- Jan 1 Leonard Thompson, American golfer (3 x PGA Tour, 3 x PGA Champions Tour wins), born in Laurinburg, North Carolina
- Jan 2 Aleksandr Tikhonov, Russian biathlete (Olympic gold biathlon relay 1968, 72, 76, 80), born in Uyskoye, Chelyabinsk, Russia
- Jan 2 Calvin Hill, American NFL running back (Pro Bowl 1969, 72–74; All-Pro 1969, 73; Super Bowl 1971; Dallas Cowboys), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Jan 2 Lanny Bassham, American sports shooter (Olympic gold small-bore rifle, 3 positions 1976; silver 1972), born in Comanche, Texas
- Jan 3 Fran Cotton, English rugby union prop forward (31 caps England, 7 British Lions; Coventry R.F.C., Sale), born in Wigan, England
- Jan 3 Miroslav Bošković, Serbian soccer defender (6 caps Yugoslavia; Hajduk Split, FK Partizan, Angers SCO), born in Belgrade, Serbia (d. 2023)
- Jan 5 Mercury Morris, American football player, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Jan 6 Ian Millar, Canadian dressage rider (World Cup 1988, 89, Olympics 1996), born in Halifax, NS, Canada
- Jan 8 Igor Ivanov, Russian-born Canadian chess champion (1981-84, 1985- ), born in Leningrad, USSR
- Jan 8 Ted MacDougall, Scottish soccer striker (7 caps; AFC Bournemouth, Manchester United, West Ham United, Norwich City, Southampton), born in Inverness, Scotland
- Jan 12 Henning Munk Jensen, Danish soccer defender (62 caps; PSV Eindhoven, Aalborg BK 392 games; Danish Player of the Year 1968, 75), born in Tønder, Denmark (d. 2023)
- Jan 12 Tom Dempsey, American NFL kicker (Pro Bowl, First-team All-Pro 1969; New Orleans Saints; longest winning field goal, 63 yards), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2020)
- Jan 13 Carles Rexach, former Spanish-Catalan footballer and coach
- Jan 13 Peter Sundelin, Swedish yachtsmen (Olympic gold 5-5m class 1968; World C'ship gold Dragon class 1971), Nacka, Sweden
- Jan 14 Bill Weberniuk, Canadian snookers player, born in Winnipeg, Canada (d. 2003)
- Jan 14 Rubén Olivares, Mexican boxer (4-division world champion), born in Mexico City
- Jan 17 Alcides Báez, Paraguayan soccer goalkeeper (16 caps; FC Cerro Porteño, FC Libertad), born in Asunción, Paraguay (d. 2023)
- Jan 18 Sachio Kinugasa, Japanese baseman nicknamed Tetsujin, meaning "Iron Man", born in Kyoto, Japan (d. 2018)
- Jan 20 Cyrille Guimard, French cyclist & directeur sportif, born in Bouguenais, France
- Jan 24 Giorgio Chinaglia, Italian soccer striker (14 caps; Lazio, NY Cosmos), born in Carrara, Italy (d. 2012)
- Jan 24 Masashi 'Jumbo' Ozaki, Japanese golfer (record 94 Japan Tour titles), born in Kaifu District, Tokushima
- Jan 25 Ángel Nieto, Spanish motorcycle racer (World C'ships: 50cc 1969, 70, 72, 75, 76, 77; 125cc 1971, 72, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84; 90 Grand Prix victories), born in Zamora, Spain (d. 2017)
- Jan 25 Tostão [Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade], Brazilian soccer forward / attacking midfielder (54 caps; Cruzeiro EC 378 games), born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Jan 26 Miguel Ángel Castellini, Argentine boxer (WBA, lineal light middleweight titles 1976-77), born in Santa Rosa, Argentina (d. 2020)
- Jan 28 Txetxu Rojo, Spanish soccer forward (18 caps; Athletic Bilbao 413 games) and manager (Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo, Osasuna, Real Zaragoza), born in Bilbao, Spain (d. 2022)
Nolan Ryan (77 years old)
Jan 31 American Baseball HOF pitcher (MLB no-hit leader [7], strikeout leader [5,714]; World Series 1969 NY Mets; 8 x MLB All Star; California Angels, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers), born in Refugio, Texas
About January 1947
How Old? 77 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions