Athletes and Sports Stars Who Died on January 20

1920 Georg Lurich, Estonian wrestler and strongman of the early 20th century, dies at 43

Josh Gibson (1911-1947)

American Baseball HOF catcher (Negro World Series 1943, 44; 12 × NL All-Star; Triple Crown 1936, 37; batting average .466 1943), dies of a brain tumor at 35

1954 Fred Root, English cricket fast bowler (3 Tests, 8 wickets; Derbyshire CCC, Worcestershire CCC), dies at 63
1954 Warren Bardsley, Australian cricket batsman (41 Tests, 6 x 100, 14 x 50, HS 193no; NSWCA), dies at 71
1957 Dudley Benjafield, British racing driver, dies at 69
1957 James Connolly, American athlete and author, 1st Modern Olympic Champion in 1896, dies at 88
1978 Dit Clapper, Canadian ice hockey player (NHL Hall of Fame, Boston Bruins), dies at 70
1982 Marc Demeyer, Belgian road racing cyclist (Paris-Brussels 1974), dies at 31
1983 Garrincha, Brazilian footballer, dies at 49

Johnny Weissmuller (1904-1984)

Romanian-American actor (Tarzan) and swimmer (5 Olympic gold 1924, 28), dies of pulmonary edema at 79

1986 Franz Kemser, German 4 man bobsled (Olympic gold 1952), dies at 75
1987 Tom Dollery, cricketer (4 Tests for Eng 1947-50), dies
1988 Philippe de Rothschild, French race-car driver and manager (Bordeaux Vineyard), dies at 86
1991 Bill Riordon, American tennis promotor (Jimmy Connors), dies
1994 Matt Busby, Scottish soccer forward (Manchester City, Liverpool) and manager (Manchester United 1945-69, 70–71; Scotland 1958), dies from cancer at 84

Curt Flood (1938-1997)

American baseball player (St Louis Cards), dies of throat cancer at 59

2003 Bill Werbeniuk, Canadian snooker player (b. 1947)
2004 Guinn Smith, American athlete (1948 Olympic gold medalist), dies of emphysema at 83
2009 Dante Lavelli, American Pro Football HOF end (NFL C'ship 1950, 54, 55 Cleveland Browns; First-team All-Pro 1953; 3 × Pro Bowl), dies at 85
2013 Freddie Williams, Welsh motorcycle speedway rider (World C'ship 1950, 1953; Wembley Lions), dies at 86
2018 Graeme Langlands, Australian rugby league fullback, captain and coach (24 Tests; St. George RLFC; ARL "Immortal"), dies from dementia and Alzheimer's disease at 76
2019 Mithra Wettimuny, Sri Lankan cricket batsman (2 Tests), dies at 67
2021 Peter Swan, English soccer defender (19 caps; Sheffield Wednesday, Bury), dies at 84
2021 Ted Thompson, American NFL linebacker (Houston Oilers) and executive (GM Green Bay Packers 2005-17), dies from autonomic disorder at 68
2022 Bob Goalby, American golfer (US Masters 1968), dies at 92
2022 Heidi Biebl, German alpine skier (Olympic gold women's downhill 1960), dies at 80
2023 Sal Bando, American baseball third baseman (4 x MLB All-Star; World Series 1972, 73, 74 Oakland A's) and executive (GM Milwaukee Brewers 1991-99), dies of cancer at 78
2024 Doug Padgett, English cricket batsman (2 Tests, HS 31; Yorkshire CCC, MCC), dies at 89