1903 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
American football
College championship
College football national championship – Princeton Tigers
Professional championships
Ohio League championship – Massillon Tigers
"US Pro Football Title" – Franklin Athletic Club
Western Pennsylvania Championship – Latrobe Athletic Association
1902–03 World Series of Football champion – Syracuse Athletic Club
1903 World Series of Football champion – Franklin Athletic Club
Events
1 January – the Syracuse Athletic Club defeated the Orange Athletic Club, 36–0, to win the 1902–03 World Series of Football, held at Madison Square Garden. 3 September – the Massillon Tigers of the "Ohio League" are established in Massillon, Ohio. 17 December – the Franklin Athletic Club defeated the Watertown Red & Black, 12–0, to win the 1903 World Series of Football, held at Madison Square Garden.
Association football
Argentina
Racing Club, officially founded in Avellaneda, suburb of Buenos Aires on March 25. Brazil Gremio of Porto Alegre, officially founded on September 15. England The Football League – The Wednesday 42 points, Aston Villa 41, Sunderland 41, Sheffield United 39, Liverpool 38, Stoke 37 FA Cup final – Bury 6–0 Derby County at Crystal Palace, London. This remains the record scoreline in an FA Cup final. Germany National Championship – VfB Leipzig 7—2 DFC Prag at Hamburg-Altona (after extra time) The 1903 German football championship is the first to be sanctioned by the Deutscher Fußballbund (DFB). Until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963, the championship format is based on a knockout competition, contested between the winners of each of the country's top regional leagues. Scotland Scottish Football League – Hibernian 1903 Scottish Cup final – Rangers 2–0 Hearts at Celtic Park (second replay after 1–1 and 0–0 draws previously) Turkey Besiktas, officially founded in Istanbul on March 19.
Athletics
John Lorden wins the seventh running of the Boston Marathon.
Australian rules football
VFL Premiership
Collingwood wins the 7th VFL Premiership: Collingwood 4.7 (31) d Fitzroy 3.11 (29) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Baseball
World Series
1–13 October — inaugural World Series is played between the winners of the National and American Leagues. Boston Americans (AL) defeats Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) by 5 games to 3. Events New York Yankees founded. Northern League championship – Winnipeg Maroons win a second consecutive minor leagues title.
Boxing
Events
Having previously held the World Middleweight Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship, Bob Fitzsimmons wins his third world title when he captures the World Light Heavyweight Championship. The inaugural World Light Heavyweight Champion is Jack Root of Bohemia following his ten-round victory over Charles "Kid" McCoy at Detroit on 22 April. Root's title is short-lived as he loses on 4 July to George Gardiner at Fort Erie, Ontario. Gardner wins by a technical knockout after 12 rounds. On 25 November, Gardner loses the title to Fitzsimmons after 20 rounds at San Francisco. Fitzsimmons retains the title until 1905. Young Corbett II vacates the World Featherweight Championship. The vacant title is won by Abe Attell who defeats Johnny Reagan at St Louis in the 20th round. Attell is one of the great champions and holds the title until 1912. Frankie Neil defeats Harry Forbes in San Francisco by a second-round knockout to take the World Bantamweight Championship, which he holds for one year. Lineal world champions World Heavyweight Championship – James J. Jeffries World Light Heavyweight Championship – new title → Jack Root → George Gardiner → Bob Fitzsimmons World Middleweight Championship – Tommy Ryan World Welterweight Championship – Barbados Joe Walcott World Lightweight Championship – Joe Gans World Featherweight Championship – Young Corbett II → vacant → Abe Attell World Bantamweight Championship – Harry Forbes → Frankie Neil
Cricket
Events
Following the conclusion of the Boer War, first-class cricket resumes in South Africa. England County Championship – Middlesex Minor Counties Championship – Northamptonshire Most runs – C B Fry 2683 @ 81.30 (HS 234) Most wickets – Wilfred Rhodes 193 @ 14.57 (BB 8–61) Wisden Cricketers of the Year – Colin Blythe, John Gunn, Albert Knight, Walter Mead, Plum Warner Australia Sheffield Shield – New South Wales Most runs – Reggie Duff 786 @ 87.33 (HS 194) Most wickets – Jack Saunders 32 @ 20.81 (BB 8–106) India Bombay Presidency – Europeans shared with Parsees West Indies Inter-Colonial Tournament – not contested