- Jan 1 28th Orange Bowl: #4 LSU beats #7 Colorado, 25-7
- Jan 1 28th Sugar Bowl: #1 Alabama beats #9 Arkansas, 10-3`
- Jan 1 48th Rose Bowl: #6 Minnesota beats #16 UCLA, 21-3
- Jan 7 1st AFL All Star Game, Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California: Western Division beats Eastern Division, 47-27; MVP Cotton Davidson, Dallas Texans, QB
Nicklaus Turns Professional
Jan 8 21-year-old future Hall of Fame golfer Jack Nicklaus makes his first professional appearance; tied 50th in Los Angeles Open
- Jan 9 NFL prohibits grabbing of face masks
Chamberlain Scores 73 Points
Jan 13 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 73 points in Warriors' 135-117 win over Chicago Packers; at the time, most points scored in NBA regulation game, and remains tied for 3rd-highest total
12th NFL Pro Bowl
Jan 14 12th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: Western Conference beats Eastern Conference, 31-30; MVPs: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, RB; Henry Jordan, Green Bay Packers, DT
1st Leg of Laver Grand Slam
Jan 15 50th Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Rod Laver takes the 1st leg of his 1st Grand Slam; beats fellow Queenslander Roy Emerson 8-6, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Jan 15 50th Australian Championships Women's Tennis: Margaret Smith beats Jan Lehane O'Neill in the final for 3rd straight year 6-0, 6-2
12th NBA All-Star Game
Jan 16 12th NBA All-Star Game, St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Mo: West beats East, 150-130; MVP: Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks, C; All-Star record 27 rebounds
First African American Inductee
Jan 24 Jackie Robinson is 1st African American elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame; Bob Feller is also elected
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