1939 in sports
See also:
1938 in sports,
Other events of 1939,
1940 in sports
Many sporting events did not take place because of World War II.
Baseball
\n* January 24: Hall of Fame election: The goal of 10 initial inductees from the 20th century is finally met as voters select George Sisler, Eddie Collins, and Willie Keeler.\n* April 23: Pitcher Alejandro "Alex" Carrasquel made his major league debut with the Washington Senators. He became the first baseball player from Venezuela to play Major League Baseball.\n* May 2: Cap Anson, Buck Ewing, Charles "Hoss" Radbourn, Albert Spalding, Charles Comiskey, and Candy Cummings are named to the Hall of Fame by a special committee, just weeks before the Hall opens. Along with the previous selections of Cy Young and Keeler in the writers' elections, Anson, Ewing and Radbourn arguably complete the 5 initial inductees from the 19th century which were promised but long delayed; Spalding, Comiskey and Cummings were largely elected as pioneers and contributors.\n* June 12: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated in Cooperstown, New York.\n* July 4: Lou Gehrig announces his retirement from the game at Yankee Stadium.\n* World Series: New York Yankees defeat Cincinnati Reds, 4-0.\n* December: A special election results in Lou Gehrig being selected to the Hall of Fame; he had announced his retirement after the Hall's June opening.
Snooker
\n*World Snooker Championship: Joe Davis beats Sidney Smith 43-30
Births
\n*February 27 – Peter Revson, F1 race car driver (d. 1974)\n*October 11 – Maria Bueno, future tennis champion
Deaths
\n*November 28 – James Naismith, Canadian who invented the game of basketball.
