Guide to Sports Illustrated Magazine

The first incarnation of Sports Illustrated was published in the 1930's. The typical issue focused on golf, skiing, fishing and other outdoor sports. Publisher Stuart Scheftel, agreed in the 1940's to allow Dell Publications to use the title "Sports Illustrated" for a brief run in 1949. Scheftel eventually sold the Sports Illustrated name for an amount in "the low five figures" and a lifetime subscription to the new magazine by publishing giant Henry R. Luce (of Time, Life & Fortune) and he merged his magazine with Golf Illustrated. Luce's new publication was marketed as a highbrow publication aimed at elite sportsmen. Many of the early issues focused on yachting, golf, ocean fishing and African safaris. The first yearly subscription price was $7.50 a year, when the very first issue was officially launched in 1954. There are 2 very rare "Dummy" issues that were published in 1953 and were only sent to potential advertisers and reviewers. These 2 covers that depict Football fans cheering in a stadium and Pebble Beach Golf Course are considered 2 of the rarest collectible Sports Illustrated Magazines.
The very first issue that was sold on the newsstand on August 16, 1954 featured baseball player Eddie Mathews of the Milwaukee Braves. This issue as well as the equally coveted second issue is particularly desirable to collectors due to the fold-out insert pages of baseball cards produced by TOPPS Baseball Card Co. inside the magazines. The cards featured major baseball stars of the day including WILLIE MAYS, TED WILLIAMS, MICKEY MANTLE, YOGI BERRA and others. These cards have strong collectible desirability amongst baseball card collectors as well as magazine collectors. A second printing of baseball cards were printed in 2 issues in 1955 featuring Al Rosen of the Cleveland Indians and also Willie Mays, Leo Durocher and his wife Laraine Day on the covers.. The cards in these issues featured baseball players such as ERNIE BANKS, WARREN SPAHN and others. While most issues in the 1950's featured sports aimed at the well-heeled sportsman on it's covers, by the time the 1960's came around, the publishers realized that by focusing on the major spectator sports (baseball, football, basketball, boxing, hockey, golf & tennis) they were able to sell many more magazines. Thus the concept of America's most popular and collectible weekly sports magazine was born.

Another notable entry into the Sports Illustrated arena, the SWIMSUIT ISSUE officially began with the January 20, 1964 issue featuring model BABETTE MARCH on the cover. A few issues dating back to 1954 also featured women clad in swimsuits on the cover, but it was not until 1964 that the concept of the annual Swimsuit Issue fully evolved. The swimsuit issue by far has been the magazines most controversial issue prompting readers to both cancel subscriptions and also purchase more from the newsstand than any other. In the height of the issue's popularity, the careers were launched of some of the most famous supermodels such as CHRISTIE BRINKLEY, CAROL ALT, CHERYL TIEGS, PAULINA PORIZKOVA, ELLE MACPHERSON, KATHY IRELAND, VENDALA, RACHEL HUNTER, TYRA BANKS and many others. Today, still one of the most anticipated issues of the year, the issue has evolved into a variety of other entities including calendars, TV Reality Shows, Videos and much more.

The first special anniversary issue began with the 1978 "25th Anniversary Issue" and was followed by various other anniversary issues including the 50th anniversary in 1994. Other special annual issues include the "PICTURES OF THE YEAR" which lauched in 1987 and "THE YEAR IN SPORTS". "THE YEAR IN SPORTS" were compiled as yearbooks recapping the past year in sports and were published during the last few weeks of December annually starting in 1976. Another anticipated annual issue is the SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR issue published yearly in December since 1955. The first "S.O.Y." issue featured runner ROGER BANNISTER. Since 1995 many other commemorative issues are printed to honor various Championship teams or special events such as CAL RIPKEN JR breaking LOU GEHRIG'S Consecutive Game record. Various special collectible hardbound versions are also published as well and were made available directly from the publisher. Various REGIONAL covers and special "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PRESENTS Commemorative issues have been published since 1989 when the first issue "DR Z's GREAT MOMENTS In SUPER BOWL HISTORY" featured VINCE LOMBARDI & JERRY KRAMER of the GREEN BAY PACKERS on the cover. Most COMMEMORATIVE and SI PRESENTS ISSUES are only available on the newsstand in regional markets and not part of the Sports Illustrated yearly subscription.

Launched in 1989, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS is a monthly publication. Each issue contains sports cards, posters, games and player interviews that appeal to pre-teen sports fans. The issues however have gained the attention of Sports Collectors of all ages due to the sports cards inside. The most popular of which is the December 1996 issue that features the first TIGER WOODS sports card ever made.