Events in Sport
Event of Interest
Jan 9 Marines give notice that they will recall Ted Williams to active duty

Ted Williams
- Jan 12 2nd NFL Pro Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: National Conference beats American Conference, 30-13; MVP: Dan Towler, LA Rams, FB
Event of Interest
Jan 16 US Standard Board clears Stan Musial to get an $85,000 salary

Stan Musial
Event of Interest
Jan 20 The NBA's first superstar George Mikan scores a career high 61 points leading the Minneapolis Lakers to a 91-81 double-overtime victory over the Rochester Royals

George Mikan
- Jan 24 1st NFL team in Texas, Dallas Texans formerly NY Yanks
Event of Interest
Jan 25 Test debut of Australian Richie Benaud, v West Indies at the SCG

Richie Benaud
- Jan 28 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: In an all-Australian final Thelma Coyne Long beats Helen Angwin 6-2, 6-3 for 1st of her 2 Australian singles titles
- Jan 28 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Ken McGregor wins his first and only Grand Slam event; upsets fellow Australian Frank Sedgman 7-5, 12-10, 2-6, 6-2
- Jan 31 Harry Heilmann & Paul Waner elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Birthdays in Sport
- Jan 11 Ben Crenshaw, American golfer (US Masters 1984, 95), born in Austin, Texas
- Jan 17 Darrell Porter, American baseball catcher (MLB All Star 1974, 78-80; World Series MVP 1982), born in Joplin, Missouri (d. 2002)
- Jan 23 Omar Henry, South African cricketer (1st colored player for South Africa 1992), born in Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Jan 26 Thomas Edward Henderson, American basketball player (Olympic silver 1972), born in Newberry, South Carolina,
- Jan 27 Brian Gottfried, American tennis player (Wimbledon doubles 1976, French Open doubles 1975, 77), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Jan 27 "White Shoes" Johnson, American football player
- Jan 30 Doug Falconer, Canadian football player, born in Calgary, Canada