Events in Sport
- Jan 2 Australian fast bowler Fred Spofforth dismisses 3 English batsmen with consecutive deliveries during the 3rd Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Test cricket's first "hat-trick"
- Jan 23 US National Archery Association forms in Crawfordsville, Indiana
- Mar 28 41st Grand National: Garry Moore aboard 5/1 chance The Liberator wins by 2 lengths from Jackal
- Mar 29 English FA Cup Final, Kennington Oval, London: Old Etonians beat Clapham Rovers, 1-0; Charles Clerke scores winner
- May 20 5th Kentucky Derby: Charlie Shauer aboard Lord Murphy wins in 2:37
- May 24 7th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Harold wins in 2:40.5
- Jun 5 13th Belmont: George Evans riding Spendthrift wins in 2:42.75
- Jun 21 Infielder William White plays one game for the Providence Grays with conjecture was the first African-American to play MLB even though he appeared Caucasian
- Jul 15 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: John Hartley beats Vere St. Leger Goold 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
- Aug 12 1st National Archery Association tournament (Chicago)
- More Events in Sport
Sports Stars Born in 1879
- Jan 12 Ray Harroun, American auto racer (inaugural Indianapolis 500 1911; Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2000), born in Spartansburg, Pennsylvania (d. 1968)
- Jan 25 Dave Nourse, South African cricket all-rounder (45 Tests, 1 x 100, 41 wickets; Natal, Transvaal, Western Province), born in South Norwood, England (d. 1948)
- Feb 3 Charles Follis, 1st African American NFLer (Shelby, Ohio)
- Feb 28 James "Soup" Perkins, American jockey (Kentucky Derby 1985; winningest jockey in America 1895), born in Lexington, Kentucky (d. 1911)
- Mar 30 Coen de Koning, Dutch speed skater (World Alllround Speed Skating champion 1905), born in Edam. Netherlands (d. 1954)
More Birthdays in Sport
Sports Stars Who Died in 1879
- Mar 13 Adolf Anderssen, German World Chess Champion (1851-66), dies at 60
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