1991 in sports
From Freepedia
See also: 1990 in sports, other events of 1991, 1992 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.
Auto Racing
- Stock car racing:
- CART Racing - Michael Andretti won the season championship
- Formula One Championship - Ayrton Senna of Brazil
- 24 hours of Le Mans: won by Volker Weidler / Johnny Herbert / Bertrand Gachot driving a Mazda 787
- Rally racing - Juha Kankkunen in a Lancia won the World Rally Championship
- the team of Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya won the Monte Carlo Rally driving a Toyota Celica GT4
- Drag racing - Joe Amato won the NHRA "Top Fuel" championship.
Baseball
- Dave Righetti breaks Sparky Lyle's major league record for left-handers of 238 career saves.
- July 28 - Dennis Martinez of the Montreal Expos pitches the 13th perfect game in major league history, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0.
- World Series: The Minnesota Twins win 4 games to 3 over the Atlanta Braves. The series MVP is Jack Morris of Minnesota.
Basketball
- NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Duke wins 72-65 over Kansas
- NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls win 4 games to 1 over the Los Angeles Lakers to earn the franchise's first championship.
- June 12 - The Chicago Bulls win their first National Basketball Association championship. The Bulls beat the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one.
- November 7 - Basketball player Magic Johnson announces he tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS, thus ending his career in the NBA.
Boxing
- June 1 at Palm Springs, California: Terry Norris knocked out Donald Curry in the 8th Round to win the WBC Super Welterweight Championship.
Cricket
- South Africa readmitted to the International Cricket Council following the abolition of apartheid, and play their first international game since 1970.
Cycling
- Giro d'Italia won by Franco Chiocciolo of Italy
- Tour de France - Miguel Induraín of Spain
- World Cycling Championship: Gianni Bugno of Italy
Field Hockey
- March 16 - In an international women's field hockey match at Wembley Stadium, England. France beat England 2-1. It was the last hockey match to have taken place there ending it a great era.
- September 13 - 22 - Thirteenth Men's Champions Trophy held at Berlin, Germany won by hosts. Pakistan end 2nd
Figure Skating
- World Figure Skating Championships:
- Men's champion: Kurt Browning, Canada
- Women's champion: Kristi Yamaguchi, United States
- Pairs champions: Natalja Mishkutienok & Artur Dimitrijev, Soviet Union
Football (American)
- Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants won 20-19 over the Buffalo Bills
- World Bowl '91: London Monarchs won 21-0 over the Barcelona Dragons in the inaugural World Bowl.
Football (Australian Rules)
- Australian Football League
- The Adelaide Crows join the league
- Hawthorn wins the 95th AFL premiership (Hawthorn 20.19 (139) d West Coast Eagles 13.8 (86))
- Brownlow Medal awarded to Jim Stynes (Melbourne)
Football (Canadian)
- Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts win 36-21 over the Calgary Stampeders
- Vanier Cup: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks win 25-18 over the Mount Allison Mounties
Football (Soccer)
- England - FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 (aet) over Nottingham Forest
- FIFA Women's World Cup - United States won 2-1 over Norway
- For the first time since the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985, English clubs are allowed to participate in competitions sponsored by UEFA, for the 1991-92 season.
Golf
- Major championship results:
- PGA Tour leading money winner for the year: Corey Pavin - $979,430
- Champions Tour leading money winner: Mike Hill - $1,065,657
- Ryder Cup: United States team won 14 1/2 - 13 ½ over the European team in world golf.
- Tiger Woods, at age 15, won his first USGA title, the U.S. Junior Amateur.
- US Women's Open - Meg Mallon
- LPGA Championship - Meg Mallon
- Pat Bradley: leading money winner on the LPGA tour, earning $763,118.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing
- Australia - Melbourne Cup - Let's Elope
- Canada - Queen's Plate - Dance Smartly
- France - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Suave Dancer
- Ireland - Irish Derby Stakes - Generous
Harness Racing
- Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship:
- Pacers: Mark Ranover
- Trotters: Fraggle Rock
Ice Hockey
- Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
- Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues
- Stanley Cup:
- Pittsburgh Penguins win 4 games to 2 over the Minnesota North Stars
Skiing
- Alpine Skiing
- The men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg
- The women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria
Snooker
- World Snooker Championship: John Parrott beats Jimmy White 18-11
- World rankings: Stephen Hendry remains world number one for 1991/92
Tennis
- Grand Slam in tennis men's results:
- Grand Slam in tennis women's results:
- Davis Cup: France won 3-1 over the United States in world tennis.
General sporting events
- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion:
- Rick Swenson won with lead dog: Goose
Births
- December 5 - Ethan Cohen, World Class Junior Tennis player
Deaths
- January 3 - Luke Appling, Major League Baseball player (1930-1950)
- January 21 - Red Grange, National Football League great
- March 2 - James "Cool Papa" Bell, Negro League baseball star
- April 4 - Luc de Rijck, Belgian soccer player
- April 20 - Bucky Walters, Major League Baseball pitcher (1934-1950)
- April 25 - Theo Laseroms, Dutch soccer player
- May 6 - Chucky Mullins, United States football player
- May 20 - Pete Runnels, Major League Baseball player (1951-1964)
- June 8 - Mary Bacon, jockey
- September 15 - Smoky Burgess, Major League Baseball player (1949-1967)
- October 7 - Leo Durocher, MLB player (1925-1945), and manager
- November 26 - Bob Johnson - ice hockey coach, Pittsburgh Penguins
- December 16 - Horatio Luro, race horse trainer including Northern Dancer
- December 25 - Mahmood Hussain, Pakistani cricketer
