1897 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
American football
College championship
College football national championship – Penn Quakers
Professional championships
Western Pennsylvania champions – Greensburg Athletic Association
Association football
England
The Football League – Aston Villa 47 points, Sheffield United 36, Derby County 36, Preston North End 34, Liverpool 33, Sheffield Wednesday 31 FA Cup final – Aston Villa 3–2 Everton at Crystal Palace, London. Aston Villa becomes the second club to complete The Double in English football Scotland Scottish Football League – Hearts Scottish Cup – Rangers 5–1 Dumbarton at Hampden Park
Athletics
John J. McDermott wins the first running of the Boston Marathon, then known as the B.A.A. Road Race USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Australian rules football
VFL Premiership
Formation of Victorian Football League (now Australian Football League) with initial clubs being Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne Essendon wins the 1st VFL Premiership (under the finals system used this year only, no Grand Final is played)
Baseball
National championship
Boston Beaneaters wins the National League championship
Events
Temple Cup – Baltimore Orioles 4–1 Boston Beaneaters
Boxing
Events
17 March — Bob Fitzsimmons knocks out James J. Corbett in the 14th round to win the World Heavyweight Championship in the first championship fight ever captured on film. Lineal world champions World Heavyweight Championship – James J. Corbett → Bob Fitzsimmons World Middleweight Championship – title vacant World Welterweight Championship – Tommy Ryan World Lightweight Championship – George "Kid" Lavigne World Featherweight Championship – George Dixon → Solly Smith World Bantamweight Championship – Jimmy Barry
Cricket
Events
Two English teams toured the West Indies under A A Priestley and Lord Hawke
A Philadelphian team tours England
England
County Championship – Lancashire
Minor Counties Championship – Worcestershire
Most runs – Bobby Abel 2099 @ 44.65 (HS 250) Most wickets – Tom Richardson 273 @ 14.45 (BB 8–49) Wisden Five Cricketers of the Year – Frederick Bull, Willis Cuttell, Frank Druce, Gilbert Jessop, Jack Mason Australia Sheffield Shield – New South Wales Most runs – Jack Lyons 404 @ 57.71 (HS 113) Most wickets – Tom McKibbin 44 @ 14.88 (BB 8–74) India Bombay Presidency – Europeans South Africa Currie Cup – Western Province West Indies Inter-Colonial Tournament – Barbados
Figure skating
World Figure Skating Championships
World Men's Champion – Gustav Hügel (Austria)
Golf
Major tournaments
British Open – Harold Hilton
U.S. Open – Joe Lloyd
Other tournaments
British Amateur – Jack Allan
US Amateur – H. J. Whigham
Horse racing
England
Grand National – Manifesto
1,000 Guineas Stakes – Chelandry
2,000 Guineas Stakes – Galtee More
The Derby – Galtee More
The Oaks – Limasol
St. Leger Stakes – Galtee More
Australia
Melbourne Cup – Gaulus
Canada
Queen's Plate – Ferdinand
Ireland
Irish Grand National – Breemount's Pride
Irish Derby Stakes – Wales
USA
Kentucky Derby – Typhoon II
Preakness Stakes – Paul Kauvar
Belmont Stakes – Scottish Chieftain
Ice hockey
Stanley Cup
Montreal Victorias win a 3rd Stanley Cup, defeating Ottawa.
Motor racing
Nice Speed Week
The first regular motor racing venue is Nice, France, where an annual "Speed Week" is established. To fill out the schedule, most types of racing event are invented here including the first hill climb, from Nice to La Turbie, and a sprint that has been called the forerunner of drag racing.
Rowing
The Boat Race
3 April — Oxford wins the 54th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
Rugby league
England
Championship – not contested
Challenge Cup final – Batley 10–3 St. Helens at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds. This is the inaugural competition. Lancashire League Championship – Broughton Rangers Yorkshire League Championship – Brighouse Rovers
Rugby union
Home Nations Championship
15th Home Nations Championship series is not completed
Speed skating
Speed Skating World Championships
Men's All-round Champion – Jack McCulloch (Canada)