- Jan 10 Colin Gregory, English tennis player (Australian C'ship 1929, chairman All-England Club, Wimbledon), dies at 55
- Jan 17 Abdul Aziz, cricket, dies at 17 struck by ball in fc match for Karachi
- Jan 22 Elizabeth Moore, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1896, 1901, 03, 05), dies from congestive heart failure at 82
- Jan 22 Mike Hawthorn, English auto racer (F1 world champion 1958), dies in road accident at 29
- Feb 1 William Hoppe, American carom billiards player (51 world titles 1906-52), dies at 71
- Feb 2 Frank DeCaires, West Indian cricket batsman (3 Tests, 2 x 50; British Guiana), dies at 49
- Feb 7 Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie, American Baseball HOF second baseman (Triple Crown 1901; AL batting champion 1901–04, 10; Philadelphia A's, Cleveland Naps), dies at 84
- Feb 11 Marshall Teague, American auto racer (Daytona Road Course Strictly Stock Car winner 1951, 52; AAA National Stock Car champion 1952, 54), dies in speed record attempt at 37
- Feb 17 Tim Mara, American founder and administrator (NFL NY Giants), dies at 59
- Mar 1 Albie Booth, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Yale University), dies of a heart attack at 51
- Mar 4 Maxie Long, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1900), dies at 80
- Mar 28 James Neblett, cricketer (one Test WI v England 1935), dies
- May 16 Elisha Scott, Irish soccer goalkeeper (31 caps Ireland [IFA]; Liverpool 430 games), dies at 65
Ed Walsh (1881-1959)
May 26 American Baseball HOF pitcher (World Series 1906; no-hitter 1911; MLB record 1.82 career ERA; Chicago White Sox) and manager (Chicago WS 1924), dies at 78
- May 28 Herbie Collins, Australian cricket all-rounder and captain (19 Tests, 1,352 runs @ 45.06, 4 x 100s), dies at 71
- Jun 2 Max Rousié, French rugby footballer, dies in a car crash at 46
- Jun 26 Audley Miller, cricketer (Test for England 1896), dies
- Jul 11 Charlie Parker, English cricketer (3,776 1st-class wickets, 2nd best ever; legend Gloucs SLA, but 2-32 in only Test), dies at 76
- Aug 1 Jean Behra, French Formula One driver, dies in a car race at 38
- Aug 12 Mike O'Neill, Irish-American baseball player, dies at 81 (b. 1877)
- Sep 9 Collie Smith, West Indian cricket all-rounder (26 Tests, 4 x 100, HS 168; Jamaica), dies in a car crash at 26
- Sep 28 Rudolf Caracciola, German race car driver (b. 1901)
- Sep 28 Vincent Richards, American tennis player (US Pro C'ships 1927-28, 30, 33), dies of a heart attack at 56
- Oct 11 Bert Bell, American Pro Football HOF executive (NFL Commissioner 1946-59; owner Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers), dies from a heart attack at 64
- Oct 18 Boughera El Ouafi, Algerian athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1928), dies of gun wounds at 61
- Oct 28 Abe Waddington, English cricket fast bowler (2 Tests, 1 wicket; Yorkshire CCC), dies at 66
- Nov 15 Alex Kennedy, cricketer (31 wkts in 5 Tests for England 1922-23), dies
Max Baer (1909-1959)
Nov 21 American heavyweight boxing champion (1934-35), dies of a heart attack at 50
Molla Mallory (1884-1959)
Nov 22 American-Norwegian tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1915-18, 20-22, 26), dies at 75
- Nov 24 Dally Messenger, Australian rugby league centre (9 Tests; NSW; Eastern Suburbs; ARL 'Immortal'; Dally M Medal) and rugby union utility (2 caps), dies from heart failure at 76
- Dec 5 K. S. Duleepsinhji, English-Indian cricketer (12 Tests for England, 995 runs), dies at 54
- Dec 10 Charles Jones, West Indian cricket batsman (4 Tests), dies at 57
Jim Bottomley (1900-1959)
Dec 11 American Baseball HOF first baseman (MLB all-time single game RBI record [12] 1924; World Series 1926, 31; NL MVP & NL HR leader 1928; St. Louis Cardinals), dies at 59
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