Records were smashed in August in an incredible Goldin auction and on eBay. Let’s take a look at the new record holders.
Sports Illustrated #v59 #23
Up first we have Michael’s Jordan’s first Sports Illustrated cover from November 1983. Riding the wave of the Tar Heels’ championship in 1982, Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins graced the cover at the starting point of the 1982-1983 college basketball season. This issue has always been a favorite of sports magazines enthusiasts, and one that they like to hold onto. Until the August 9 Goldin auction, no copy above the grade of 7.5 had ever sold. In the auction, an 8.5 went for $11,590, obliterating the previous record holder – a 7.0 that sold in an October 2025 fixed price eBay sale for $5,000. Keep in mind that there are seven copies graded higher than 8.5 out of a census of 145, including a sole top-of-census 9.6.
Baseball Magazine #v87 #3
The first magazine to feature Mickey Mantle on the cover wasn’t Sports Illustrated. Baseball Magazine beat them to the punch by a good five years when they featured Mantle on the cover of this August 1951 issue during his rookie season. One of three 8.5 graded copies at the top of the CGC census sold in an August 16 fixed price eBay sale for $9,000, easily smashing the only previous sale of a graded copy – a 5.5 that went for $1,144 in a June 28 Goldin auction. There are currently 59 graded copies in the CGC census. Don’t be shocked if more copies are made available in upcoming auctions after this sale.
Sports Illustrated #v70 #21
The second of four Michael Jordan Sports Illustrated covers to set a record in August, this May 1989 issue published during the height of that year’s NBA playoffs has long been a favorite of Jordan fans. A 9.2 graded copy autographed by Michael Jordan and authenticated by JSA sold in the August 9 Goldin auction for $8,040. That makes it far and away the record holder, beating out a 9.6 graded copy that sold in a May 22 Goldin auction for $2,455.
Sports Illustrated #v27 #1
Roberto Clemente’s sole Sports Illustrated cover was published in July 1967, during the fourth of his National League batting crown seasons. An 8.5 graded copy set a record in the August 9 Goldin auction when it sold for $4,880. There are only 17 graded copies in the CGC census, which includes two 9.0 graded copies that have never sold.
Sports Illustrated #v68 #20
It’s been a busy year for this May 1988 issue published during that season’s NBA playoffs. Six graded copies have sold in 2025. The fifth proved to be the record holder. A 9.4 graded copy sold in the August 7 Goldin auction for $3,672. That tops the previous record holder – a 9.4 that sold in a March 8 Goldin auction for $2,440. That’s a 50.5% gain in value for the grade. There are 45 graded copies in the CGC census with two at the 9.6 grade.
Sports Illustrated #v61 #5
The final record setting issue of SI with a Michael Jordan cover is this July 1984 issue showcasing the star during the 1984 Olympics. An 8.5 graded copy sold in an August 24 fixed price eBay sale for $3,000, beating out an 8.0 that sold in a September 2024 Goldin auction for $2,818. There are 68 graded copies in the CGC census, 12 of which are graded higher than 8.5 and including a sole top-of-census 9.8.
