Years in sports:	1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873
Centuries:	18th century · 19th century · 20th century
Decades:	1840s 1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s
Years:	1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873

Contents 1 Baseball 2 Football 3 Football (Soccer) 4 Golf 5 Yacht racing 6 Births 7 Rowing

Baseball

• June 14 - Atlantic of Brooklyn defeats the Cincinnati Red Stockings, 8 to 7 in 11 innings, the first Red Stockings' defeat since October 3, 1868.

With the score 5-5 after nine innings, Atlantic is happy to call a draw but Cincinnati manager Harry Wright insists on playing to a decision. After a tense 10th inning, the Red Stockings score two in the 11th but the Atlantics come back with three in their turn and all Brooklyn becomes delirious with joy.

Upon returning to his hotel room and composing himself, team president Aaron Champion sends a telegram to the Cincinnati Commercial: "ATLANTIC 8 CINCINNATI 7 STOP FINEST GAME EVER PLAYED STOP OUR BOYS DID NOBLY BUT FORTUNE WAS AGAINST US STOP THOUGH BEATEN NOT DISGRACED STOP"

Football

• Columbia joins and loses to Rutgers in only game. Princeton beats Rutgers. Columbia doesn't play Princeton.

Football (Soccer)

• March 5 – First unofficial match, draw 0-0, from England and Scotland played at Kennington Oval

Golf

• British Open - Tom Morris, Jr.

Yacht racing

• April 8 - The New York Yacht Club wins the first America's Cup challenge race, as Magic defeats British challenger Cambria, of the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Births

• January 16 — Willie Simms, Hall of Fame jockey (d. 1927)
• July 29 — George Dixon, the first black world boxing champion (d. 1909)
• October 18 — Josiah Ritchie, British tennis player (d. 1955)
• December 28 — Charles Bennett, British athlete (d. 1949)

Rowing

• Australian Universities Boat Race - Melbourne 31 mins 4 seconds
• Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race - Cambridge