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Sports Illustrated - Issue #1 and 2 - a quick review

The magazine had it’s debut in August of 1954 – featuring Eddie Matthews at the plate at Milwaukee Country Stadium.

It was the idea of Time owner Henry Luce to launch a general sports publication, which had been tried before and not very successful on a national level. Even though he was advised not to do so – he went ahead anyway and of course the rest is history. Many big journalists – at the time – felt that jock reporting wasn’t serious journalism and that it wouldn’t go over well all year long! These guys must’ve been real visionaries! image

For me, the two “must haves” for a pub collector are the first and second issues – not only since they’re the first but the inserts!

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I picked up this in mint condition when they decided to sell a cache of magazines (back around 1993) they had warehoused for close to 50 yrs. This has also been reprinted – which can be easily contrasted from the original – for one thing the original has a mailer insert not present in the reprint.

Of course, the key thing that excites people today is the insert of baseball cards:

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I recently picked up the 2nd edition of the publication, which has the ‘conceptual’ Mantle card.

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There’s been so many great covers of SI, I wouldn’t know where to start but there’s an interesting stat – not sure how accurate this is but it shows the people who’ve appeared most often on the cover:

Athlete Number of Covers
Michael Jordan 49
Muhammad Ali 37
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 29
Magic Johnson 22
Jack Nicklaus 22

Though on the less serious side – the swimsuit issue is one of the most sought after copies every year.

It all started back in 1964 – Babette March:

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If you have a favorite issue – please post it.

Thanx and Happy Memorial Day!

Mike

Comments

  • sayheykid54sayheykid54 Posts: 779 ✭✭
    What a fantastic 1954 Topps Mantle that would have been! I wish as a 1954 collector they would have included it in the set.
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Nice Mike, I only have the first issue.


    many times the 2nd issue of a magazine/comic is worth more then the first.



    Steve
    Good for you.
  • gstarlinggstarling Posts: 463 ✭✭
    If you cut the sheet, will any grading company (PSA, BVG, SGC) grade them, even if it's just authentic?
    Currently Buying:
    2004 Tommie Harris SPX Printing Plate (White Whale will pay top $$$)
    1994 SP Football Die Cuts PSA 10s
  • elsnortoelsnorto Posts: 2,012 ✭✭
    I don't collect SIs, but here are a couple I have often thought of picking up for autographs:

    Jim Brown's NFL comeback rumor.

    Earl Campbell : Rookie On A Rampage.

    WFL's pillaging of the Miami Dolphins backfield.

    There have been too many great SI covers over the years to count. I am always surprised these (excluding the first few), and other vintage mags, do not sell for more than they do.

    Snorto~
  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 31,783 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Check out this 1955 cover- see anything strange? I still cant understand what the deal is..


    image
  • Wasn't that a spring training game with no umpire behind the plate ?
  • rpcoletranerpcoletrane Posts: 718 ✭✭
    Not only that, it looks as if they are all the way back against the backstop...LOL
  • zep33zep33 Posts: 6,897 ✭✭✭
    Those early issues would be cool to read. Had no idea they ever put cards in them.

    Here's one I got signed by Eruzione in the early 90's

    image
  • I just found my copy of the 55 SI and that was spring training and it was batting practice . The catcher was Cleveland coach Bill Lobe.
  • tnsprotnspro Posts: 787 ✭✭✭
    Had these for a long time....glad to finally be able to do something with them....haha.

    image

    image

    My favorite of all-time...for obvious reasons!

    image


    Currency Wants: Any note with serial number 00000731
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,486 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanx for sharing those great covers!

    Snorto - the value of these are probably driven by sheer numbers - and tons have survived over the years - that's my guess?

    mike
    Mike
  • EstilEstil Posts: 7,226 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wouldn't mind getting those leather bound 1996 and 1998 Kentucky Wildcats championship books someday! How many SI's have had Kentucky basketball players on the cover?
    WISHLIST
    D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
    Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
    74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
    73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
    95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings
  • GDM67GDM67 Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Had these for a long time....glad to finally be able to do something with them....haha.

    image >>



    You should consider getting Walter Iooss to autograph that Dwight Clark issue. He shot that classic photograph. (Maybe a different copy if you don't want to risk mailing that one.)

    Love the Rick Barry issues image
  • tnsprotnspro Posts: 787 ✭✭✭
    How would I contact him? Any suggestions?

    Currency Wants: Any note with serial number 00000731
  • SidePocketSidePocket Posts: 2,901 ✭✭✭
    Mike, those first 2 issues are awesome. Love the hitters back then - no helmets.

    "Molon Labe"

  • GDM67GDM67 Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>How would I contact him? Any suggestions? >>



    Here is his official site. There is some contact info there.
  • Great thread, awesome material!
    -Rome is Burning

    image
  • zep33zep33 Posts: 6,897 ✭✭✭
    Here's a few more I've hung onto and dug up this morning:

    imageimage
    image

  • zep33zep33 Posts: 6,897 ✭✭✭
    and my 2 favorites:

    imageimage
  • BunchOBullBunchOBull Posts: 6,188 ✭✭✭
    That Daniela Pestova cover has always been my favorite swimsuit issue.
    Collector of most things Frank Thomas. www.BigHurtHOF.com
  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 31,783 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have always liked this one-


    image


  • << <i>Check out this 1955 cover- see anything strange? I still cant understand what the deal is.. >>



    They are both on the same team. Check out the Cleveland Indian patch on both the catcher and the hitter's sleeve.
  • kmnortonkmnorton Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭
    Pretty funny that I was looking tonight for some information about a certain 1st edition and came across this..

    Expensive for not having supermodels in it
    IWTDMBII
  • tnsprotnspro Posts: 787 ✭✭✭
    Found a few more....


    Sonny Sixkiller-

    image

    check out the big stain!!! image

    image

    Maria Sharapova -

    image

    Egon Zimmermann

    image


    Currency Wants: Any note with serial number 00000731
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    I much prefer this one. Great moment of my Sophomore year at Notre Dame. We had a lot of fun on campus that night!

    Mike

    image




    << <i>I have always liked this one-


    image >>

    Buying US Presidential autographs
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