Athletes and Sports Stars Born in 1926

Feb 18 Len Ford, American AAFC and NFL two-way end, 1948-58 (Cleveland Browns, and 2 other teams; 3 x NFL Champion, 4 X Pro Bowl), born in Washington D.C. (d. 1972)
Feb 20 Bob Richards, American athlete (Olympic gold pole vault 1952, 56; bronze 1948), born in Champaign, Illinois (d. 2023)
Feb 20 Edgar Meuli, cricketer (opened NZ batting in Test v South Africa 1953)
Feb 26 Efraín Sánchez, Colombian soccer goalkeeper (9 caps; San Lorenzo) and manager (Columbia), born in Barranquilla, Colombia (d. 2020)
Mar 1 Allan Stanley, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman (Stanley Cup 1962-64, 67; NHL All-Star 1960, 61, 66; Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Timmins, Ontario (d. 2013)

Pete Rozelle (1926-1996)

Mar 1 American football executive (NFL Commissioner 1960-89), born in South Gate, California

Mar 6 Ann Curtis, 400m/800m US swimmer (Olympics 2 gold-1948), (d. 2012)
Mar 12 Freddie Williams, Welsh motorcycle speedway rider (World C'ship 1950, 1953; Wembley Lions), born in Port Talbot, Wales (d. 2013)
Mar 12 Georgios Darivas, Greek soccer forward (16 caps; Olympiacos 270 games) and manager (Olympiacos 1971, 75-76), born in Athens, Greece (d. 2024)
Mar 15 Norm Van Brocklin, American Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (NFL MVP 1960; First-team All-Pro 1960; 9 × Pro Bowl; LA Rams, Philadelphia Eagles) and coach (Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons), born in Parade, South Dakota (d. 1983)
Mar 18 Dick Littlefield, American baseball player (d. 1997)
Mar 22 Billy Goodman, American baseball infielder (MLB All-Star 1949, 53; AL batting champion 1950; Boston Red Sox), born in Concord, North Carolina (d. 1984)
Mar 23 Johnny Logan, American baseball shortstop (World Series 1957 Boston / Milwaukee Braves; MLB All Star 1955, 57, 58, 59²), born in Endicott, New York (d. 2013)
Mar 24 Guillermo Timoner, Spanish cyclist (UCI Motor-paced World C'ships 1955, 59, 60, 62, 64, 65), born in Felanitx, Spain (d. 2023)
Mar 25 László Papp, Hungarian boxer (Olympic gold-1948, 1952, 1956), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2003) [1]
Mar 28 Polly Umrigar, Indian cricket all-rounder & captain (59 Tests, 12 x 100, HS 223, 35 wickets; Bombay, Gujarat), born in Solapur, India (d. 2006)
Apr 1 Denis Lalanne, French sports journalist ('Le grand combat du XV de France'; 'Rugbymania: French flair attitude'), born in Pau, France (d. 2019)
Apr 2 Jack Brabham, Australian auto racer and team owner (World F1 champion 1959, 60, 66 [only man to win F1 C'ship driving one of his own cars]), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2014)
Apr 3 Alex Grammas, American baseball player, manager and coach, born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 2019)
Apr 17 Gerry McNeil, Canadian ice hockey player, born in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (d. 2004)
Apr 18 Doug Insole, English cricketer (England batsman of the 50's, nine Tests), born in Clapton, London (d. 2017)
Apr 21 Arthur Rowley, English soccer forward (most goals in English league football, 434 from 619 games; Leicester City, Shrewsbury Town), born in Wolverhampton, England (d. 2002)
Apr 26 David Coleman, British sports commentator (BBC 1954-2000), born in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England (d. 2013)
Apr 26 Preston Robert Tisch, American businessman (co-founder of Loews Corp), and NFL co-owner (NY Giants, 1991-2005), born in New York City (d. 2005)
May 4 Pascual Pérez, Argentine boxer (World flyweight champion 1954-60; Olympic gold Flyweight 1948), born in Mendoza, Argentina (d. 1977)
May 5 Doug Cowie, Scottish soccer defender (20 caps; Dundee FC 341 games), born in Aberdeen, Scotland (d. 2021)
May 7 Charles Wolf, American basketball coach (Cincinnati Royals 1960-63, Detroit Pistons 1963-64), born in Covington, Kentucky (d. 2022)
May 20 Bob Sweikert, American race car driver (d. 1956)
May 24 Len Maddocks, Australian cricket wicket-keeper (7 Tests, 19 dismissals; Victoria, Tasmania), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2016)

Bill Sharman (1926-2013)

May 25 American Basketball HOF guard (8 × NBA All-Star; 4 x NBA C'ship; Boston Celtics) and coach (NBA C'ship 1972 LA Lakers), born in Abilene, Texas

