While the graded magazine hobby has been growing like crazy, it’s still pretty small, especially compared to comics and sports cards.  But there’s an inflection point happening right now that’s pushing this hobby into greater growth and awareness.  The single largest auction of high-grade Sports Illustrated issues is taking place at Heritage auction and runs through August 28th.  Most of these issues rarely ever show up for sale anywhere, much less in a public auction where each is guaranteed to sell.  Let’s walk through the top 6 premium pieces 

#1 - Mario Lemieux’s 1st cover at 9.8 from Feb 6, 1989

Very low pop reports on this one as there are only 6 copies graded at 9.8.  If you’re new to this hobby, the reason that so many of us love it is that these newsstand issues, especially in high grade, are so rare.  To compare his 1985 Topps rookie card, there are 77 graded at PSA 10.  The pop for his 1st Sports Illustrated at 9.8 is just 6.  That’s why we do this, because they are so rare. 

The current bid on this Lemieux 9.8 is $3,360.  It's such a great-looking issue, an action shot playing against the Rangers.  What could really push this issue higher is the fact that Pittsburgh is such a great hockey town.  So it wouldn’t surprise me if a few Penguins fans push the bidding higher

#2 - Mike Trout 1st cover at 9.8 from 8/27/2012 

Even fewer 9.8s here than the Lemieux.  Just four 9.8’s for Mike Trout, which is kind of odd since this issue came out 13 years after the Lemieux.  The reason why is that this is a really condition-sensitive issue and I talk about this all the time. 

So much dark ink along the spine and a full-color back makes it almost impossible to pop a 9.8. The biggest downside with Trout is that he’s spent his whole career with the Angles.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Add to the fact that Trout’s back injury could be potentially career-limiting and I think that’s kept him from being the amazing collectible that his stats say he deserves. 

WHAT TEAM YOU PLAY FOR MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO COLLECTIBILITY!!  If Mickey Mantle doesn’t play for the Yankees, there’s no way his 52 Topps at auction right now sells for $10 million plus, which it's likely to do.  The current bid on the Trout is $8,700.

#3 - Kobe Bryant 1st cover at 9.8 from 4/27/1998  

Now the pop reports for these next two are going to be much bigger starting with Kobe 9.8’s coming in at 17.  That’s a lot for this hobby but still nothing compared to sports cards.  I love everything about this cover, you’ve got a 19-year-old Kobe on the cover, and I love, love, love that Magic Johnson is also on this cover.  I’ve said it many times, it’s like the passing of the baton from the Magic, Showtime era of the Lakers in the 80’s to the Kobe and Shaq era of the 2000s. 

These have been regularly selling via private sales recently for around $9-$10k.  The current bid is $6,600 so I expect that to rise a good bit from here. 

#4 - LeBron James 1st cover at 9.8 from 2/18/2002

Now get ready for this pop report.  34 9.8’s on this one!  34!  But I don’t think it matters really because it’s LeBron.  Two years ago this issue at 9.8 regularly sold for around $3,000.  Clearly, a lot has changed since then!  There was one sale in the last year on eBay where the guy listed it for around $6,000.  It was only up there for about 30 minutes and he took a best offer of around $4,000. 

I remember saying at the time I would have bought 10 of them at $4k if I could have!  The current bid is $9,000 and I think this one will push well above $10,000 at the end.  

Muhammad Ali 1st cover at 9.2 from 6/10/1963

#5 - Alright enough of this modern stuff let's get to the vintage issues.  The pop reports from this vintage issue are going to look a lot different from the modern issues, as you would expect.  There is one 9.6, three 9.4’s and two 9.2’s.  The last time a newsstand 63 Ali sold at Heritage was May 2019 and an 8.5 sold for….get ready for this.  $780.  That should tell you how far this hobby has come in just 3 years. 

An 8.5 is easily worth 10x that today.  I can’t recall seeing a copy of this issue at any grade, in newsstand, being for sale since that 2019 Heritage auction.  The current bid on this 9.2 is $12,000, and the Heritage estimate is $25,000 and up.  It’s going to be very interesting to see where this Ali FC ends up, but I can tell you $12,000 certainly won’t be the final price.  That’s for certain.

Mickey Mantle’s 1st cover at 9.0 from 6/18/1956

#6 - I saved what I think is the best for last here.  Pops go like this…there are two at 9.6, six at 9.4, one at 9.2 and one at 9.0, so only nine copies are graded higher than this one.  As recently as October 2020, you could have bought this issue at 8.0 on Heritage for $1,140.  The current bid on this 9.0 is $15,000 and again I guarantee you it will sell for more than that.  That’s how far this hobby has come in a very short period of time.  Very rare to see this issue, in newsstand, at any grade come up for sale.  I am aware of an 8.5 that sold privately in the last year for around $11,000.  

Take a look!

If you haven’t already, go to Heritage and check out these auction items, it’s gonna be a lot of fun to watch and the final sales prices for all of these issues will tell us an incredible amount about where this hobby currently stands in terms of pricing!

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