Wikipedia: 1975 in sports

1975 in sports
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

See also: 1974 in sports, other events of 1975, 1976 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.

Auto Racing

Stock car racing:
- Benny Parsons won the Daytona 500
- NASCAR Championship - Richard Petty
Indianapolis 500 - Bobby Unser
USAC Racing - A.J. Foyt won the season championship
Formula One Championship - Niki Lauda of Austria
24 hours of Le Mans:
- the team of Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell won, driving a Mirage GR8
Rally racing - the team of Sandro Munari / Mario Manucci won the Monte Carlo Rally driving a Lancia Stratos HF
Drag racing - Don Garlits won the NHRA "Top Fuel" championship.

October 1 in Manila, Philippines Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier to maintain the Heavyweight Championship of the world. Known as the Thrilla In Manila, many regard it as the greatest fight in boxing history.

World Figure Skating Championships:
- Men's champion: Sergej Wolkow, Soviet Union
- Women's champion: Dianne de Leeuw, Netherlands
- Pairs champions: Irina Rodnina & Alexander Saizew, Soviet Union

Women's Golf

US Women's Open - Sandra Palmer
LPGA Championship - Kathy Whitworth
Sandra Palmer is the leading money winner on the LPGA tour with earnings of $94,805.

July 6 - In what was billed as the "Battle of the sexes," Kentucky Derby winner, Foolish Pleasure went head to head in a match race against the undefeated filly, Ruffian. In the lead, Ruffian broke a leg and after an unsuccessful operation to save her, the horse most believe to be the greatest thoroughbred filly ever, was humanely put down.
Australia - Melbourne Cup - Think Big
Canada - Queen's Plate - L'Enjoleur
France - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Star Appeal
Ireland - Irish Derby Stakes - Grundy
English Triple Crown Races:
1. Two Thousand Guineas Stakes - Bolkonski
2. Epsom Derby - Grundy
3. St. Leger Stakes - Bruni
United States Triple Crown Races:
1. Kentucky Derby - Foolish Pleasure
2. Preakness Stakes - Master Derby
3. Belmont Stakes - Avatar

Alpine Skiing
- The men's overall season champion: Gustavo Thoeni, Italy
- The women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria

1975 cricket World Cup, the first to be held. West Indies beat Australia by 17 runs.
August 12, - In Gothenburg, Sweden, New Zealander, John Walker set a new world record becoming the first man to break 3:50 for the mile when he clocked 3:49.4.
Ray Reardon won the World Professional Snooker Champion
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion:
- Emmitt Peters won with lead dogs: Nugget & Digger

January 5 - Don Wilson, Major League Baseball pitcher (1966-1974)
March 21 - Joe Medwick, Major League Baseball player (1932-1948)
May 22 - Lefty Grove, Major League Baseball pitching great (1925-1941)
May 27 - Ezzard Charles, Heavyweight Boxing Champion
June 4 - Wendell Ladner, NBA basketball player, died in a plane crash
July 7 - Ruffian, undefeated filly race horse who broke a leg during a match race the previous day and had to put down after an usuccessful operation.
August 17 - Vladimir Kuts, Russian distance runner, Olympic gold medalist
September 29 - Casey Stengel, NY Yankee manager (1949-60)
November 29 - Graham Hill, F1 race car champion, died when the plane he was piloting, crashed
December 1 - Nellie Fox, Major League Baseball player (1947-1965)