May 27 Gordon Leggat, New Zealand cricket batsman (9 Tests, 2 x 50; Canterbury), born in Wellington, New Zealand (d. 1973)
May 27 Kees Rijvers, Dutch soccer midfielder (33 caps; NAC Breda, Saint-Étienne, Feyenoord) and manager (FC Twente, PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), born in Breda, Netherlands (d. 2024)
May 31 Probir Sen, Indian cricket wicketkeeper (14 Tests, 31 dismissals; Bengal), born in Comilla, Bangladesh (d. 1970)
Jun 1 Darel Dieringer, American auto racer (181 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races for 7 wins and 79 top 10 finishes), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1989)
Jun 1 Johnny Berry, English soccer right winger (4 caps; Manchester United, Birmingham City), born in Aldershot, England (d. 1994)
Jun 9 Roy Smalley Jr., American MLB shortstop (Cubs, Braves, Phillies, Twins, Yankees), born in Springfield, Missouri (d. 2011)
Jun 14 Don Newcombe, American baseball pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; World Series 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers; NL MVP & Cy Young Award 1956), born in Madison, New Jersey (d. 2019)
Jun 15 Basil Watts, English rugby league second rower (5 Tests Great Britain, 1 England; World Cup 1954; York RLFC), born in York, England (d. 2019)

Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926-2014)

Jul 4 Argentine soccer forward (Spain 31 caps, Argentina 6, Colombia 4; European Cup 1956-60; Real Madrid) and manager (European Cup Winners' Cup: 1980 Valencia), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jul 24 Hans Günter Winkler, German equestrian (Olympic gold Individual jumping 1956, team 1956, 60, 64, 72), born in Barmen, Germany (d. 2018)
Jul 25 Whitey Lockman, American baseball player, born in Lowell, North Carolina (d. 2009)
Jul 29 Don Carter, American pro bowler (6 x Bowler of the Year; first athlete to earn $1m in single endorsement deal [Ebonite International]), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2012)
Aug 2 Giancarlo Bergamini, Italian fencer (Olympic gold foil, team 1956; silver foil team 1952, individual 1956), born in Milan, Italy (d. 2020)
Aug 6 Clem Labine, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1956, 57; World Series 1955, 59, 60; Brooklyn / LA Dodgers, Detroit Tigers), born in Lincoln, Rhode Island (d. 2007)
Aug 7 John Woodcock, English cricket journalist ('The Times' 1954-88; Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1981-86; President Cricket Writers' Club 1986-2004), born in Longparish, England (d. 2021)
Aug 9 Denis Atkinson, West Indian cricketer (WI all-rounder, 219 v Australia 1955), born in Rockley, Christ Church, Barbados (d. 2001)
Aug 10 Tom Danby, English dual-code international wing: rugby union (1 cap; Harlequin RFC) and rugby league (3 caps England, 3 caps GB; Salford RLFC), born in Trimdon district, County Durham, England (d. 2022)
Aug 17 Hakon Barfod, Norwegian sailor (Olympic gold 1948, 52), born in Oslo, Norway (d. 2013)
Aug 20 Nobby Wirkowski, American-Canadian football player and coach (Toronto Argonauts), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2014)
Sep 1 Pat O'Sullivan, American golfer (Titleholders Championship 1951), born in Orange, Connecticut (d. 2019)
Sep 3 Bill Flemming, American journalist and sportscaster (ABC's Wide World of Sports), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2007)
Sep 4 Bert Olmstead, Canadian Hockey HOF left wing (Stanley Cup, Montreal Canadiens 1953, 56, 57, 58; Toronto Maple Leafs 1962), born in Sceptre, Saskatchewan (d. 2015)
Sep 4 Dennis Murphy, American sports entrepreneur (co-founder American Basketball Ass'n, World Hockey Ass'n, original World Team Tennis, Roller Hockey International), born in Shanghai, China (d. 2021)
Sep 7 Erich Juskowiak, German footballer, born in Oberhausen, Germany (d. 1983)
Sep 11 Alfred Slote, American children's books author (Love & Tennis, Omega Station), born in Brooklyn, New York
Sep 11 Eddie Miksis, American baseball player, born in Burlington, New Jersey (d. 2005)
Sep 13 Emile Francis, Canadian Hockey HOF coach (NY Rangers 1965-75; St. Louis Blues) and executive (GM: NY Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers), born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan (d. 2022) [1]
Sep 18 Bob Toski, American golfer, instructor (PGA Tour leading money winner 1954), born in Haydenville, Massachusetts
Sep 18 Bud Greenspan, American documentary maker (Olympic Games; IOC Olympic Order award 1985), born in New York City (d. 2010)

Duke Snider (1926-2011)

Sep 19 American Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder (8 x MLB All Star; World Series 1955, 59; Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers), born in Los Angeles, California

