1961 in sports
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See also: 1960 in sports, other events of 1961, 1962 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.
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Auto Racing
- Stock car racing:
- Indianapolis 500 - A.J. Foyt
- USAC Racing - A.J. Foyt won the driving championship
- Formula One Championship - Phil Hill of the United States
- 24 hours of Le Mans: the team of Olivier Gendebien / Phil Hill win, driving a Ferrari TR61
- Rally racing - the team of Maurice Martin / Roger Bateau won the Monte Carlo Rally driving a Panhard PL17
- Drag racing - Pete Robinson won Top Eliminator at the NHRA Nationals
Baseball
- January 16: Mickey Mantle becomes the highest paid player in Major League Baseball by signing a contract that will pay him $75,000 per season.
- July 13: In his majors debut, Milwaukee Braves outfielder Mack Jones tied a post-1900 National League record by collecting three singles and a double in his first game.
- Roger Maris hits 61 home runs during the regular season, breaking Babe Ruth's mark of 60 that had stood since 1927
- World Series: New York Yankees win 4 games to 1 over the Cincinnati Reds. The series MVP is Whitey Ford of the Yankees.
Basketball
- NCAA Men's Basketball Championship:
- Cincinnati wins 70-65 over Ohio St.
- NBA Finals:
- Boston Celtics won 4 games to 1 over the St. Louis Hawks
Boxing
- June 3 in Los Angeles, California - Emile Griffith knocked out Gaspar Ortega in the 12th round to retain the Welterweight Championship
Cycling
- Giro d'Italia won by Ercole Baldini of Italy
- Tour de France - Jacques Anquetil of France
- World Cycling Championship: Rik Van Looy of Belgium
Figure Skating
- The World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia were canceled after the entire United States team of skaters, officials, leaders and chaperones all died on February 15 in a plane crash just outside of Belgium while traveling to the competition.
Football (American)
- AFL Championship: Houston Oilers won 10-3 over the San Diego Chargers
- NFL Championship: Green Bay Packers won 37-0 over the New York Giants
Football (Australian Rules)
(Hawthorn 13.16 (94) d Footscray 7.9 (51))
Football (Canadian)
- Grey Cup: Winnipeg Blue Bombers win 21-14 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Football (Soccer)
- England - FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspur won 2-0 over Leicester City
Golf
- Grand Slam of golf results:
- PGA tour's leading money winner for the year: Gary Player - $64,540
- Ryder Cup: United States wins 14 1/2 to 9 1/2 over Britain in world team golf.
- US Women's Open - Mickey Wright
- LPGA Championship - Mickey Wright
- Mickey Wright: leading money winner on the LPGA tour, earning $22,236
Thoroughbred Horse Racing
- Australia - Melbourne Cup - Lord Fury
- Canada - Queen's Plate - Blue Light
- France - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Molvedo
- Ireland - Irish Derby Stakes - Your Highness
Harness Racing
Ice Hockey
- Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
- Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
- Stanley Cup: Chicago Blackhawks win 4 games to 2 over the Detroit Red Wings
- World Hockey Championship:
- Men's champion: Trail Smokeaters from Canada
Tennis
- Grand Slam in tennis men's results:
- Grand Slam in tennis women's results:
General sporting events
- Maureen Baynton won the Women's World Amateur Billiards Championships
Births
- January 2 - Carole Teffri, former French field hockey international
- January 26 - Wayne Gretzky, Ice hockey player
- February 11 - Mary Docter, American speed skater
- February 21 - Davey Allison, automobile racer (+ 1993)
- March 4 - Ray Mancini, boxer
- March 14 - Kirby Puckett, Baseball Hall of Famer
- March 21 - Lothar Matthäus, German footballer
- May 13 - Dennis Rodman, NBA player
- June 26 - Greg LeMond, cyclist, three-time Tour de France winner
- July 1 - Carl Lewis, athletics legend, nine-time Olympic gold medalist
- August 16 - Sandie Lister, British field hockey international
- September 2 - Carlos Valderrama, footballer
- September 15 - Dan Marino, American football star
- October 11 - Steve Young, American football star
- December 19 - Reggie White, American football star
- December 31 - Shelley Fruin,New Zealand cricketer
Deaths
- February 15 - Bradley Lord, (1961 U.S. men's figure skating champion)
- February 15 - Maribel Vinson-Owen, U.S. figure skating champion & coach
- February 15 - Maribel Yerxa Owen, U.S. figure skating champion
- February 15 - Laurence Richon Owen, U.S. figure skating champion