- January 25
- San Diego Padres trade pitcher Dave Tomlin and US$125,000 to Texas Rangers for Gaylord Perry (he wins 1978 Cy Young Award). [1]
- January 29
- Joanne Carner wins Colgate Triple Crown Match-Play Golf Championship. [1]
- January 30
- Addie Joss and Larry MacPhail elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. [1]
- February 3
- Australia beats India 3-2 on 6th day of final test. [1]
- February 5
- Fred Newman makes 88 consecutive basketball free-throws blindfolded. [1]
- February 11
- 25th hat trick in New York Islanders' history-Denis Potvin. [1]
- February 12
- Debbie Austin wins LPGA American Cancer Society Golf Classic. [1]
- US female Figure Skating championship won by Linda Fratianne. [1]
- US male Figure Skating championship won by Charles Tickner. [1]
- February 14
- In girls' US high school basketball, Chicago Latin beats Harvard Saint George. [1]
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- February 15
- England all out 64 for first loss to New Zealand in cricket player (Boycott Captain). [1]
- Leon Spinks beats Muhammad Ali in 15 rounds for world heavyweight crown. [1]
- February 18
- First Iron Man Triathlon (swim, bike ride, marathon) held, Kona, Hawaii. [1]
- February 19
- Brigitte Kraus runs world record 1000 metre indoor (2:34.8). [1]
- February 20
- Jane Blalock wins LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic. [1]
- February 24
- Kevin Porter, New Jersey Nets, sets NBA record with 29 assists in a game. [1]
- February 25
- Botham scores first Test Cricket century, 103 versus New Zealand Christchurch. [1]
- February 26
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Bent Tree Golf Classic. [1]
- March 3
- First day of Test cricket for Desmond Haynes (West Indies versus Australia). [1]
- March 7
- Vancouver Canucks' Ron Sedlbauer fails on 5th penalty shot against New York Islanders. [1]
- March 9
- World Ice Dance Championship in Ottawa Canada won by Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov (USSR). [1]
- World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Ottawa won by Irina Rodnina and Alexandr Zaitsev (USSR). [1]
- World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Ottawa won by Anett Potzsch (German Democratic Republic). [1]
- World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Ottawa won by Charles Tickner (USA). [1]
- March 11
- University of San Francisco-led Bill Cartwright scores 23 points as the Dons oust North Carolina. [1]
- March 12
- Eric Heiden skates world record 1000 metre (1:14.99). [1]
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Sunstar Golf Classic. [1]
- March 14
- NFL permanently adds 7th official (side judge). [1]
- March 15
- Oakland Athletics trade Vida Blue to San Francisco Giants for seven players and US$390,000. [1]
- March 17
- Cincinnati Reds don green uniforms for Saint Patrick's Day. [1]
- March 19
- Sally Little wins LPGA Kathryn Crosby/Honda Civic Golf Classic. [1]
- March 20
- Philadelphia Flyers' Rick MacLeash scores on 6th penalty shot against New York Islanders. [1]
- March 21
- San Diego Padres fire Al Dark (second manager ever fired during spring training). [1]
- March 27
- 40th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kentucky beats Duke 94-88. [1]
- March 31
- Red Rum wins third consecutive Grand National and retires. [1]
- April 2
- 7th Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Sandra Post. [1]
- Basil Williams scores 100 on Test Cricket debut, versus Australia Georgetown. [1]
- April 6
- Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh by inning and 193 to win Ranji Trophy. [1]
- April 7
- US Court of Appeals upholds Commissioner Kuhn's voiding of attempted player sales by Oakland Athletics' owner Charlie Finley in June 1976. [1]
- April 9
- 42nd Golf Masters Championship: Gary Player wins, shooting a 277. [1]
- Milwaukee Brewers sweep Baltimore Orioles 11-3, 16-3, and 13-5 (each with a grand slam). [1]
- Denver Nuggets' David Thompson scores 73 points and San Antonio Spurs' George Gervin scores 63 points in seperate NBA games (33 in one quarter). [1]
- April 10
- Formation of the Major Indoor Soccer League is announced. [1]
- April 13
- New York Yankees defeat Chicago White Sox 4-2 in home opener on Reggie Candy Bar Day; Jackson slugs a three-run homerun in the first inning, and the field is showered. [1]
- April 16
- Hollis Stacy wins LPGA Birmingham Golf Classic. [1]
- Saint Louis Cardinals' Bob Forsch no-hits Philadelphia Phillies, 5-0. [1]
- April 17
- 7th Boston Women's Marathon won by Gayle Barron of Georgia in 2:44:52. [1]
- 82nd Boston Marathon won by Bill Rodgers of Massachusetts in 2:10:13. [1]
- April 22
- Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by Earl Anthony. [1]
- April 23
- Amy Alcott wins LPGA American Defender Golf Classic. [1]
- Cincinnati Reds' Joe Morgan ends record streak of 91 consecutive errorless games at second base. [1]
- April 24
- California Angels' Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 Mariners, 20th time he has 15 in game. [1]
