Comparing Pandemics Effect On Sports in 1918 vs. 2020

By: Rayoni Matos

Does how sports were in 1918 give us an inkling of what is to come for sports today? 


The Spanish Flu Pandemic in 1918 was one of the most catastrophic instances in world history. An estimated fifty to one hundred million people died during the fifteen months that it lasted, and more than five hundred million people were infected worldwide. The COVID-19 Pandemic that has affected us in the last six months has halted sports seasons, and prevented others from starting. There have been on-going talks, and plans being laid about potential re-starts, and kicks offs but none of us truly know if they will happen, when they will happen, or how they will look upon returning. The technological advancements, and availability of information developed over the last century don’t allow us to directly compare these instances but is at least able to give us insight on how the sports world dealt with this back then. The main factors playing a role in deciding the immediate future of sports is, one of course, everyone’s health and safety, and two the financial aspects of it all. 

The first case of the Spanish Flu appeared in March, but that did not prevent the MLB from starting their season on their scheduled date of April 16th, 1918, the only effect it had on the season was that it was shortened a month towards the end. In 1919, the season started a week later than it had before. Throughout those two seasons masks were common, with MLB players, umpires, and managers all wearing them in games. Spectators were allowed but all also had to wear masks. 


This was an intriguing time for college athletics because not only was the pandemic going on but World War l was also still winding down. It is much more complex for collegiate athletics to work through this, and find resolutions for the upcoming season. There are so many schools within different conferences and throughout the country certain areas have been affected more than others. For instance, if schools in a certain conference are in a less affected region their chances of having a season is astronomically greater than a school who is in a harder hit area. Unlike professional sports who have a more wholesome governing body, neither the NCAA or respective conferences make decisions for each institution, it is ultimately what universities decide is best for themselves. In 1918, college football did not start until October and November and the teams that participated played a shorter season. There were eighteen teams that did not play at all that season, and charity games were a big hit. Fans attending MLB and college football games also wore masks. 


As the flu developed and expanded greatly through large crowds, high school games were canceled, and the 1919 Stanley Cup finals were all canceled after players from both teams became ill. The world has changed a lot since 1918, and the availability of information and technology has greatly helped us contain this virus, and minimize its’ true strength. Decisions were made early on to halt sports as a whole world wide, and as much as we all wanted sports to have continued, sports industry leaders made the right call and played a great role in saving lives. As sports slowly coming back starts trending, we’re stuck in anticipation of what that might look like, not only now but for seasons to come. Team revenues, TV deals, League Salary Caps, Player Contracts, Ticket Sales & Merchandising, Sponsorship Deals are a few things that will certainly be impacted, at least until there is a vaccine. The world of sports has been in shambles throughout this pandemic but with time, and great leadership from individuals in our great industry sports will rise again. No matter what they look like, we are ready to re-join and support the greatness of sports around us. 

Sources:
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-photo-mask-georgia-tech-1918-pandemic-flu-coronavirus-20200525-fbkqrf6tqjgf7plck2emfjdjvi-story.html

https://www.si.com/college/tmg/tony-barnhart/spanish-flu

https://sports.yahoo.com/coronavirus-heres-what-sports-looked-like-during-the-1918-spanish-flu-pandemic-184042838.html
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