Jan 5 I. A. K. Pataudi, Indian cricket batsman (3 Tests England, 3 India; 1 x 100; Oxford University CC, Worcestershire CCC, Southern Punjab), dies from a heart attack at 41
Jan 17 Walter O Briggs, American entrepreneur and sports team owner (Detroit Tigers 1935-52), dies at 74
Jan 21 Katie Sandwina [Katie Brumbach], Austrian-American weight-lifter (Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus), dies at 67
Jan 28 Thomas Hicks, English athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1904), dies at 76
Feb 7 Pete Henry, American College/Pro Football HOF tackle (Washington & Jefferson; First-team All-Pro 1920–23, NFL C'ship 1922, 23; Canton Bulldogs), dies at 54
Feb 14 Maurice De Waele, Belgian cyclist (b. 1896)
May 16 Alec Hearne, English cricket batsman (1 Test; Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1894; Kent), dies at 88
Jun 18 Efim Bogoljubov, Russian-German chess player, dies at 63
Jun 20 Luigi Fagioli, Italian auto racer (oldest to win F1 race at 53), dies after Monaco Grand Prix practice accident at 54
Jun 25 Alec Ross, Scottish golfer (US Open 1907), dies at 72
Jul 21 Silvio Cator, Haitian athlete and long jumper (Olympic silver 1928), dies at 51
Jul 27 Roland Pope, cricketer (Test for Australia 1885), dies
Jul 31 N B F "Tufty" Mann, cricketer (South African slow lefty 1947-51), dies
Aug 30 (Joseph) "Arky" Vaughan, American Baseball HOF shortstop (9 × MLB All-Star; NL batting champion 1935; NL stolen base leader 1943; Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers), dies in a boating accident at 40
Sep 19 Hugo Bezdek, Czech American College Football Hall of Fame coach (University of Oregon, University of Arkansas, Penn State; NFL: Cleveland Browns; MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 68
Sep 29 John Cobb, British speed record holder (World Land Speed Record 1938-39, 47), dies attempting to break world Water Speed Record at Loch Ness, Scotland, at 52
Oct 8 Joe Adams, American baseball player known as "Old Wagon Tongue" (St. Louis Cardinals - 1 game in 1904, 4 innings, 9.0 ERA), minor league manager, and restaurateur, dies at 74
Oct 26 Myrtle McAteer, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1900), dies at 74
Nov 8 Claude Carter, South African cricket spin bowler (19 Tests, 28 wickets, BB 6/50; Natal, Transvaal), dies at 71
Dec 4 James E. Norris, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame team owner (Detroit Red Wings), dies at 72
Dec 11 Charles Kortright, English cricketer described at the time of his death as "probably the fastest bowler in the history of the game", dies at 81
Dec 19 Harry Makepeace, English cricket batsman (4 Tests, 1 x 100, HS 117; Lancashire CCC) and soccer midfielder (4 caps; FA Cup 1906 Everton), dies at 71