- Jan 1 18th Orange Bowl: #6 Georgia Tech beats #9 Baylor, 17-14
- Jan 1 18th Sugar Bowl: #3 Maryland beats #1 Tennessee, 28-13
- Jan 1 38th Rose Bowl: #4 Illinois beats #7 Stanford, 40-7
- Jan 9 Karel Sys wins European heavyweight boxing title
Marines to Recall Williams
Jan 9 Marines give notice that they will recall Ted Williams to active duty
- Jan 12 2nd NFL Pro Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: National Conference beats American Conference, 30-13; MVP: Dan Towler, LA Rams, FB
Stan Musial's Salary
Jan 16 US Standard Board clears Stan Musial to get an $85,000 salary
Mikan's 61 Points
Jan 20 The NBA's first superstar George Mikan scores a career high 61 points leading the Minneapolis Lakers to a 91-81 double-overtime victory over the Rochester Royals
- Jan 24 First NFL team in Texas; Dallas Texans, formerly NY Yanks; loses 11 of 12 games
Benaud Debuts
Jan 25 Test debut of great Australian cricket captain (62 Tests) and broadcaster Richie Benaud, v West Indies at the SCG
McGregor Defeats Sedgman
Jan 28 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Ken McGregor wins his first and only Grand Slam event; upsets fellow Australian Frank Sedgman 7-5, 12-10, 2-6, 6-2
- Jan 28 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: In an all-Australian final Thelma Coyne Long beats Helen Angwin 6-2, 6-3 for 1st of her 2 Australian singles titles
- Jan 31 Detroit Tigers Harry Heilmann & Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Waner elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions