1893 - Sports

Sports

The Stanley Cup ice hockey trophy has its beginnings in a silver cup presented by the governor general of Canada to the winner of an amateur Canadian hockey match. Frederick A. (Arthur) Stanley, 52, Lord Stanley of Preston, has purchased the cup for 10 guineas (about $50), he resigns his position and returns to England after succeeding his brother as (16th) earl of Derby, the cup will be replaced by a $14,000 silver bowl, and it will be the North American professional hockey trophy beginning in 1910 (see 1875; National Hockey League, 1917).

Joshua Pim, 24, (Ireland) wins in men's singles at Wimbledon, Lottie Dod in women's singles; Robert D. Wrenn, 19, wins in U.S. men's singles, Aline M. Terry in women's singles.

The British Ladies' Golf Union is formed under the direction of Lady Margaret Scott, 18, whose title helps give the game respectability for other women. She will be women's champion until her retirement from competitive play in 1895.

The Chicago Golf Club opens at Wheaton, Illinois, where Charles B. MacDonald has laid out the first 18-hole golf course in America (see White Sulphur Spring, Yonkers, 1888).

The distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate in baseball is fixed at 60 feet, six inches.

The U.S. racing yacht Vigilant defends the America's Cup by defeating Britain's Valkyrie 3 races to 0.