- Jan 1 Marlin McKeever, American NFL linebacker (Pro Bowl 1966; LA Rams), born in Cheyenne, Wyoming (d. 2006)
- Jan 1 Ruly Carpenter, American baseball executive (principal owner and president Philadelphia Phillies 1972-81), born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 2021)
- Jan 3 Bernard Blaut, Polish soccer midfielder (36 caps; KP Legia Warsaw, FC Metz) and manager (UAE), born in Krapkowice, Poland (d. 2007)
- Jan 3 Tsutomu Hanahara, Japanese freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold flyweight 1964), born in Shimonoseki, Japan (d. 2024)
- Jan 8 Gianni Di Marzio, Italian soccer manager (Napoli, Catania, Genoa, Lecce, Palermo FC), born in Naples, Kingdom of Italy (d. 2022)
- Jan 10 Harry Gant, American race car driver, born in Taylorsville, North Carolina
- Jan 12 Dick Motz, New Zealand cricket all-rounder (32 Tests, 100 wickets, BB 6/63; Canterbury CA), born in Christchurch, New Zealand (d. 2007)
- Jan 17 Fred Hill, English soccer forward (2 caps; Bolton Wanderers 375 games), born in Sheffield, England (d. 2021)
- Jan 17 Kipchoge "Kip" Keino, Kenyan athlete (Olympic gold 1,500m 1968, 3k steeplechase 1972), born in Kipsamo, Kenya
- Jan 17 Leighton Rees, Welsh darts player (BDO World Champion 1978), born in Ynysybwl, Glamorgan, Wales (d. 2003)
- Jan 18 Pedro Rodriguez, Mexican racing driver (Le Mans, 1968), born in Mexico City (d. 1971)
Mary Mills (84 years old)
Jan 19 American golfer (US Open 1963, PGA 1964, 73), born in Laurel, Mississippi
- Jan 20 Carol Heiss Jenkins, American figure skater (Olympic gold singles 1960; silver 1956; World C'ship gold 1956–1960), born in New York City
- Jan 20 Lars-Åke Lagrell, Swedish sports administrator (President Swedish Football Association 1991-2012) and politician (Governor Kronoberg County), born in Växjö, Sweden (d. 2020)
Jack Nicklaus (84 years old)
Jan 21 American golfer (18 major titles, 73 PGA Tour titles), born in Columbus, Ohio
- Jan 22 George Seifert, American football coach
- Jan 23 Brian Labone, English soccer defender (26 caps; Everton FC 451 games), born in Liverpool, England (d. 2006)
- Jan 23 Stjepan Lamza, Croatian soccer midfielder (7 caps Yugoslavia; GNK Dinamo Zagreb), born in Sisak, Croatia (d. 2022)
- Jan 25 Jürgen Sundermann, German soccer manager (Servette, VfB Stuttgart, Schalke 04, Strasbourg, Hertha BSC) and midfielder (1 cap West Germany; FC Basel, Servette), born in Mülheim, Germany (d. 2022)
- Jan 26 Harold Lederman, American boxing judge, analyst (HBO), born in New York City (d. 2019)
- Jan 29 Kunimitsu Takahashi, Japanese motorcycle racer (1st Japanese rider to win GP race 1961) and auto racer (4 x All-Japan Sports Prototype C'ship), born in Tokyo, Japan (d. 2022)
About January 1940
How Old? 84 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: Yes
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions