1973 in sports
See also: 1972 in sports, other events of 1973, 1974 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.
Auto Racing
- Stock car racing:
- Richard Petty wins the Daytona 500 in which singer Marty Robbins made his first appearance as a driver.
- NASCAR Championship – Benny Parsons
- Indianapolis 500 – Gordon Johncock
- USAC Racing – Roger McCluskey
- Formula One Championship – Jackie Stewart of Great Britain
- 24 hours of Le Mans: the team of Henri Pescarolo / Gérard Larrousse won, driving a Matra MS670B
- Rally racing – Jean-Claude Andruet / Michele Petit ("Biche") won the Monte Carlo Rally driving a Alpine-Renault A110. This year's rally was the first ever Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile World Rally Championship event.
- Drag racing – Don Garlits won "Top Fuel" at the NHRA Supernationals
Baseball
- January 18: Orlando Cepeda signs with the Boston Red Sox, making him the first player signed by a team specifically to be a designated hitter.
- The American League uses the designated hitter rule for the first time. Ron Blomberg is the first player to bat as a DH.
- World Series: Oakland Athletics won 4 games to 3 over the New York Mets
Basketball
- NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship:
- UCLA wins 87–66 over Memphis State.
- NBA Finals:
- New York Knicks won 4 games to 1 over the Los Angeles Lakers
Boxing
- January 22 – George Foreman beats Joe Frazier by a knockout in two rounds to lift the world's Heavyweight championship from Frazier. It is HBO Boxing's first telecast.
Cycling
Field Hockey
- March 10 – In an international women's hockey match at Wembley Stadium,England. England are beaten by Ireland 2–1.
Figure Skating
- World Figure Skating Championships:
- Men's champion: Ondrej Nepela, Czechoslovakia
- Women's champion: Karen Magnussen, Canada
- Pairs champions: Irina Rodnina & Alexander Zaitsev, Soviet Union
Football (American)
- O. J. Simpson becomes the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season.
- Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins won 14–7 over the Washington Redskins
Football (Australian Rules)
- Victorian Football League
- Richmond wins the 77th VFL Premiership (Richmond 16.20 (116) d Carlton 12.14 (86))
- Brownlow Medal awarded to Keith Greig (North Melbourne)
Football (Canadian)
- Grey Cup: Ottawa Rough Riders win 22–18 over the Edmonton Eskimos
- Vanier Cup: St. Mary's Huskies win 14–6 over the McGill Redmen
Football (Soccer)
- England – FA Cup: Sunderland wins 1–0 over Leeds United
Golf
- Major Championship results:
- May – The Masters – Tommy Aaron
- June – US Open – Johnny Miller
- July – British Open – Tom Weiskopf
- August – PGA Championship – Jack Nicklaus
- PGA tour's leading money winner for the year: Jack Nicklaus – $308,362
- Ryder Cup: United States won 19–13 over Britain & Ireland in world team golf.
- US Women's Open – Susie Berning
- LPGA Championship – Mary Mills
- Kathy Whitworth: leading money winner on the LPGA tour, earning $82,854
Thoroughbred Horse Racing
- Australia – Melbourne Cup – Gala Supreme
- Canada – Queen's Plate – Royal Chocolate
- France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Rheingold
- Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes – Weaver's Hall
- English Triple Crown Races:
- Two Thousand Guineas Stakes – Mon Fils
- Epsom Derby – Morston
- St. Leger Stakes – Peleid
- Secretariat, ridden by jockey Ron Turcotte, becomes the first horse in 25 years to win the United States Triple Crown Races:
Harness Racing
- United States Pacing Triple Crown races:
- Cane Pace – Smog
- Little Brown Jug – Melvin's Woe
- Messenger Stakes – Valiant Bret
- Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship:
- Pacers: Hondo Grattan
- Trotters: Precocious
Ice Hockey
- Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
- Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Bobby Clarke – Philadelphia Flyers
- Stanley Cup – Montreal Canadiens defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4 games to 2
- World Hockey Association:
- AVCO Cup – New England Whalers defeat the Winnipeg Jets 4 games to 1 for first league championship.
- World Hockey Championship:
- Men's champion: Soviet Union defeated Sweden
Skiing
Snooker
- World Snooker Championship: Ray Reardon beats Eddie Charlton 38–32
Tennis
- Grand Slam in tennis men's results:
- Grand Slam in tennis women's results:
- Davis Cup: Australia wins 5–0 over the United States in world tennis.
- Men and women players receive equal prize money at the US Open.
General sporting events
- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion:
- Dick Wilmarth won with lead dog: Hotfoot
Births
- January 1 – Britta Becker,German field hockey international
- February 26 – Jenny Thompson, U.S. Olympic swimmer
- February 26 – Marshall Faulk, American football star
- February 28 – Eric Lindros, ice hockey star
- April 24 – Sachin Tendulkar, Indian cricketer
- May 1 – Oliver Neuville, German international footballer
- May 19 – Dario Franchitti, automobile racer
- June 15 – Vanina Oneto, Argentinian field hockey international
- June 21 – Alyson Annan, Australian field hockey international
- July 20 – Peter Forsberg, ice hockey player
- September 28 – Kathryn Leng, English cricketer
- October 22 – Ichiro Suzuki, Japanese baseball star, American League MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2001
- November 29 – Ryan Giggs, Welsh international footballer
- December 2 – Monica Seles, Yugoslavia-born American tennis champion
Deaths
- February 8 – Herbie Taylor, South African cricketer
- March 12 – Frankie Frisch, Major League Baseball player (1919–1937)
- March 26 – George Sisler, Major League Baseball hall of famer (1915–1930)
- July 2 – Swede Savage 26, USAC race car driver
- July 8 – Wilfred Rhodes, English cricketer
- July 29 – Formula One driver, Roger Williamson burns to death at the Dutch Grand Prix
- August 7 – Wilbur Cooper, Major League Baseball pitcher (1912–1926)
- August 9 – Charlie Daniels, U.S. Olympic Gold medal swimmer
- October 2 – Paavo Nurmi, Finnish runner
- December 3 – Count Fleet, thoroughbred racehorse and Triple Crown champion.
- December 16 – Syd Barnes, Australian cricketer
Categories: 1973 | 1973 in sports