Are Old Sports Illustrated Magazines Worth Anything? Key Issues and Values
Sports Illustrated has been around since 1954, and plenty of people kept the issues with their team or favourite player on the cover. Collecting SI covers has become much more popular in recent years, now that grading companies grade magazines the way they grade cards. That has pushed up prices for the best copies of key issues, but the average back issue is still worth very little.
Most old Sports Illustrated issues sell for a few dollars. A handful of key covers, in top condition, are worth a lot more.
The first issue
The first Sports Illustrated is dated August 16, 1954, with Milwaukee Braves slugger Eddie Mathews swinging at the plate on the cover. It's the cornerstone of any SI collection. Worn ungraded copies sell for tens of dollars to around a couple of hundred. Graded copies in very good condition sell for several hundred, and the very highest grades sell for thousands.
Original copies came with a set of baseball cards printed inside, and a copy with the card pages still attached is worth more.
Other issues worth looking up
Michael Jordan covers. Jordan appeared on the cover dozens of times, and his early covers, especially from his college years and early NBA career, are among the most collected SI issues.
Rookie and first covers. The first SI cover of a major player, such as an all-time great's first appearance, draws collectors the way a rookie card does. That applies to stars from every era.
Big moments. Famous games, records and championships sell better when the cover image itself became iconic.
Swimsuit issues. The early swimsuit issues from the 1960s onwards have their own collector base. Most later ones are common.
Signed copies. A cover signed by the athlete pictured can be worth far more, but only with trustworthy authentication.
Condition is everything
SI was mostly delivered by subscription, so most copies have an address label on the cover. A clean newsstand copy, with no label, sells for more. Spine wear, creases, tears and fading reduce value fast. For key issues, professional grading by CGC or PSA can make a big difference, because buyers pay much more for a graded copy they can trust. Grading costs money, so it's only worth it for issues already worth a decent amount.
How to check what yours are worth
Search eBay for "Sports Illustrated" plus the exact date or cover athlete, filter to Sold items, and match condition and whether the copy has a label or is graded. Sort your stack by cover first: stars, first covers and famous moments get looked up individually; everything else goes into a lot.
The general method is in the guide to finding out what an antique is worth. If you're also sitting on cards, see whether old baseball cards are worth anything. The Valued app can identify an issue from a photo of the cover for a quick starting estimate.
Common questions
Are old Sports Illustrated magazines worth anything?
Most sell for a few dollars. The August 16, 1954 first issue, early Michael Jordan covers, first covers of all-time greats and clean newsstand copies of key issues sell for much more, especially when professionally graded.
How much is the first Sports Illustrated worth?
Worn ungraded copies of the August 16, 1954 issue sell for tens of dollars to around a couple of hundred, graded copies in very good condition for several hundred, and the highest grades for thousands. Copies with the original baseball card insert still attached are worth more.
Does the mailing label matter?
Yes. Most copies were subscriber copies with a label on the cover. Clean newsstand copies without a label are rarer and sell for more.
Should I get my Sports Illustrated graded?
Only for key issues that are already worth a decent amount and in good condition. Grading costs money and takes time, and it won't add enough to an ordinary issue to be worth it.