- Jan 2 Arnold Denker, American chess champion (1944-46), dies at 90
- Jan 4 Bud Poile, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1924)
- Jan 4 Robert Christiani, West Indian cricket batsman (22 Tests, 1 x 100, 4 x 50, HS 107; British Guiana), dies at 84
- Jan 6 Tarquinio Provini, Italian motorcycle road racer (2-time world champion 1957-58), dies at 71
- Jan 10 Jack Horner, American sports journalist (b. 1912)
- Jan 10 Kalevi Hämäläinen, Finnish cross country skier (b. 1932)
- Jan 10 Tommy Fine, American baseball player, dies at 90
- Jan 11 Fabrizio Meoni, Italian motorcyclist (b. 1957)
- Jan 22 César Gutiérrez, Venezuelan baseball shortstop (hit 7-for-7 in single game without making an out 1970, Detroit Tigers), dies at 61
- Jan 24 Chalkie White, English rugby union coach (b. 1929)
- Jan 25 Netti Witziers-Timmer, Dutch athlete (Olympic gold 4×100m relay 1948), dies at 81
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
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Tennis Champions