- Jan 3 Joie Chitwood, American racedriver & Daredevil (b. 1912)
Pete Maravich (1947-1988)
Jan 5 American Basketball HOF guard (5 × NBA All-Star; All-NBA First Team 1976, 77; NBA scoring champion 1977 NO/Utah Jazz; Atlanta Hawks), dies of heart failure at 40
- Jan 20 Philippe de Rothschild, French race-car driver and manager (Bordeaux Vineyard), dies at 86
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions