- Jan 5 I. A. K. Pataudi, Indian cricket batsman (3 Tests England, 3 India; 1 x 100; Oxford University CC, Worcestershire CCC, Southern Punjab), dies from a heart attack at 41
- Jan 17 Walter O Briggs, American entrepreneur and sports team owner (Detroit Tigers 1935-52), dies at 74
- Jan 21 Katie Sandwina [Katie Brumbach], Austrian-American weight-lifter (Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus), dies at 67
- Jan 28 Thomas Hicks, English athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1904), dies at 76
- Feb 7 Pete Henry, American College/Pro Football HOF tackle (Washington & Jefferson; First-team All-Pro 1920–23, NFL C'ship 1922, 23; Canton Bulldogs), dies at 54
- Feb 14 Maurice De Waele, Belgian cyclist (b. 1896)
- May 16 Alec Hearne, English cricket batsman (1 Test; Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1894; Kent), dies at 88
- Jun 18 Efim Bogoljubov, Russian-German chess player, dies at 63
- Jun 20 Luigi Fagioli, Italian race car driver (b. 1898)
- Jun 25 Alec Ross, Scottish golfer (US Open 1907), dies at 72
- Jul 21 Silvio Cator, Haitian athlete and long jumper (Olympic silver 1928), dies at 51
- Jul 27 Roland Pope, cricketer (Test for Australia 1885), dies
- Jul 31 N B F "Tufty" Mann, cricketer (South African slow lefty 1947-51), dies
- Aug 30 (Joseph) "Arky" Vaughan, American Baseball HOF shortstop (9 × MLB All-Star; NL batting champion 1935; NL stolen base leader 1943; Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers), dies in a boating accident at 40
- Sep 19 Hugo Bezdek, Czech American College Football Hall of Fame coach (University of Oregon, University of Arkansas, Penn State; NFL: Cleveland Browns; MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 68
- Sep 29 John Cobb, British speed record holder (World Land Speed Record 1938-39, 47), dies attempting to break world Water Speed Record at Loch Ness, Scotland, at 52
- Oct 8 Joe Adams, American baseball player known as "Old Wagon Tongue" (St. Louis Cardinals - 1 game in 1904, 4 innings, 9.0 ERA), minor league manager, and restaurateur, dies at 74
- Oct 26 Myrtle McAteer, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1900), dies at 74
- Nov 8 Claude Carter, South African cricket spin bowler (19 Tests, 28 wickets, BB 6/50; Natal, Transvaal), dies at 71
- Dec 4 James E. Norris, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame team owner (Detroit Red Wings), dies at 72
- Dec 11 Charles Kortright, English cricketer described at the time of his death as "probably the fastest bowler in the history of the game", dies at 81
- Dec 19 Harry Makepeace, English cricket batsman (4 Tests, 1 x 100, HS 117; Lancashire CCC) and soccer midfielder (4 caps; FA Cup 1906 Everton), dies at 71
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