College championship
College football national championship – Harvard CrimsonProfessional championships
Western Pennsylvania champions – Duquesne Country and Athletic ClubEvents
The Morgan Athletic Club, which will eventually become Arizona Cardinals, is founded in Chicago and is the sport's oldest professional team.3 December — the Western Pennsylvania All-Stars are defeated by the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club, 16–0, in the very first all-star game for professional football.England
The Football League – Sheffield United 42 points, Sunderland 37, Wolves 35, Everton 35, Sheffield Wednesday 33, Aston Villa 33FA Cup final – Nottingham Forest 3–1 Derby County at Crystal Palace, London.Both the Football League First and Second Divisions are expanded from 16 to 18 teams in 1898, bringing the total number of League sides to 36. Additionally, the test match system is abandoned in favour of automatic relegation and promotion. There is no relegation from the First Division in 1898, Burnley and Newcastle United being promoted to increase the number of teams to 18. To increase the size of the Second Division, Burslem Port Vale is restored to the League; Barnsley, Glossop (1898–1915) and New Brighton Tower (1898–1901) are elected for the first time.Italy
Formation of the Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio or FIGC) in Turin. It is also known as Federcalcio.Scotland
Scottish Football League – CelticScottish Cup – Rangers 2–0 Kilmarnock at Hampden ParkRonald J. MacDonald wins the second running of the Boston Marathon.VFL Premiership
Fitzroy wins the 2nd VFL Premiership: Fitzroy 5.8 (38) d Essendon 3.5 (23) at Junction OvalNational championship
National League championship – Boston Beaneaters. This is Boston's fifth championship in eight years under manager Frank Selee.Events
22 April — multiple no-hitters are thrown on the same day by two players: Ted Breitenstein and Jay Hughes.USA
23 April – The 23rd Street YMCA of New York City wins the first national basketball championship tournament, organized by the U.S. Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).Lineal world champions
World Heavyweight Championship – Bob FitzsimmonsWorld Middleweight Championship – vacant → Tommy RyanWorld Welterweight Championship – Tommy Ryan → Ryan vacates title → "Mysterious" Billy SmithWorld Lightweight Championship – George "Kid" LavigneWorld Featherweight Championship – Solly Smith → Dave Sullivan → George DixonWorld Bantamweight Championship – Jimmy BarryEngland
County Championship – YorkshireMinor Counties Championship – WorcestershireMost runs – Bobby Abel 2053 @ 48.88 (HS 219)Most wickets – Jack Hearne 222 @ 14.05 (BB 9–68)Wisden Five Cricketers of the Year – Wilfred Rhodes, Bill Storer, Charlie Townsend, Albert Trott, William LockwoodAustralia
Sheffield Shield – VictoriaMost runs – Clem Hill 1196 @ 66.44 (HS 200)Most wickets – Ernie Jones 76 @ 21.75 (BB 7–80)India
Bombay Presidency – ParseesSouth Africa
Currie Cup – TransvaalWest Indies
Inter-Colonial Tournament – not contestedWorld Figure Skating Championships
World Men's Champion – Henning Grenander (Sweden)Major tournaments
British Open – Harry VardonU.S. Open – Fred HerdOther tournaments
British Amateur – Freddie TaitUS Amateur – Findlay S. DouglasEvents
11 June — Willie Simms becomes the only African-American jockey to win all three races of the United States Triple Crown Races when he rides Sly Fox to victory in the Preakness Stakes.England
Grand National – Drogheda1,000 Guineas Stakes – Nun Nicer2,000 Guineas Stakes – DisraeliEpsom Derby – JeddahEpsom Oaks – Airs and GracesSt. Leger Stakes – WildflowerAustralia
Melbourne Cup – The GrafterCanada
Queen's Plate – Bon InoIreland
Irish Grand National – PorridgeIrish Derby Stakes – Noble HowardUSA
Kentucky Derby – PlauditPreakness Stakes – Sly FoxBelmont Stakes – Bowling BrookStanley Cup
5 March — Montreal Victorias wins the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) championship and the Stanley Cup. It is the club's fourth AHAC championship in a row and second straight Cup title.Events
10 December — first championship ice hockey league, the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) disbands over a dispute to allow a new member in its senior league. The Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL) is formed to replace it, from the clubs seceding from AHAC.Paris-Amsterdam-Paris Trail
The 1898 Paris–Amsterdam–Paris Trail is run on 7–13 July over 1431 km and won by Fernand Charron driving a Panhard-Levassor in a time of 33:04:34. The race is in retrospect sometimes referred to as the III Grand Prix de l'ACF.The Boat Race
26 March — Oxford wins the 55th Oxford and Cambridge Boat RaceEvents
Dewsbury RLFC foundedEngland
Championship – not contestedChallenge Cup final – Batley 7–0 Bradford FC at Headingley Stadium, LeedsLancashire League Championship – OldhamYorkshire League Championship – HunsletHome Nations Championship
16th Home Nations Championship series is not completedEvents
London Irish foundedSpeed Skating World Championships
Men's All-round Champion – Peder Østlund (Norway)England
Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Reginald Doherty (GB) defeats Laurence Doherty (GB) 6–3 6–3 2–6 5–7 6–1Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Charlotte Cooper Sterry (GB) defeats Louisa Martin (GB) 6–4 6–4France
French Men's Singles Championship – Paul Aymé defeats Paul Lebreton: details unknownFrench Women's Singles Championship – Françoise Masson wins: details unknownUSA
American Men's Singles Championship – Malcolm Whitman defeats Dwight F. Davis 3–6 6–2 6–2 6–1American Women's Singles Championship – Juliette Atkinson defeats Marion Jones 6–3 5–7 6–4 2–6 7–5