- Jan 11 Mervyn Grell, cricketer (Test WI v England 1930, 21 & 13, 0-17), dies
- Jan 17 Ad Verhoeven, soccer player (Xerxes/Sparta), dies in a car crash [or 1/18]
- Jan 18 Ad Verhoeven, Dutch soccer player (Xerxes/Sparta), dies in a car crash at 42 [or 1/17]
- Jan 30 Percy Tyson "Plum" Lewis, South African cricketer (pair in only Test for South Africa), dies at 91
- Feb 2 Harry Elliott, England cricket wicket-keeper (4 Tests, 11 dismissals; Derbyshire CCC), dies at 84
- Mar 1 George "Rube" Foster, American baseball pitcher (World Series 1915, 16; no-hitter 1916; Boston Red Sox), dies at 88
- Mar 6 Maxie Rosenbloom, American boxer, actor (world light heavyweight champion 1932-34), dies of Paget's disease of bone at 68
- Mar 21 Spider Sabich, American alpine skier (Olympics 1968), dies when shot by actress Claudine Longet at 31
- Apr 9 Phil Ochs, American anti-war folk singer ("I Ain't Marching Anymore"; "Draft Dodger Rag"), commits suicide at 35
- Apr 23 Karl Schäfer, Austrian figure skater (Olympic gold 1932, 36), dies at 66
- May 20 Syd Howe, Canadian Hockey HOF left wing (Stanley Cup 1936, 37, 43 Detroit Red Wings), dies from throat cancer at 64
- May 26 Edgar Moon, Australian tennis player (Australian C'ships 1930), dies at 71
- May 30 Max Carey, American Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder (World Series 1925; 10 × NL stolen base leader; Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Robins) and manager (Brooklyn Dodgers), dies at 86
- May 30 Vic Ghezzi, American golfer (PGA C'ship 1941), dies of cancer at 65
- Jun 11 Jim Konstanty, American MLB relief pitcher (MLB All Star 1950; NL MVP 1950; Philadelphia Phillies), dies at 59
- Jun 15 Jimmy Dykes, American MLB infielder (MLB All Star 1933-34 Chicago WS; World Series 1929-30 Philadelphia A's) and manager (Chicago White Sox, 1934-46), dies at 79
- Jun 20 Lou Klein, American baseball infielder (St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia A's) and manager (Chicago Cubs), dies from a stroke at 57
- Jun 23 Dehart Hubbard, American athlete (Olympic gold -long jump,1924; first African American to win individual event; WR 7.89m 1925), dies at 72
- Jun 30 Firpo Marberry, American baseball player (Washington Senators), dies at 77
- Jul 7 Walter Giesler, American soccer coach (b. 1910)
- Jul 9 Tom Yawkey, American Baseball HOF executive (owner Boston Red Sox 1933-76), dies from leukemia at 73
- Jul 20 Tom Lowry, New Zealand cricket batsman (7 Tests, 2 x 50s; first NZ Test captain), President NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Association 1951-65, dies at 78
- Jul 21 Earle Combs, American Baseball HOF center fielder (9 × World Series 1927, 28, 32, 36–39, 41, 43; New York Yankees), dies at 77
- Jul 23 Wilhelmina Von Bremen, American 4X100 relay sprinter (Olympic gold 1932), dies at 64
- Aug 10 Bert Oldfield, Australian cricket wicketkeeper (54 Tests, 130 dismissals, 4 x 50; NSW CA), dies at 81
- Aug 19 Ken Wadsworth, New Zealand cricket wicket-keeper/batsman (33 Tests, 96 dismissals, 5 x 50s; Central Districts CA), dies from cancer at 29
- Aug 21 Ken James, New Zealand cricket wicket-keeper (11 Tests, 16 dismissals; Wellington, Northamptonshire CCC), dies at 72
- Aug 25 Perc Hornibrook, Australian cricket slow-medium bowler (6 Tests; 17 wickets; best 7-92 1930), dies at 77
- Sep 5 Arthur Gilligan, English cricketer (11 Tests for England 1922-25 and Captain), dies at 81
- Sep 10 John Heaton, American sledder (Olympic silver skeleton 1928, 48, bronze bobsled 1932; American team's flag bearer 1948), dies at 68
- Sep 13 Armand Mondou, French Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1905)
- Sep 25 Red Faber, American Baseball HOF pitcher (World Series 1917; AL ERA leader 1921, 22; Chicago White Sox 1914-33), dies from heart disease at 88
- Nov 8 Gottfried von Cramm, German tennis player (French C'ship 1934, 36), dies in a car accident at 67
- Nov 11 Eric Davies, South African cricket fast bowler (5 Tests, 7 wickets; East Province, Transvaal), dies at 67
- Nov 19 Wayne Millner, American NFL Hall of Fame football end, 1936-45 (Boston/Washington Redskins), and US Navy WWII veteran, dies of a heart attack at 63
- Dec 1 George Earnshaw, American baseball pitcher (World Series 1929-30; Philadelphia Athletics), dies at 76
- Dec 2 Danny Murtaugh, American baseball infielder (NL stolen base leader 1941 Philadelphia Phillies) and manager (World Series 1960, 71; Pittsburgh Pirates), dies from a stroke at 59
- Dec 4 Ace Gutowsky, Russian/American football fullback (Portsmouth Spartans, Brooklyn Dodgers; NFL C'ship 1935, Detroit Lions), dies of cancer at 67
Wes Ferrell (1908-1976)
Dec 9 American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1933, 37; no-hitter 1931; record 37 career HRs hit by a pitcher), dies at 68
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