- Jan 24 Ben Taylor, American Baseball Hall of Fame 1st baseman (Indianapolis ABCs) and manager (Washington Potomacs, Baltimore Black Sox), dies of pneumonia at 64
- Jan 24 Mike Jacobs, American boxing promoter (Twentieth Century Sporting Club - Joe Louis' promoter; 3 x $1m fights), dies at 72
- Feb 9 Charlie Spencer, English soccer defender and manager (2 caps; Newcastle United; mgr Grimsby Town 1937-51), dies at 53
- Mar 2 Jim Lightbody, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1500m, 2590m Steeplechase 1904), dies at 70
- Mar 15 Arthur Berry, English football player (Olympic gold 1908, 12), dies at 65
Jim Thorpe (1887-1953)
Mar 28 American all-round athlete (Olympic gold decathlon, pentathlon 1912; College & Pro Football Hall of Fame), dies of heart failure at 65
- Apr 6 Whirlaway, American thoroughbred racehorse (Triple Crown 1941), dies at 15
- Apr 11 Kid Nichols, American Baseball HOF pitcher (3 × NL wins leader; All-Time Saves Leader 1899–1906; Boston Beaneaters, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies) and manager (St. Louis Cardinals 1904–05), dies at 83
- May 7 Ormy Pearse, South African cricketer (55 runs & 3 wkts in 3 Tests for S Af), dies at 68
- May 18 Tom Killick, English cricketer (at the crease 2 Tests for Eng 1929), dies at 69
- May 27 Jesse Burkett, American Baseball HOF left fielder (NL batting champion 1895-96, 1901; 240 hits in 1896 MLB record for 15 years; Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals), dies at 84
Bill Tilden (1893-1953)
Jun 5 American tennis player (US Open 1920-25, 29; Wimbledon 1920-21, 30; French 1927, 30), dies of a heart attack at 60
- Jun 25 Algy Gehrs, Australian cricketer (6 Tests for Australia 1904-11), dies at 72
- Jul 11 Oliver Campbell, American tennis player (US Open 1890-92), dies at 82
- Aug 7 Abner Powell, American baseball utility, team owner and executive (first to use infield tarpaulin after rain), dies at 92
- Aug 11 Tazio Nuvolari, Italian auto racer (72 x major race wins; 24 Hours of Le Mans 1933; European Championship 1932), dies from a stroke at 60
- Aug 22 Jim Tabor, American MLB 3rd baseman (2 x grand slams in one game), dies of a heart attack at 36
- Sep 18 Charles de Tornaco, Belgian racing driver, dies at 26
- Sep 22 William Brann, South African cricketer (3 Tests for South Africa), dies at 54
- Dec 2 Ernie Hayes, English cricket all-rounder (5 Tests; Surrey CCC, Leicestershire CCC), dies at 77
- Dec 2 Reginald "Snowy" Baker, Australian boxer (Olympic silver middleweight 1908), rugby union halfback (2 caps) and actor (The Sword of Valor), dies at 69
- Dec 2 Walter "Doc" Meanwell, English Basketball Hall of Fame coach (University of Wisconsin 1911–1917, 1920–1934), dies at 69
- Dec 15 Ed Barrow, American Baseball HOF manager (World Series 1918 Boston Red Sox) and executive (10 x World Series NY Yankees), dies at 85
- Dec 25 Patsy Donovan, Irish-American baseball outfielder (Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals) and manager (Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Washington Sens, Brooklyn Superbas, Boston RS), dies at 88
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions