- January 12
- Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates player), elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. [1]
- Mercedes-Benz board of directors decides to officially return to motor sport racing, since withdrawing in 1955. [1557.76]
- January 13
- Los Angeles Dodgers'/San Diego Padres' Steve Garvey retires. [1]
- January 15
- Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder makes racist remarks about black athletes. [1]
- Kiran More stumps five West Indian batsman at Madras, world Test record. [1]
- Narendra Hirwani takes 16-136 (8-61 and 8-75) versus West Indies on Test debut. [1]
- January 16
- Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder fired from CBS-TV for racial remarks. [1]
- NFL Saint Louis Cardinals announce move to Phoenix, Arizona. [1]
- January 20
- André Hoffman skates world record 1500m (1:52.06). [1]
- January 22
- First-class cricket debut of Brian Lara, Trinidad and Tobago versus Leeward Island. [1]
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- First-class cricket debut of Hansie Cronje, OFS versus Transvaal. [1]
- Mike Tyson TKOs Larry Holmes in four rounds for heavyweight boxing title. [1]
- January 23
- 62nd Australian Women's Tennis: Steffi Graf beats Chris Evert (6-1, 7-6). [1]
- Bob Benoit bowls first 300-point game in a televised title match. [1]
- January 24
- 76th Australian Men's Tennis: M Wilander beats P Cash (6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6). [1]
- Australia beats New Zealand 2-0 to win the World Series Cup. [1]
- January 25
- Longest winless streak in Toronto Maple Leafs history (15 games). [1]
- January 29
- Canadian Ben Johnson breaks own 50-yard dash world record at 5.15s. [1]
- Detroit Tigers' Kirk Gibson signs a 3-year contract with Los Angeles Dodgers. [1]
- Largest NBA crowd-Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (61,938). [1]
- The Midwest Classic Conference, a U.S. college athletic conference, is formed. [82]
- January 30
- Hansie Cronje gets a pair in second first-class game (OFS versus N Tvl). [1]
- January 31
- Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins beat Denver Broncos, 42-10 in San Diego; Most Valuable Player: quarterback Doug Williams. [1] [154]
- February 2
- David Boon's 6th Test Cricket century, 184 versus England at Sydney. [1]
- February 7
- 38th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 138-133 at Chicago, Illinois. [1]
- NFL Pro Bowl: AFC beats NFC 15-6. [1]
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Mazda Golf Classic. [1]
- February 9
- 39th NHL All-Star Game: Wales beat Campbell 6-5 (overtime) at Saint Louis, Missouri. [1]
- New Hampshire begins a NCAA record 32-game losing streak at home (ends February 1991). [1]
- February 13
- (to February 28) The XV Olympic Winter Games are held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. [1] [7] [82]
- Christine Wachtel runs world record 800 metre indoor (1 minute 56.40 seconds). [1]
- Heike Dreschler long jumps world record indoor (7.37 metres). [1]
- Ronald Weigel runs unofficial world record speed walking (18 minutes 11.41 seconds). [1]
- February 14
- 49th PGA Seniors Golf Championship: Gary Player. [1]
- Bobby Allison at age 50 becomes oldest driver to win Daytona 500. [1]
- Patty Sheehan wins LPGA Sarasota Golf Classic. [1]
- February 19
- Helga Arendt, Silke-Beate Knoll, Mechthild Kluth, and Gisela Kinzel walk indoor female world record 4x200 metre (1:32.55). [1]
- February 20
- André Hoffmann skates world record 1500 metre (1:52.06). [1]
- Brian Boitano wins Olympics gold medal in figure skating. [1]
- Cornelia Oschkenat hurdles indoor world record 50 metre (6.58 seconds). [1]
- Kelly Hrudy's 5th New York Islanders shut-out win against Hartford Whalers, 3-0. [1]
- Rob Druppers runs world record indoor 1000 metre (2:16.2). [1]
- Stefka Kostadinova high jumps indoor world record (2.06 metres). [1]
- February 21
- Gustafson skates world record 10 km (13:48.20). [1]
- February 22
- Bonnie Blair skates world record 500 metre (39.10 seconds). [1]
- February 23
- Chicago, Illinois gives Chicago Cubs the right to install lights and play up to 18 night games. [1]
- Yvonne van Gennip skates female record 3km (4:11.94). [1]
- February 24
- Matti Nykanen becomes winter Olympics first triple gold medalist. [1]
- February 26
- Christa Rotherburger (German Democratic Republic) skates ladies world record 1000 metre (1:17.65). [1]
- February 27
- Ayako Okamoto wins LPGA Orient Leasing Hawaiian Ladies Golf Open. [1]
- Bonnie Blair (US) wins Olympics 500 metre speed skating in record 39.1 seconds. [1]
- Katarina Witt (German Democratic Republic) wins second consecutive Olympics figure skating. [1]
- February 28
- XV Olympic Winter Games close at Calgary, Canada. [1] [154.69]
- Pat Verbeek becomes first New Jersey Devils' player to score four goals in an NHL game. [1]
- Yvonne van Gennip skates world record 5 km ladies (7:14.13). [1]
- February 29
- Mark Greatbatch scores 107 versus England on Test Cricket debut. [1]
- March 1
- Wayne Gretzky passes Gordie Howe with his record 1,050th NHL assist. [1]
- March 6
- Betsy King wins LPGA Women's Kemper Golf Open/Helene Curtis Pro-Am. [1]
- Julie Krone becomes winningest female jockey (1205 victories). [1]
- Orville Moodey shoots 63 at Seniors golf tournament. [1]
- March 7
- Jim Abbott, one-handed pitcher, wins 58th James E Sullivan Award. [1]
- March 10
- New York Islanders celebrate Mike Bossy night. [1]
- March 15
- NFL's Saint Louis Cardinals officially move to Phoenix, Arizona. [1]
- March 17
- Highest scoring NCAA basketball game: Loyola-Marymnt 119, Wyoming 115. [1]
- March 19
- Yvonne van Gennip skates un-official world record 10 km (15:05.25). [1]
- March 20
- Laura Davies wins Circle K LPGA Tucson Golf Open. [1]
- Mike Tyson knocks out Tony Tubbs in two rounds for heavyweight boxing title. [1]
- March 22
- Western Australia beats Queensland by five wickets to win the Sheffield Shield Final. [1]
- March 26
- Janet B Evans swims 1500 metre freestyle female world record (15:02.10). [1]
- March 27
- Ok-Hee Ku wins Standard Register Turquoise Classic Golf Tournament. [1]
- World Ice Dance Championship in Budapest won by Bestemianova and Bukin (USSR). [1]
- World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Budapest won by E Valova and O Vasiliev (USSR). [1]
- World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Budapest won by Katarina Witt (German Democratic Republic). [1]
- World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Budapest won by Brian Boitano (USA). [1]
- March 30
- Tamil Nadu beats Railways by innings and 144 to win Ranji Trophy. [1]
- April 2
- Simply Majestic sets horse racing's 1-1/8 mile record at 1:45. [1]
- Test Cricket debut of Curtly Ambrose, West Indies versus Pakistan, Georgetown. [1]
- April 3
- 17th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Amy Alcott. [1]
- 7th NCAA Women's Basketball Champion: Louisiana Tech beat Auburn 56-54. [1]
- Mario Lemieux wins NHL scoring title, stopping Wayne Gretzky's seven-year streak. [1]
- New Jersey Devils beat Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3 in overtime, to clinch their first ever playoff spot. [1]
- April 4
- 50th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kansas beats Oklahoma 83-79. [1]
- Eddie Hill becomes first to drag race a quarter mile in under 5 seconds. [1]
- Largest crowd (55,438) at a season game at Riverfront (Cincinnati Reds vs Saint Louis Cardinals). [1]
- New York Mets set Opening Day record with six homeruns. [1]
- April 6
- New Jersey Devils' first playoff game; lose to New York Islanders 4-3 (overtime) in first round. [1]
- April 7
- New Jersey Devils 3-2 over New York Islanders, first NHL playoff round tied 1-1. [1]
- April 9
- New Jersey Devils 3-0 over New York Islanders-Devils lead 2-1 in first round. [1]
- April 10
- 52nd Golf Masters Championship: Sandy Lyle wins, shooting a 281. [1]
- Ayako Okamoto wins LPGA San Diego Inamori Golf Classic. [1]
- New York Islanders beat New Jersey Devils 5-4 (overtime) first round tied at 2-2. [1]
- April 12
- Frank Robinson replaces Cal Ripkin as manager of the Baltimore Orioles. [1]
- New Jersey Devils 4-2 over New York Islanders-Devils lead 3-2 in first round. [1]
- April 14
- New Jersey Devils 6-5 over New York Islanders-Devils take first round 4-2. [1]
- April 17
- Ethiopian Belayneh Densimo runs world record marathon (2:06:50). [1]
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA AI Star/Centinela Hospital Golf Classic. [1]
- April 18
- 17th Boston Women's Marathon won by Rosa Mota of Portugal in 2:24:30. [1]
- 92nd Boston Marathon won by Ibrahim Hussein of Kenya in 2:08:43. [1]
- April 20
- Baltimore Orioles set worst record to start a season 0-14 (will go 0-21). [1]
- New Jersey Devils' first playoff hat trick-Eric Broten. [1]
- New York Yankees homerun 9,999 (Dave Winfield), 10,000 (Claudell Washington), and 10,001 (Jack Clark). [1]
- April 21
- First four-day games in County Cricket Championship commence. [1]
- April 22
- New Jersey Devils' Patrik Sundstrom ties NHL playoff record of eight points in a playoff game (hat trick and five assists) in 10-4 rout over the Washington Capitals. [1]
- Women are allowed to compete in the Little 500 bicycle race in Bloomington, Indiana, for the first time. [1]
- April 23
- Karolina Szabo runs female world record 25km (1:29:30)/30km (1:47:06). [1]
- April 24
- Rosie Jones wins LPGA USX Golf Classic. [1]
- April 26
- NBA approves addition of third referee in the 1988-89 season. [1]
- New York Mets' Davey Johnson becomes second manager to record 400 victory in first four years (Al Lopez did it first). [1]
- April 28
- Baltimore Orioles lose American League record 21 games in a row. [1]
- New Jersey Devils set all time playoff mark for penalty minutes. [1]
- April 29
- Baltimore Orioles beat Chicago White Sox 9-0 for first 1988 win after 21 losses. [1]
- April 30
- Baltimore Orioles win record 14th straight from beginning of season. [1]
- New Jersey Devils beat Washington Capitals 3-2 taking 7th game of Patrick Division final. [1]
- New York Knights' first arena football game; beat Los Angeles Cobras 60-52 in Los Angeles. [1]
- New York Yankees' Dave Winfield gets his 29th RBI of April; sets American League and ties major league record. [1]
- May 1
- Patti Rizzo wins LPGA Sara Lee Golf Classic. [1]
- May 2
- Baltimore Orioles sign a 15-year lease to remain in Baltimore and get a new park. [1]
- Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose is suspended for 30 days for pushing an umpire. [1]
- May 6
- New Jersey Devils' coach Jim Schoenfeld tells referee Don Koharski to 'eat another doughnut you fat pig!'; he is suspended. [1]
- Graeme Hick scores 405 for Worcestershire versus Somerset 35 fours 11 sixes. [1]
- May 7
- 114th Kentucky Derby: Gary Stevens on Winning Colors wins in 2:02.2. [1]
- May 8
- Amateur referees work New Jersey Devils-Boston Bruins playoff games, as NHL referees walk-off, due to a restraining order brought by the Devils. [1]
- Juli Inkster wins LPGA Crestar Golf Classic. [1]
- May 9
- Oakland Athletics winning streak hits 14. [1]
- May 11
- KV Mechelen wins 28th Europe Cup II. [1]
- Mario Andretti records fastest Indianapolis 500 lap (221.565 mph). [1]
- May 14
- First non-pitcher (Jose Oquendo) in 20 years to get a decision in a baseball game, he and Saint Louis Cardinals lose to the Atlanta Braves 7-5 in 19 innings. [1]
- Wimbledon wins the English FA Cup after beating Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley. [82]
- May 15
- Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Chrysler-Plymouth Golf Classic. [1]
- May 18
- Bayer Leverkusen wins 17th UEFA Cup at Leverkusen. [1]
- In the Oakland Athletics' 39th game of the season, pitcher Dave Stewart breaks major league record with his 12th balk en route to 16. [1]
- May 19
- Boston Red Sox retire Bobby Doerr's number 1. [1]
- May 20
- Mike Schmidt hits his 535th homerun, moving into 8th place. [1]
- May 21
- 114th Preakness: Eddie Delahoussaye aboard Risen Star wins in 1:56.2. [1]
- May 22
- 34th LPGA Championship won by Sherri Turner. [1]
- May 24
- Power outage in Boston Garden in NHL's Stanley Cup finals. [1]
- May 25
- May 26
- NHL Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers sweep Boston Bruins in four games. [1]
- May 29
- Graeme Hick scores his 1,000th run of first-class cricket season. [1]
- Sherri Turner wins LPGA Corning Golf Classic. [1]
- June 4
- Longest game in Baltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium (5:46) 14 innings, beating New York Yankees 7-6. [1]
- June 6
- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom strips jockey Lester Piggott of his Order of the British Empire following his jailing for tax irregularities. [82]
- June 11
- Galina Chistyakova of USSR sets long jump woman's record (24 feet 8.25 inches). [1]
- New York Yankees' Rick Rhoden becomes first pitcher to designate hit (0 for 1 with an RBI). [1]
- June 20
- New York City WABC-AM becomes the flagship radio station of the New Jersey Devils. [1]
- June 21
- Los Angeles Lakers beats Detroit Pistons, for the NBA championship. [1]
- June 23
- Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat begin their NBA expansion draft. [1]
- New York Yankees' manager Billy Martin's 5th term ends, Lou Pinella named manager. [1]
- June 24
- Cleveland Indians' pitcher Doug Jones sets record of 14 consecutive saves. [1]
- June 25
- The Netherlands defeats the Soviet Union 2-0 to win Euro 88. [82]
- June 27
- Mike Tyson knocks out Michael Spink in 91 seconds, in Atlantic City (US$67 million). [1]
- June 28
- Mike Tyson sues to break contract with manager Bill Cayton. [1]
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