Events in Sport
Boxing Title Fight
Jan 2 In the first of 4 meetings between the fighters, Gene Fullmer wins the world middleweight boxing title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Sugar Ray Robinson at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Sugar Ray Robinson
- Jan 4 Dodgers buy 44 passenger twin-engine airplane for $775,000
Event of Interest
Jan 5 Dodgers' Jackie Robinson announces his retirement rather than be traded to the NY Giants
Jackie Robinson
Event of Interest
Jan 10 Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick rules Bing Crosby can keep token stock in Detroit Tigers, even though he owns part of Pittsburgh Pirates
Bing Crosby
- Jan 13 7th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: Western Conference beats Eastern Conference, 19-10; MVPs: Bert Rechichar, Baltimore Colts, K; Ernie Stautner, Pittsburgh Steelers, DT
- Jan 15 Brooklyn Dodgers extend their 5-year lease on Ebbets Field by signing a new 3-year lease with real estate developer Marvin Kratter; club moves to Los Angeles the next year
- Jan 15 7th NBA All-Star Game, Boston Garden: Eastern Conference beats Western Conference, 109-97; MVP: Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics, PG
- Jan 26 Joseph F Cairnes succeeds Lou Perini as President of Milwaukee Braves
- Jan 28 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: Shirley Fry Irvin wins all-American final; beats Althea Gibson 6-3, 6-4 for her only Australian singles title
Tennis Open
Jan 28 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Ashley Cooper wins 1st of 2 straight Australian titles; beats fellow Australian Neale Fraser 6-3, 9-11, 6-4, 6-2
Ashley Cooper
Birthdays in Sport
- Jan 5 Kevin Hastings, Australian rugby league footballer, born in Surry Hills, Australia
Nancy Lopez
Jan 6 Nancy Lopez, American golfer (3 Majors, 48 LPGA tour wins), born in Torrance, California
Nancy Lopez
- Jan 7 Julian Solis, Puerto Rican boxer, born in Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico
- Jan 8 Dwight Clark, American NFL wide receiver/executive ("The Catch" 1981 Super Bowl SF 49ers), born in Kingston, North Carolina (d. 2018)
- Jan 11 Darryl Dawkins, American professional basketball player (Philadelphia 76ers, NJ Nets), born in Orlando, Florida (d. 2015)
- Jan 11 Bryan Robson, English footballer (Manchester United) and manager, born in Chester-le-Street, England
- Jan 13 Christina Seufert, Sacraento California, diver (Olympic bronze 1984)
- Jan 13 Mark Francis O'Meara, Goldsboro NC, PGA golfer (1984 Greater Milw)
- Jan 17 Donna Stone, NJ, fencer-epee (Olympics 1996)
- Jan 17 Michel Vaarten, Belgian cyclist
- Jan 19 Ottis "O J" Anderson, NFL running back (NY Giants)
- Jan 20 Leonard C Clements, Cherry Point NC, PGA golfer (1994 Bob Hope-2nd)
- Jan 21 Jacob Green, NFL defensive end (Seattle Seahawk)
- Jan 21 Shaukat Dukanwala, cricketer (Baroda off-spinner, UAE World Cup 1996)
Mike Bossy
Jan 22 Mike Bossy, NHL forward (NY Islanders), 1st 50 goals in 50 game, born in Montreal, Quebec
Mike Bossy
Nick Price
Jan 28 Nick Price, Zimbabwean golfer (PGA 1992, 94; British Open 1994), born in Durban, South Africa
Nick Price
Payne Stewart
Jan 30 Payne Stewart, American golfer (US Open 1991, 99; PGA 1989), born in Springfield, Missouri (d. 1999)
Payne Stewart
- Jan 31 Shirley F Babashoff, California, swimmer (Olympics-6 silver/2 gold-72, 76)
Weddings in Sport
Wedding of Interest
Jan 19 Golfer Gary Player (21) weds Bobby Verwey's sister Vivienne Verwey
Gary Player
Deaths in Sport
- Jan 24 Daniel Taylor, cricketer (bro of Herbie, 2 Tests for S Af 1914), dies