Sep 25 Sergei Filatov, Soviet equestrian dressage (Olympic gold 1960), born in Lysyye Gory, Tambov Governorate (d. 1997)
Sep 27 Steve Stavro, Canadian businessman and sports executive (owner Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors) and thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder (Knob Hill Stable, Newmarket Ontario), born in Gavros, Greece (d. 2006)
Sep 30 Robin Roberts, American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (7 x MLB All Star; won 28 consecutive complete games 1952-53; Philadelphia Phillies), born in Springfield, Illinois (d. 2010)
Oct 3 Marques Haynes, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard (Harlem Globetrotters), born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma (d. 2015)
Oct 10 Ralph Liguori, American auto racer (NASCAR Grand National Series 30 x Top 10; 5 x Top 5 finishes), born in New York City (d. 2020)
Oct 11 John Dewes, British cricketer (England opener late 40's early 50's), born in Latchford, Cheshire, England (d. 2015)
Oct 12 Hans Liebold, German auto racer (Nardo, Italy)
Oct 20 Ursula Happe, German swimmer (Olympic gold 200m backstroke 1956), born in Gdańsk, Poland (d. 2021)
Oct 21 Bob Rosburg, American golfer, analyst (PGA Championship 1959), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2009)
Oct 24 Y. A. Tittle, American NFL quarterback (Baltimore, San Francisco, NY Giants, MVP 1963), born in Marshall, Texas (d. 2017)
Oct 27 Nana Joshi, Indian cricket wicket-keeper (12 tests, 27 dismissals, 1 x 50; Maharashtra CC), born in Baroda, Gujarat, India (d. 1987)

Bowie Kuhn (1926-2007)

Oct 28 American Baseball HOF executive (MLB Commissioner 1969-1984), born in Takoma Park, Maryland

Oct 30 Jacques Swaters, Belgian racing driver, born in Woluwe-St-Lambert, Brussels, Belgium (d. 2010)
Nov 2 Myer "Whitey" Skoog, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1952, 53, 54 Minneapolis Lakers), born in Duluth, Minnesota (d. 2019)
Nov 11 Harry Lumley, Canadian ice hockey player, born in Owen Sound, Ontario (d. 1998)
Nov 11 Maria Teresa de Filippis, Italian racing car driver (first woman to complete in Formula One), born in Naples, Italy (d. 2016)
Nov 18 Estanislao Basora, Spanish footballer (The Monster of Colombes, 22 caps for Spain, 301 matches for Barcelona), born in Barcelona, Catalonia (d. 2012)
Nov 22 Lew Burdette, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1957, 59; World Series MVP 1957; no hitter 1960; Milwaukee Braves), born in Nitro, West Virginia (d. 2007)
Nov 22 Zulfiqar Ahmed, Pakistani cricket pace bowler (9 Tests, 20 wickets; Punjab, Bahawalpur), born in Lahore, Pakistan (d. 2008)
Dec 2 Hobie Billingsley, American ISHOF diving coach (Indiana University 1959-89; 6 x NCAA team championships; US Olympic team 1968, 72, 76), born in Erie, Pennsylvania (d. 2022) [1]
Dec 3 Walter Ormeño, Peruvian soccer goalkeeper (Peru 1949-57; Boca Juniors, Rosario Central), born in Lima, Peru (d. 2020)
Dec 7 Victor Kermit Kiam II, American businessman (Remington Shavers) and NFL team owner (New England Patriots, 1988–91), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2001)
Dec 12 Laurie Davidson, New Zealand yacht designer (Black Magic 1995; Team New Zealand 2000; America's Cup HOF 2007), born in Auckland, New Zealand (d. 2021)
Dec 13 Carl Erskine, American MLB baseball pitcher. 1948-59 (Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers), and Special Olympics supporter, born in Anderson, Indiana (d. 2024) [1]
Dec 13 George Rhoden, Jamaican athlete (Olympic gold 400m, 4 x 400m relay 1952), born in Kingston, Jamaica
Dec 14 Frank King, West Indian cricketer (WI fast bowler in 14 Tests in 50's, 29 wkts), born in Delamere Land, Brighton, St Michael, Barbados (d. 1990)
Dec 17 Ray Jablonski, American baseball player (d. 1985)
Dec 18 Jock Aird, Scottish soccer defender (4 caps Scotland, 2 New Zealand; Burnley), born in Glencraig, Scotland (d. 2021)
Dec 19 Bobby Layne, American College and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (3 x NFL champion; 6 x Pro Bowl; Detroit Lions), born in Santa Anna, Texas (d. 1986)
Dec 21 Joe Paterno, American College Football HOF coach (Penn State 1966-2011; NCAA C'ship 1982, 86; Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of 1986), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2012)
Dec 24 Ronald Draper, South African cricketer (South African batsman v Australia 1949-50), born in Oudtshoorn, South Africa
Dec 28 Donald Carr, English cricket all-rounder (2 Tests, 1 x 50, 2 wickets; Derbyshire CCC) and official (secretary Test and County Cricket Board 1976-86), born in Wiesbaden, Germany (d. 2016)