1889 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
Athletics
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
American football
College championship
College football national championship – Princeton Tigers
Association football
Denmark
Formation of the Danish Football Union (Dansk Boldspil-Union or DBU)
England
The Football League – Preston North End 40 points, Aston Villa 29, Wolves 28, Blackburn Rovers 26, Bolton Wanderers 22, West Bromwich Albion 22
FA Cup final – Preston North End 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Oval.
Preston North Ends wins the inaugural Football League championship unbeaten, an achievement that will not be equalled until 2003–04 by Arsenal. Preston also wins the FA Cup to become the first team ever to complete The Double. The team earns the nickname of "Invincibles".
The Football Alliance is founded as a rival to the Football League. It is short-lived and collapses in 1892 when the Football League expands. The Alliance is brokered by Sheffield Wednesday president John Holmes. Founder members include Sheffield Wednesday, Newton Heath (Manchester United), Nottingham Forest, Small Heath (Birmingham City) and Grimsby Town. Ardwick (Manchester City) will join in 1891 for the final season.
Sheffield United is founded. With Sheffield Wednesday having left Bramall Lane in 1887, the management committee of the Bramall Lane complex decides to form a new football club at the ground, using Sheffield United Cricket Club as its basis. Bramall Lane is the world's oldest professional football venue, though not the longest in continuous use (which is Deepdale).
The 1889–90 Football League season features the same 12 teams as in 1888–89.
Netherlands
8 December — formation of the Royal Dutch Football Association (i.e., the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond or KNVB).
Scotland
Scottish Cup final – Third Lanark 2–1 Celtic (replay; the SFA declared the original match void due to adverse conditions). Celtic reaches the Scottish Cup final in the club's inaugural season.
Baseball
National championship
National League v. American Association – New York Giants (NL) defeats Brooklyn Dodgers (AA) 6 games to 3.
Boxing
Events
8 July — John L. Sullivan defeats Jake Kilrain after 75 rounds in the last major bareknuckle contest. Some authorities recognise it as a world title contest although it is fought under London Prize Ring Rules rather than the now-accepted Queensberry Rules.
Lineal world champions
World Heavyweight Championship – John L. Sullivan
World Middleweight Championship – Jack Nonpareil Dempsey
World Welterweight Championship – Paddy Duffy
World Lightweight Championship – Jack McAuliffe
Cricket
Events
12–13 March — South Africa plays its inaugural Test match against the touring England national cricket team. England wins by 8 wickets. The match also marks the beginning of first-class cricket in South Africa where the Currie Cup is inaugurated as the premier domestic competition.
The number of balls per over in England is increased from four to five. The four-ball over has been used since time immemorial.
The major English county cricket clubs meet to agree a way of deciding an order of ranking for the next season; the official County Championship is established.
England
Champion County – Surrey, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire share the title
Most runs – W. G. Grace 1,396 @ 32.46 (HS 154)
Most wickets – George Lohmann 202 @ 13.43 (BB 9–67)
Wisden Nine Great Batsmen of the Year – Bobby Abel, Billy Barnes, Billy Gunn, Louis Hall, Robert Henderson, Maurice Read, Arthur Shrewsbury, Frank Sugg, Albert Ward
Australia
Most runs – Harry Trott 507 @ 39.00 (HS 172)
Most wickets – John Ferris 36 @ 15.83 (BB 6–62)
Golf
Major tournaments
British Open – Willie Park junior
Other tournaments
British Amateur – Johnny Laidlay
Horse racing
England
Grand National – Frigate
1,000 Guineas Stakes – Minthe
2,000 Guineas Stakes – Enthusiast
The Derby – Donovan
The Oaks – L'Abbesse de Jouarre
St. Leger Stakes – Donovan
Australia
Melbourne Cup – Bravo
Canada
Queen's Plate – Colonist
Ireland
Irish Grand National – The Citadel
Irish Derby Stakes – Tragedy
USA
Kentucky Derby – Spokane
Preakness Stakes – Buddhist
Belmont Stakes – Eric
Ice hockey
Events
27 March — Montreal Hockey Club defeats Montreal Victorias 6–1 in the final challenge of the season to win the 1889 AHAC championship
Rowing
The Boat Race
30 March — Cambridge wins the 46th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
Rugby football
Home Nations Championship
The 7th series is won by Scotland following victories over both Ireland and Wales.
Tennis
England
Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – William Renshaw (GB) defeats Ernest Renshaw (GB) 6–4 6–1 3–6 6–0