On This Day

Year 1848 in Sports History

Events in Sport

  • Mar 1 10th Grand National: Capt. Josey Little aboard 12/1 Chandler wins; race marred by fatal falls of 3 competitors
  • Jun 6 New York Yacht Club holds its first annual regatta; won by the schooner Carnelia
  • Sep 18 Baseball rules 1st baseman can tag base for out instead of runner

Birthdays in Sport


Person of interestMatthew Webb

Jan 19 Matthew Webb, English long distance swimmer who was first to swim unassisted across the English Channel, born in Dawley, England (d. 1883)

Long Distance Swimmer Matthew Webb
Long Distance Swimmer
Matthew Webb
  • Mar 18 Nathaniel Herreshoff, America Cup yacht designer
  • Apr 9 Francis MacKinnon, English cricketer (later the 35th Mackinnon of Mackinnon), born in Paddington, London (d. 1947)

Person of interestW. G. Grace

Jul 18 W. G. Grace, English cricket all-rounder and captain (22 Tests; 54,896 runs over record 44 first class seasons; Gloucestershire), born in Bristol, England (d. 1915)

Cricketer W. G. Grace
Cricketer
W. G. Grace
  • Oct 17 William "Candy" Cummings, American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (credited with creating the curveball), born in Ware, Massachusetts (d. 1924)
  • Dec 12 William Kissam Vanderbilt, American businessman, born in New Dorp, Staten Island, New York (d. 1920)

Deaths in Sport

  • May 11 Tom Cribb, English boxer, dies at 66