Events in Sport
- Jan 2 36th Rose Bowl: #6 Ohio State beats #3 California, 17-14
- Jan 2 16th Sugar Bowl: #2 Oklahoma beats #9 LSU, 35-0
- Jan 2 16th Orange Bowl: #15 Santa Clara beats #11 Kentucky, 21-13
Event of Interest
Jan 15 Red Wings' rookie goalie Terry Sawchuk records his first of 115 career NHL shutouts, as Detroit beats the New York Rangers, 1-0 at Madison Square Garden
Terry Sawchuk
- Jan 18 Indians pitcher Bob Feller, after 15-14 season, takes $20,000 salary cut to $45,000, pay cut is Feller's own suggestion
- Jan 20 1950 NFL Draft: Leon Hart from University of Notre Dame first pick by Detroit Lions
- Jan 23 AP picks "Miracle Braves" of 1914 as greatest sports upset
- Jan 23 NFL rule changes open way for 2-platoon system (offense & defense)
Contract of Interest
Jan 24 Jackie Robinson signs highest contract ($35,000) in Dodger history
Jackie Robinson
- Jan 30 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: In an all-American final Louise Brough beats Doris Hart 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 for her only Australian singles title
- Jan 30 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Frank Sedgman retains title; beats fellow Australian Ken McGregor 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
Birthdays in Sport
- Jan 3 Rick MacLeish, Canadian ice hockey center (Stanley Cup 1974, 75; Philadelphia Flyers; NHL All Star 1977, 78), born in Lindsay, Ontario (d. 2016)
- Jan 7 Ross Grimsley, American baseball player, born in Topeka, Kansas
- Jan 13 Bob Forsch, American baseball player
- Jan 15 Marius Trésor, French footballer, born in Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe
- Jan 18 Gilles Villeneuve, Canadian auto racer (World F1 runner-up 1979; Ferrari), born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec (d. 1982)
- Jan 18 Pat Sullivan, American College Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Heisman Trophy 1971, Auburn University; NFL: Atlanta Falcons) and coach (TUC, Samford), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 2019)
- Jan 20 Chuck Lefley, Canadian ice hockey player, born in Winnipeg, Canada
- Jan 29 Jody Scheckter, South African auto racer (World F1 Champion 1979), born in East London, South Africa
- Jan 30 Silvia Bertolaccini, Argentine golfer (4-time LPGA Tour titles), born in Rafaela, Argentina