See also: 1883 in sports, other events of 1884, 1885 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.

Baseball

• First World Series contested - Providence NL defeats New York AA, 3 games to none.

Boat race

• Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race - Cambridge

Football (Soccer)

• FA Cup - Blackburn Rovers beat Queen's Park (Glasgow) 2-1

Events

• Cresta Run constructed for skeleton
• Canadian Rugby Football Union , forerunner of the Canadian Football League established
• Gaelic Athletic Association founded to promote hurling and Gaelic football

Births

• Candy Jim Taylor, star player/manager in Negro League baseball
• August 3 - Georges Boillot, Grand Prix motor racing driver (d. 1916)
• August 4 - Henri Cornet, French cycling champion (d. 1941)

Deaths