- Jan 3 Manfred Kokot, East German athlete (world record 50m indoor sprint 5.61s 1973), born in Templin, Germany
- Jan 5 Parthasarathy Sharma, Indian cricket batsman (5 Tests, 1 x 50), born in Alwar, India (d. 2010)
- Jan 6 Dayle Hadlee, New Zealand cricket fast bowler (brother of Richard; 26 Tests, 71 wickets, 1 x 50; Canterbury), born in Christchurch, Canterbury
- Jan 10 Bernard Thévenet, French cyclist, born in Saint-Julien-de-Civry, France
- Jan 11 Eleazar Soria, Peruvian soccer defender (29 caps, Copa America 1975; Universitario, Independiente, Sporting Cristal), born in Lima, Peru (d. 2021)
- Jan 11 Madeline Manning-Mimms, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m 1968), born in Cleveland, Ohio
- Jan 12 Kenny Allen, English footballer, born in Fenton, Michigan
- Jan 13 Kenia Jayantilal, cricketer (5 at Kingston 71 his only inns for India)
Carl Weathers (1948-2024)
Jan 14 American football player, actor (Rocky films (I-IV); Street Justice; The Mandalorian), and director, born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Jan 16 Cliff Thorburn, Canadian champion snooker player, born in Victoria, British Columbia
- Jan 21 Dan Morrison, American baseball umpire (World Series 1992; MLB All Star Game 1988; AL C'ship Series 1989, 96, 99), born in Glasgow, Kentucky (d. 2023)
- Jan 22 Tim Foley, American football defensive back (Super Bowl VII, VIII; Pro Bowl 1979; Miami Dolphins), born in Evanston, Illinois (d. 2023)
About January 1948
How Old? 76 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: Yes
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions