1922 in Sports

Image Credentials: Image Title: 1922 in Sports  Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: June 2025  Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.

1922 in sports describes the year’s significant events in the world of sport. This year saw the evolution of key organizations, historic achievements, and the founding of clubs that would shape future athletic traditions.

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American Football

National Football League (NFL)

• The Canton Bulldogs won the APFA (NFL) championship with a perfect undefeated season: 10 wins, 0 losses, and 2 ties.

• On June 24, the American Professional Football Association officially changed its name to the National Football League (NFL).

College Football

• The Cornell Big Red were recognized as the college football national champions.

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Association Football (Soccer)

England

• Football League First Division champions: Liverpool, with 57 points.

• FA Cup Final: Huddersfield Town defeated Preston North End 1–0 at Stamford Bridge, London.

Germany

• No national champion was declared as Hamburger SV and 1. FC Nürnberg drew both final matches.

Russia

• Spartak Moscow, a future powerhouse in Soviet and Russian football, was officially founded on April 18.

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Athletics

• The Second Women’s Olympiad was held in Monte Carlo.

• The First Women’s World Games took place in Paris, marking progress in international women’s athletics.

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Australian Rules Football

Victoria Football League (VFL)

• Fitzroy won the 1922 VFL Premiership, defeating Collingwood 11.13 (79) to 9.14 (68) in the Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

South Australian Football League (SAFL)

• Norwood won their 15th SAFL premiership, beating West Adelaide 9.7 (61) to 2.16 (28).

• Magarey Medal: Awarded to Robert Barnes (West Adelaide).

West Australian Football League (WAFL)

• East Perth won their fourth consecutive premiership over West Perth 7.13 (55) to 5.9 (39).

• Sandover Medal: Harold Boyd (West Perth).

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Bandy

Sweden

• Championship Final: IK Sirius defeated Västerås SK 3–2.

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Baseball

Major League Baseball

• World Series: The New York Giants (NL) defeated the New York Yankees (AL) 4–0 with one tie.

Negro Leagues

• Chicago American Giants won their third straight Negro National League pennant.

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Boxing

Major Events

• July 10 – Joe Lynch regained the World Bantamweight title by defeating Johnny Buff.

• September 24 – Battling Siki knocked out Georges Carpentier to win the World Light Heavyweight title in Paris.

• November 1 – Mickey Walker won the World Welterweight Championship by defeating Jack Britton over 15 rounds.

Lineal World Champions

• Heavyweight – Jack Dempsey

• Light Heavyweight – Georges Carpentier → Battling Siki

• Middleweight – Johnny Wilson

• Welterweight – Jack Britton → Mickey Walker

• Lightweight – Benny Leonard

• Featherweight – Johnny Kilbane

• Bantamweight – Johnny Buff → Joe Lynch

• Flyweight – Jimmy Wilde

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Canadian Football

Grey Cup

• 10th Grey Cup: Queen’s University defeated Edmonton Elks 13–1.

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Cricket

England

• County Championship: Won by Yorkshire.

• Minor Counties Championship: Buckinghamshire.

• Top run-scorer: Jack Russell – 2,575 runs @ 54.78.

• Top wicket-taker: Charlie Parker – 206 wickets @ 13.16.

• Wisden Cricketers of the Year: Arthur Carr, Tich Freeman, Charlie Parker, Jack Russell, Andy Sandham.

Australia

• Sheffield Shield: Victoria.

• Most runs: Frank O’Keeffe – 708 @ 118.00.

• Most wickets: Ted McDonald – 28 @ 21.50.

Other countries

• India – Bombay Quadrangular: Europeans

• New Zealand – Plunket Shield: Auckland

• South Africa – Currie Cup: Transvaal

• West Indies – Inter-Colonial Tournament: Barbados

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Cycling

Tour de France

• Firmin Lambot (Belgium) won the 16th Tour de France.

UCI World Championships

• Piet Moeskops (Netherlands) won the Men’s Sprint title.

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Figure Skating

World Champions

• Men’s: Gillis Grafström (Sweden)

• Women’s: Herma Szabo (Austria)

• Pairs: Helene Engelmann and Alfred Berger (Austria)

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Golf

Major Championships

• British Open: Walter Hagen

• U.S. Open: Gene Sarazen

• PGA Championship: Gene Sarazen

Amateur Titles

• British Amateur: Ernest Holderness

• U.S. Amateur: Jess Sweetser

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Horse Racing

England

• Grand National: Music Hall

• 1,000 Guineas: Silver Urn

• 2,000 Guineas: St Louis

• The Derby: Captain Cuttle

• The Oaks: Pogrom

• St. Leger: Royal Lancer

Other winners

• Australia: Melbourne Cup – King Ingoda

• Canada: King’s Plate – South Shore

• France: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Ksar (second win)

• Ireland: Irish Grand National – Halston; Irish Derby – Spike Island

• USA: Kentucky Derby – Morvich; Preakness and Belmont Stakes – Pillory

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Ice Hockey

Stanley Cup

• Toronto St. Pats defeated Vancouver Millionaires 3–2 in the 1922 Stanley Cup Finals.

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Rowing

The Boat Race

• Cambridge defeated Oxford in the 74th Boat Race on April 1.

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Rugby League

England

• Championship: Wigan

• Challenge Cup: Rochdale Hornets 10–9 Hull F.C.

• Lancashire Cup: Warrington 7–5 Oldham

• Yorkshire Cup: Leeds 11–3 Dewsbury

Australia

• New South Wales Premiership: North Sydney 35–3 Glebe

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Rugby Union

Five Nations Championship

• Wales won the 35th Five Nations Championship.

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Speed Skating

World Championships

• Men’s All-round Champion: Harald Strøm (Norway)

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Swimming

• Johnny Weissmuller set a world record in the 100m freestyle with a time of 58.6 seconds, becoming the first to break the “minute barrier.”

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Tennis

Grand Slam Winners

• Australian Men’s Champion: James Anderson

• Australian Women’s Champion: Margaret Molesworth

• Wimbledon Men’s Champion: Gerald Patterson

• Wimbledon Women’s Champion: Suzanne Lenglen

• French Men’s Champion: Henri Cochet

• French Women’s Champion: Suzanne Lenglen

• US Men’s Champion: Bill Tilden

• US Women’s Champion: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory

Davis Cup

• The United States defeated Australasia 4–1 in the 1922 Davis Cup final held in New York City.

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Water Skiing

• Water skiing was invented by Ralph Samuelson in Lake City, Minnesota.

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References

• Parrish, Charles (2014). Soccer around the World. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781610693035.

• Cyber Boxing Zone

• “Tour de France list of winners”, Eurosport UK, 2020.

• “Epsom Derby | History, Winners, & Facts”, Britannica.com

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