1959 in sports

American football

NFL Championship – Baltimore Colts won 31-16 over the New York Giants

August 14 – The American Football League is founded. Play would begin the following year.

Sugar Bowl (1958 season):

The Louisiana State Tigers won 7-0 over the Clemson Tigers to win the AP and Coaches Poll national championships

Association football

Brazil

Taca Brasil, as predecessor for Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, that first officially games held on August 23.

Turkey

Turkish National League, as predecessor for Super Lig of Turkey, that first officially game held on February 21.

Athletics

Pan American Games athletics held in Chicago with US sprinter Ray Norton winning three gold medals in the sprint events

Baseball

March 3 – The San Francisco Giants officially name their new stadium Candlestick Park.

May 26 – In what many experts call the greatest pitching performance in history, Harvey Haddix—suffering with a flu and sore throat—hurls a 12 inning perfect game for the Pittsburgh Pirates but loses in the 13th inning 0-1 on a Don Hoak fielding error to the Milwaukee Braves as lightning storms threaten the end of the game.

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers win 4 games to 2 over the Chicago White Sox. The Series MVP is Larry Sherry, Los Angeles

The Havana Sugar Kings defeate the Richmond Virginians to win the International League Governors' Cup.

The Minneapolis Millers win the American Association championship.

Havana wins 4 games to 3 over Minneapolis to win the Junior World Series.

The Salt Lake City Bees win the Pacific Coast League pennant.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes win the Northern League championship.

Basketball

FIBA World Championship

Brazil World Champion

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship –

California wins 71-70 over West Virginia

NBA Finals|NBA Finals –

Boston Celtics win 4 games to 0 over the Minneapolis Lakers

Boxing

June 26 – in New York City, Ingemar Johansson scored a 3rd-round TKO over Floyd Patterson to win the World Heavyweight Championship

August 27 to September 7 – Pan American Games held in Chicago, United States

Canadian football

Grey Cup – Winnipeg Blue Bombers win 21-7 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Cricket

During a Currie Cup match against Natal at the Jan Smuts Ground in East London in December, Border set the record (which still stands) for the lowest aggregate score by a first class side in a match. Border scored 34 runs in the match – 16 in the first innings and 18 in the second innings.

Curling

Inaugural World Curling Championships held in Falkirk and Edinburgh for men only and known as the "Scotch Cup"; it is won by a Canadianteam from Regina, Saskatchewan, skipped by Ernie Richardson

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships –

Men's champion: David Jenkins, United States

Ladies' champion: Carol Heiss, United States

Pair skating champion: Barbara Wagner & Robert Paul, Canada

Ice dancing champion: Doreen Denny & Courtney Jones, Great Britain

Golf

Men's professional

Masters Tournament – Art Wall, Jr.

U.S. Open – Billy Casper

British Open – Gary Player

PGA Championship – Bob Rosburg

PGA Tour money leader – Art Wall, Jr. – $53,168

Ryder Cup – United States 8½ to 3½ over Britain in team golf

Men's amateur

British Amateur – Deane Beman

U.S. Amateur – Jack Nicklaus

Women's professional

Women's Western Open – Betsy Rawls

LPGA Championship – Betsy Rawls

U.S. Women's Open – Mickey Wright

Titleholders Championship – Louise Suggs

LPGA Tour money leader – Betsy Rawls – $26,774

Horse racing

Steeplechases

Cheltenham Gold Cup – Roddy Owen

Grand National – Oxo

Flat races

Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Macdougal

Canadian Triple Crown races:

1. Queen's Plate – New Providence
2. Prince of Wales Stakes – New Providence
3. Breeders' Stakes – New Providence

New Providence becomes the first horse ever to win all three races.

France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Saint Crespin

Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Fidalgo

English Triple Crown races:

1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Taboun
2. Epsom Derby – Parthia
3. St. Leger Stakes – Cantelo

United States Triple Crown races:

1. Kentucky Derby – Tomy Lee
2. Preakness Stakes – Royal Orbit
3. Belmont Stakes – Sword Dancer

Ice hockey

Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Dickie Moore, Montreal Canadiens

Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers

Stanley Cup – Montreal Canadiens win 4 games to 1 over the Toronto Maple Leafs

World Hockey Championship

Men's champion: Belleville McFarlands from Canada

NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux defeat Michigan State University Spartans 4-3 in overtime in Troy, New York

The Hershey Bears defeat the Buffalo Bisons 4 games to 2 to win the AHL Calder Cup.

The Louisville Rebels defeat the Fort Wayne Komets 4 games to 2 to win the IHL Turner Cup.

On November 1, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante was injured when struck in the face by a flying puck. He offers to return to play on the condition that he wears his goalie mask. His example soon leads to the mask becoming standard equipment for goalies and a symbol of the game itself.

The TV-pucken tournament starts.

Motor racing

January 22 – Mike Hawthorn, reigning Formula One World Drivers' Champion, is killed in a road crash in his Jaguar Mark 1

Stock car racing –

Lee Petty in the #42 Plymouth wins the inaugural Daytona 500 in a photo finish

NASCAR Championship – Lee Petty (Plymouth)

May 30 – Rodger Ward wins the 43rd running of the Indianapolis 500 in the Leader Cards 500 Special Watson–Offenhauser

USAC Racing – Rodger Ward

Formula One – John A. Brabham (Australia) is World Drivers' Champion, in a Cooper T51–Climax.

24 Hours of Le Mans – Carroll Shelby / Roy Salvadori win, sharing an Aston Martin DBR1

Rally racing – Paul Coltelloni / Pierre Alexandre win the Monte Carlo Rally, sharing a Citroën ID

Drag racing –

Chris "the Greek" Karamesines wins the AHRA Top Fuel title

Rodney Singer wins Top Eliminator at the NHRA Nationals

Rugby league

1959 New Zealand rugby league season

1958–59 Northern Rugby Football League season/1959–60 Northern Rugby Football League season

1959 NSWRFL season

Rugby union

65th Five Nations Championship series is won by France, the team's first outright championship title

Swimming

July 11 – US swimmer Michael Troy breaks his own, earlier in the day set first official world record (2:19.0) in the men's 200m butterfly (long course) at a meet in Los Altos, California, clocking 2:16.4.

July 19 – US swimmer Becky Collins breaks the world record in the women's 200m butterfly at a meet in Redding, California, clocking 2:37.0.

Tennis

Australia

Australian Men's Singles Championship – Alex Olmedo (USA) defeats Neale Fraser (Australia) 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3

Australian Women's Singles Championship – Mary Carter Reitano (Australia) defeats Renee Schuurman Haygarth (South Africa) 6–2, 6–3

England

Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – Alex Olmedo (USA) defeats Rod Laver (Australia) 6–4, 6–3, 6–4

Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – Maria Bueno (Brazil) defeats Darlene Hard (USA) 6–4, 6–3

France

French Men's Singles Championship –

French Women's Singles Championship –

USA

American Men's Singles Championship –

American Women's Singles Championship –

Davis Cup

1959 Davis Cup –  Australia 3–2  United States at West Side Tennis Club (grass) New York City, United States

Volleyball

Volleyball at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago won by USA (men) and Brazil (women)

Multi-sport events

Central American and Caribbean Games held in Caracas, Venezuela

Third Pan American Games held in Chicago, United States

Third Mediterranean Games held in Beirut, Lebanon

First Summer Universiade held in Turin, Italy

Awards

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Ingemar Johansson, Boxing

Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Maria Bueno, Tennis