- April 27
- 14th Mayor's Trophy Game, New York Yankees beat New York Mets 4-3 in 11 innings. [1]
- April 30
- Janet Coles wins LPGA Natural Light Lady Tara Golf Classic. [1]
- May 2
- NBA championship: Portland Trail Blazers win in four games. [1]
- May 3
- Anderlecht wins 18th Europe Cup II. [1]
- Last cricket test match appearance for Bobby Simpson, at Kingston. [1]
- West Indies all set to lose cricket test versus Australia at Kingston till riots end game. [1]
- May 5
- Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds gets his 3,000th major league hit (14th player to do so). [1] [841]
- May 6
- 104th Kentucky Derby: Steve Cauthen aboard Affirmed wins in 2:01.2. [1]
- May 8
- Jan Stephenson wins LPGA Women's International Golf Tournament. [1]
- May 9
- PSV beats Bastica, 3-0, to win UEFA Cup in Eindhoven, Netherlands. [1]
- May 10
- Liverpool wins 23rd Europe Cup I. [1]
- May 13
- Henry Rono of Kenya sets record for 3,000 metre steeplechase (8:05.4). [1]
- May 14
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Greater Baltimore Golf Classic. [1]
- May 17
- Lee Lacy hits record third consecutive pinch-hit homerun. [1]
- May 18
- Sarajevo is selected to host the 1984 Winter Olympics and Los Angeles is selected to host the 1984 Summer Olympics. [841]
- May 20
- 104th Preakness: Steve Cauthen aboard Affirmed wins in 1:54.4. [1]
- May 21
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Coca-Cola Golf Classic. [1]
- May 23
- American League approves transfer of Boston Red Sox to Jean Yawkey for US$15 million. [1]
- May 25
- Stanley Cup: Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins, 4 games to 2. [1]
- May 28
- In Indianapolis, Indiana, the 62nd Indianapolis 500 race is held. A 1978 Corvette is the official pace car, driven by Jim Rathmann. Al Unser is fifth to win the race three time (average speed of 161.363 mph). [1] [8] [841]
- May 29
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Golden Lights Golf Championship. [1]
- June 1
- The 1978 FIFA World Cup starts in Argentina. [841]
- June 7
- Bullets beat Seattle Supersonics for NBA championship, 4 games to 3. [1]
- June 9
- Larry Holmes wins a decision over Ken Norton for the WBC crown. [1]
- June 10
- New York Yankees trade Ken Holzman for Ron Davis. [1]
- June 14
- Down 9-7 in 10th with two outs, New York Yankees Paul Blair hits a three-run home run. [1]
- June 16
- Cincinnati Reds' player Tom Seaver no-hits Saint Louis Cardinals, 4-0. [1]
- June 17
- Ron Guidry sets New York Yankees' record with 18 strike-outs. [1]
- June 19
- Cricketer Ian Botham becomes the first man in the history of the game to score a century and take 8 wickets in 1 inning of a Test match. [841]
- June 20
- First six teams of Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) granted-Iowa. [1]
- June 25
- Argentina defeats the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time to win the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina. [1] [841]
- June 27
- Henry Rono of Kenya sets record for 3000m, 7:32.1. [1]
- June 30
- Larry Doby becomes manager of the Chicago White Sox. [1]
- Willie McCovey becomes the 12th to hit 500 home runs. [1]
- July 2
- Pitcher Ron Guidry sets New York Yankees record of 13-0 start. [1]
- July 7
- Martina Navratilova captures Wimbledon defeating Chris Evert. [1]
- July 8
- Björn Borg of Sweden wins third consecutive title at Wimbledon. [1]
- July 11
- National League beats American League 7-3 in 49th All Star Game (San Diego Stadium). [1]
- July 18
- Billy Martin suspends Reggie Jackson for not bunting. [1]
- July 23
- Philadelphia Phillies' Steve Carlon becomes 78th pitcher to win 200. [1]
- July 24
- Billy Martin resigns as New York Yankees' manager. [1] [56]
- July 25
- Bob Lemon replaces Billy Martin as New York Yankees' manager. [1]
- Cincinnati Reds' Pete Rose sets National League record hitting in 38 consecutive games. [1]
- July 29
- Penny Dean swims English Channel in record 7 hours 40 minutes. [1]
- August 1
- Pete Rose goes hitless, ends his 44-game hitting streak (ties National League record). [1]
- August 5
- New Orleans Saints beat Philadelphia Eagles 14-7 in Mexico City (NFL expo). [1]
- August 9
- New York Yankees score five in bottom of 9th to beat Milwaukee Brewers 8-7. [1]
- August 13
- New York Yankees score five runs in top of 7th, but rain causes game to be halted and thus score goes back to previous inning, Baltimore Orioles wins 3-0. [1]
- August 27
- Cincinnati Reds' Joe Morgan is first to hit 200 home runs and have 500 stolen bases. [1]
- New York Yankees' Catfish Hunter's 6-2 win gives him a perfect 6-0 for the month. [1]
- August 28
- Donald Vesco rides 21-foot long Kawasaki motorcycle at 318.598 mph. [1]
- September 1
- Jacqueline Smith of Great Britain scores ten straight dead center strikes on a 4-inch disk in World Parachute Championships in Yugoslavia. [1]
- September 2
- Graham Salmon set the world's record for 100 metres by a blind man. [1]
