- Jan 5 Nawab of Pataudi, cricket (play polo 3 Tests for Eng 3 for Ind), dies
- Jan 17 Walter O Briggs, American entrepreneur and sports team owner (Detroit Tigers 1935-52), dies at 74
- Jan 28 Thomas Hicks, English athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1904), dies at 76
- Feb 5 Reginald Allen, cricketer (uncle of Gubby, Test Aust v Eng 1887), dies
- 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 race car driver (b. 1898)
- 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 Arky Vaughn, American Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop (MLB All-Star 1934–42; NL batting champion 1935; NL stolen base leader 1943), drowns whilst fishing 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 5 Joe Jagersberger, Austrian-American racing driver, dies at 68
- Oct 8 Joe Adams, American baseball player (St. Louis Cardinals), 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), dies at 71
- Dec 4 James E. Norris, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame team owner (Detroit Red Wings), dies at 72
- Dec 19 Harry Makepeace, English cricketer (4 Tests for England v Australia 1920-21), dies at 71