See also: 1945 in sports, other events of 1946, 1947 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.

Baseball

• January 23: Hall of Fame election: The writers' vote again fails to select an inductee, despite a newly revamped voting process. Voting again favors earlier candidates from the 1900s and 1910s, but none is able to gain 75% of the vote.

• Jackie Robinson plays for the Montreal Royals, the AAA affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American to play in organised baseball in the 20th century. Vincent "Manny" McIntyre from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada becomes the first Black Canadian to sign a professional baseball contract (with the Sherbrooke Canadians).

• April 23: The Hall of Fame Committee clears the deadlock at the top of the writers' ballot by selecting 11 new inductees, primarily from the popular candidates of the 1900s and 1910s: Jesse Burkett, Frank Chance, Jack Chesbro, Johnny Evers, Clark Griffith, Tommy McCarthy, Joe McGinnity, Eddie Plank, Joe Tinker, Rube Waddell and Ed Walsh. Selections of 19th century players are largely postponed. It is decided that the writers will henceforth select only players retired within the more recent past, rather than from the entire 20th century.

• June 15: When some ballplayers jumped to the Mexican League, MLB Commissioner Happy Chandler mentions a lifetime suspension for them, but his penalty is later reduced (1949).

• July 14: Player-manager Lou Boudreau of Cleveland Indians hits four doubles and one home run, but Ted Williams wallops three HRs and drives in eight runs, as the Boston Red Sox top the Indians 11-10. In the Sox second-game win, the famous "Boudreau Shift" is born. Boudreau shifts all his players, except the third baseman and left fielder, to the right side of the diamond in an effort to stop Williams. Ted grounds out and walks twice while ignoring the shift.

Basketball

National Basketball Association formed as the Basketball Association of America

Football American Football

• The All-America Football Conference begans play. The Cleveland Browns win the championship by beating New York Yankees 14-9.
• The Chicago Bears win the NFL crown by defeating the New York Giants 24-14 in New York.

Football (Australian Rules)

• Victorian Football League
  • Essendon wins the 50th VFL Premiership (Essendon 13.8 (86) d Carlton 11.19(85))
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to Don Cordner (Melbourne)

Football (Soccer)

England - FA Cup: Derby County won 4-1 over Charlton Athletic after extra time

Snooker

• World Snooker Championship: Joe Davis beats Horace Lindrum 78-67, then announces his retirement from the event after this, his 15th consecutive victory.

Births

• January 21 - Johnny Oates, baseball catcher and manager, (d. 2004)
• May 31 - Steve Bucknor, international cricket umpire
• December 29 - Laffit Pincay, Jr., jockey

Deaths