- Reggie Jackson is 19th player to hit 20 home runs in 11 straight years. [1]
- September 4
- New York Yankees' pitcher Ron Guidry wins his 20th (on way to 25-3 season). [1]
- September 7
- First game of the Boston Massacre, New York Yankees beat Boston Red Sox 15-3. [1]
- September 8
- Second game of the Boston Massacre; New York Yankees beat Boston Red Sox 13-2. [1]
- September 9
- Third game of the Boston Massacre; New York Yankees beat Boston Red Sox 7-0. [1]
- Baltimore Orioles pull their 7th triple play (5-4-3 versus Toronto Blue Jays). [1]
- September 10
- Arlyne Rhode sets female footbow distance record (1,113 yards and 30 inches). [1]
- 4th game of the Boston Massacre; New York Yankees beat Boston Red Sox 7-4. This ties them for first place. Yankees out-hit Red Sox 67-21; score 42-9. [1]
- September 13
- New York Yankees win to gain sole possession of first place from 14 games back. [1]
- September 15
- Muhammad Ali beats WBA heavyweight champion Leon Spinks. [1]
- New York Yankees beat Boston Red Sox 4-0, Guidry wins number 22, Yankees lead 2.5 games. [1]
- September 16
- New York Yankees beat Boston Red Sox for 6th time in two weeks, 3-2. [1]
- September 24
- Ron Guidry beats Cleveland Indians 4-0, raising his record to 23-3 ERA 1.74. [1]
- September 30
- Major Indoor Soccer League grants first six franchises to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. [1]
- Philadelphia Phillies win third consecutive National League East Division title. [1]
- October 1
- New York Yankees lose 9-2 to Cleveland Indians forcing a playoff game with Boston Red Sox. [1]
- October 2
- The New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 at Fenway Park to clinch the American League East after being 14 games out of first place only two months earlier. [1] [841]
- October 6
- Kansas City Royals' George Brett hits three home runs, New York Yankees win championship game 3, 6-5. [1]
- October 7
- The Los Angeles Dodgers win their second straight National League pennant. [56]
- October 8
- New York Yankees win third straight American League Championship, all against Kansas City. [1]
- Australia's Ken Warby sets the world water speed record of 317.6 mph (511.13 km/h) at Blowering Dam, Australia. [1] [841]
- October 14
- Despite Denis Potvin's hat trick in 3:21, New York Islanders lose 7-10, making Islanders' record when scoring a hat trick 22-2-1. [1]
- October 17
- At Dodger Stadium, the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-2, to take their twenty-second World Championship. New York's shortstop Bucky Dent is named the World Series MVP. [56] [841]
- October 24
- NHL Toronto Maple Leafs set own team record of 28 points versus New York Islanders. [1]
- October 28
- Donald Ritchie runs the fastest 100km ever, doing it in 7.2722 seconds. [1]
- November 5
- Oakland Raiders' John Madden becomes 13th coach to win 100 NFL games. [1]
- November 9
- NASL realigns its 24 teams into six divisions. [1]
- November 10
- New York Yankees trade Lyle, Rajsich, McCall, Heath and Ramos to Texas Rangers for Righetti, Mirabella, Beniquez, Jemison and Griffin. [1]
- November 16
- Major Indoor Soccer League holds its first draft. [1]
- November 25
- Thomas Hearns knocks out Jerome Hill in two rounds in his first pro fight. [1]
- December 1
- Test Cricket debut of Rodney Hogg, versus England at the Gabba. [1]
- December 3
- Pat Bradley/Lon Hinkle win LPGA J C Penney Golf Classic. [1]
- December 5
- Free agent Pete Rose signs 4-year, US$32 million contract with Philadelphia Phillies, making Rose highest paid baseball player. [1] [56]
- New York Islanders take 28 shots in one period versus Pittsburgh Penguins; Penguins' Ross Lonsberry fails on 7th penalty shot against Islanders. [1]
- December 7
- New York Islanders' Mike Bossy's first career hat trick. [1]
- December 8
- Commencement of the first day/night WSC cricket supertest at VFL Park. [1]
- December 9
- First game of the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL), Chicago Hustle versus Milwaukee Does. [1]
- December 10
- 67th Davis Cup: USA beats Great Britain in Rancho Mirage (4-1). [1]
- New York Islanders end 15-game undefeated streak (12-0-3) to Montreal Canadiens. [1]
- December 15
- Test Cricket debut of Malcolm Marshall, versus India at Bangalore. [1]
- December 20
- Don Blasingame becomes the first American not of Japanese descent to be named as a manager of a Japanese team. The former major league second baseman will pilot the Hanshin Tigers. [56]
- December 23
- New York Islanders score 7 goals in one period against the New York Rangers, Trottier scores 8 points, five goals-NHL record six points in one period. [1]
- December 28
- 30th hat trick in New York Islanders' history (Mike Bossy). [1]
- December 29
- Test Cricket debut of Allan Robert Border, versus England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. [1]
- December 30
- Ohio State dismisses Woody Hayes as its football coach. [1]
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