- Jan 3 Al Smith, American baseball outfielder and third baseman (3-time MLB All Star; Cleveland Indians), dies at 73
- Jan 6 Fred Taylor, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster (Ohio State University 1959-76; MLB Washington Senators 1950-52), dies at 77
- Jan 15 Steve Gromek, American baseball player (b. 1920)
- Jan 16 (Carl) "Bobo" Olson, American boxer World Middleweight Champion, 1953-55), dies at 73
- Jan 18 Alex Hannum, American Basketball HOF coach (1st ABA, NBA winning coach; ABA C'ship 1969 Oakland Oaks; NBA C'ship 1958 St. Louis Hawks, 1967 Philadelphia 76ers), dies at 78
- Jan 22 John Shea, American 500m/1500m speed skater (Olympic gold 1932), dies at 91
- Jan 23 Paul Aars, American racecar driver (b. 1934)
- Jan 25 Winston Place, English cricket batsman (3 Tests, 1 x 100; Lancashire CCC, MCC), dies at 87
- Jan 29 Dick 'Night Train' Lane, American Pro Football HOF cornerback (7 x Pro Bowl; 7 x First-team All-Pro; LA Rams, Chicago Cardinals, Detroit Lions), dies at 74
- Jan 30 Louis Salica, American boxer (NBA World Bantamweight title 1935, 40; Olympic bronze flyweight 1932), dies at 89
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
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Tennis Champions