Sports Illustrated v1 #1
August 16, 1954
After moving from Boston to Milwaukee, the Braves drew 1,826,379 fans. This 1954 cover features Eddie Mathews in a game against the Giants. The Milwaukee Braves expected attendance to be over 2 million that year.

Sports Illustrated v1 #3
August 30, 1954

Sports Illustrated v2 #15
April 11, 1955
Willie Mays’s first cover was only the second baseball cover in the magazine’s history. This cover captures the youthful exuberance of 23-year-old Mays, the reigning MVP and batting champ.

Sports Illustrated v3 #5
August 1, 1955
Ted Williams appeared on six SI covers during his lifetime.

Sports Illustrated v4 #25
June 18, 1956
The most collected athlete in history, Mickey Mantle appears at the peak of his powers (Mantle won the Triple Crown in ’56) in a classic portrait that captures his visage in more detail than any baseball card ever could.

Sports Illustrated v18 #25
June 10, 1963

Sports Illustrated v20 #22
June 1, 1964

Sports Illustrated v22 #3
January 18, 1965

Sports Illustrated v45 #17
October 25, 1976
The merger of the ABA and NBA created the occasion for this illustrious cover, featuring competitors Dave Cowens and Julius Erving.

Sports Illustrated v46 #19
May 2, 1977
This cover posed the question Reggie Jackson would answer later that year by hitting game-winning home runs throughout the postseason, garnering the nickname "Mr. October."

Sports Illustrated v56 #3
January 25, 1982

Sports Illustrated v58 #6
February 14, 1983

Sports Illustrated v59 #23
November 28, 1983
This is the first appearance of Michael Jordan on an SI cover. Who could have imagined that he would grace the cover 48 more times for a record of 49 cover appearances — the most by any athlete?

Sports Illustrated v61 #26
December 10, 1984

Sports Illustrated v62 #7
February 18, 1985

Sports Illustrated v83 #8
August 21, 1995
This wonderful image of Mickey Mantle is one of only 10 so-called "Tribute Covers," or memorial covers, to appear on Sports Illustrated.