League
- Carlton wins the 49th VFL Premiership defeating South Melbourne 15.13 (103) to 10.15 (75) in the Grand Final.
South Australian National Football League:
- 29 September: West Torrens win their third SANFL premiership, defeating Port Adelaide 15.25 (115) to 15.12 (102).
Western Australian National Football League:
- 29 March: After three seasons of football limited to players under 18 or 19, and a proposal to limit eligibility to players under 25, the WANFL decides to restore open-age league football.^[1]
- 13 October: East Fremantle 12.15 (87) defeat South Fremantle 7.9 (51) for their nineteenth senior WANFL premiership.

Baseball[edit]

World Series – Detroit Tigers defeat the Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 3.
Negro World Series – Cleveland Buckeyes swept the Homestead Grays, 4 games to 0.
A professional baseball league, Tokyo Senators was founded in Japan on November 6, as predecessor of Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.^{[citation needed]}

Basketball[edit]

NBL Championship

Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons over Sheboygan Redskins (3–2)

Events

The twelfth South American Basketball Championship in Guayaquil is won by Brazil.

Italy

Pallacanestro Varese was founded in Lombardy Region.^{[citation needed]}

Serbia

KK Crvena zvezda, as known well for professional basketball club of Serbia, officially founded on March 3. ^{[citation needed]}

Cricket[edit]

England

With the end of World War II in Europe, a small number of first-class matches are played for the first time since 1939, but it is not practicable to resume the County Championship or the Minor Counties Championship.
Most runs – Len Hutton 782 @ 48.87 (HS 188)
Most wickets – Dick Pollard 28 @ 24.25 (BB 6–75)

Australia

23 November – With the lifting of bans on weekday sport at the end of World War II, first-class cricket is played in Australia for the first time since 1 December 1941. The Sheffield Shield, however, is not contested until the following season.

India

4–8 March: Cottari Subbanna Nayudu of Holkar sets two first-class records in the Ranji Trophy final against Bombay, bowling 912 balls and conceding 428 runs in the match.^[2]
Ranji Trophy – Bombay beat Holkar by 374 runs
Bombay Pentangular – Hindus

New Zealand

24 December: The Plunket Shield is resumed after having not been contested, despite a small number of interprovincial first-class matches, since 1939–40.

South Africa

15 December: With the end of World War II, first-class cricket is played in South Africa for the first time since 14 March 1943, though the last regular interprovincial matches had been in 1939–40.

Cycling[edit]

Tour de France

not contested due to World War II^[3]

Giro d'Italia

not contested due to World War II

Figure skating[edit]

World Figure Skating Championships

not contested due to World War II

Golf[edit]

Men's professional

Masters Tournament – not played due to World War II^[4]
U.S. Open – not played due to World War II^[4]
British Open – not played due to World War II^[4]
PGA Championship – Byron Nelson
PGA Tour money leader – Byron Nelson – $63,336

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[edit]

Steeplechases

Cheltenham Gold Cup – Red Rower
Grand National – not held due to World War II

Hurdle races

Champion Hurdle – Brains Trust

Flat races

Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Rainbird
Canada – King's Plate won by Uttermost
France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Nikellora
Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Piccadilly
English Triple Crown Races:
1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Court Martial
2. The Derby – Dante^[5]
3. St. Leger Stakes – Chamossaire
United States Triple Crown Races:
1. Kentucky Derby – Hoop Jr.
2. Preakness Stakes – Polynesian
3. Belmont Stakes – Pavot

Ice hockey[edit]

Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings four games to three.

Motor racing[edit]

Indianapolis 500 – not held due to World War II
9 September – The first European Grand Prix since 1939 is held in Paris, being won by Jean-Pierre Wimille.