Events in Sport
- Dec 2 18th Heisman Trophy Award: Billy Vessels, Oklahoma (HB)
- Dec 14 R H Shodhan scores 110 on Test Cricket debut v Pakistan, Calcutta
- Dec 18 Ellis W Ryan resigns as Cleveland Indians president
- Dec 28 Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns 17-7 in NFL championship game
- Dec 31 41st Davis Cup: Australia beats USA in Adelaide (4-1)
Birthdays in Sport
- Dec 6 Ric Charlesworth, cricketer (WA opener, Aust hockey capt)/MP (Labour)
- Dec 12 Ajit De Silva, cricketer (Sri Lankan lefty spinner in four Tests 1982)
- Dec 12 Cathy Rigby McCoy, Los Alamitos California, gymnast (Olympic-4th-1968)
- Dec 13 John Francome, English jockey
- Dec 15 Allan Simonsen, Danish footballer
- Dec 16 Joel Garner, Christ Church, Barbados, West Indian cricketer (two-metre West Indian pace bowler 1977-87)
- Dec 16 Francesco Graziani, Italian footballer
- Dec 21 Steve Furniss, US swimmer (Olympic bronze 1972)
- Dec 21 Joaquín Andújar, Professional baseball pitcher (Cardinals), born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic (d. 2015)
- Dec 28 Ray Knight, 3rd baseman (NY Mets, Balt Orioles)
- Dec 29 Nikolai Andrianov, USSR, gymnast (Olympic gold 1972, 76, 80)
Deaths in Sport
- Dec 19 Harry Makepeace, English cricketer (4 Tests for England v Australia 1920-21), dies at 71