Blog Post #5 – Catching Up With Investors!

~ jwyllie

Sports Illustrated Blog 5 – Catching Up With Investors

Hi Sports Illustrated Collectors:

Welcome to my 5th in a series of Sports Illustrated informational reviews.  In this edition, I will cover knowing what investors know, the surging values of CGC graded SI’s and recent auction results.  I have also written a review for each SI cover ranking #31 – #40.   This section includes entrees from some of the hottest collectable SI’s in the market today.

If you have any SI questions, please feel free to send them along to [email protected].

Thanks and I hope you enjoy!

John

Surging Graded Sports Illustrated Values, Recent Auction Results.  What Does It All Mean???

 

Sports Illustrated Blog 5     8-24-17

For the past 5-10 years, graded magazines have been quietly creeping up in popularity on the card collecting industry with little fanfare or notoriety.  High rolling investors, in their quest to be first in finding and then owning the next Big Thing before you do, have been devoting increasing amounts of cash into “Graded Magazines”, especially SI and TIME.  Any time the average collector finds out the big money guys are buying, it is usually too late to take part in the early profits – but I’d like to help change that for you.  I am the largest graded SI, TIME, Newsweek, Beckett, etc magazine dealer in the country and have personal contact with the specific investors now buying on the leading edge of the surge in popularity.  And as we all know, popularity drives price!

You can visit my Ebay store here to view over 400 CGC graded Sports Illustrated, many of which are the highest grade of their kind in existence – but they don’t stay available for long once they hit the public.  I want you to be exposed to the same opportunities larger investors are gobbling up, in some cases, even before auction.  By reviewing my ebay store here and/or contacting me on this site or by phone (704 724 0234), you will be investment years ahead of the average collector not reading this blog.

Check out my Ebay listings here and recent sold auction prices here from Huggins and Scott Auction House dated August 3rd.  You could have purchased these items 6 months ago at a significant savings and this is the leading edge of the surge I to which I speak.  What will be the auction prices be in November when I submit another batch for sale?  Don’t miss the opportunity to buy now, direct from me, before the next auction.  We now have the opportunity to know what the big investors know and exactly when they know it!

Clicking on any one of the pictures below will take you right to its Ebay page for a complete and full description of the item.

 

  1. 1956 AllStar Game – Number 31 on my list is a bit out of the ordinary in that it features 10 all-star baseball players from 1956 versus just one athlete. I have included this issue because of its condition difficulty – a CGC 7.0 is tops.  The 56 All-star and 56 World Series issues are both extremely rare in newsstand high grade.  If you can get one of these you may even pay a bit less because it doesn’t focus on one athlete but don’t shy away.  It’s Mantle’s second cover and destined to see one of the first spikes in collector pricing.

  1. 1955 Willie Mays with Durocher and Day – Willie’s first SI cover.  Of course this one is one of the most coveted of all SI’s and most expensive in high grade but the good news is that there are already several CGC graded at or above 9.0 with highest recorded at CGC 9.8.   Along with Mantle, Williams, Clay, #1 and #2, Mays is part of the Holy Grail team that seems to always be at the top of the food chain with regard to price and value.  If you are a Mays fan, you can find several newsstand 55 Mays in high grade (9.2 and 9.6) in my store or on the open market but beware of raw mags (those that are not graded) for hidden flaws which will limit future value.

  1. 1983 Jordan – Michael’s first cover joins Brady and Gretzky as one of the newest issues to make the top 50. To date, his cover has proved impossible to find in Mint condition (highest CGC 9.4) for several reasons.  First, most Jordan issues have been read.  Second, this is a college basketball issue and is thicker than the average mag.  The thickness of the magazine causes stress to form on the binding and staples.  Nearly every issue you find will be stressed but having a Jordan first cover is a victory in itself.  Start slow and find a lower grade copy and perhaps in your travels you will come across the condition to suits your interests.  When you do, grab it!

  1. 1975 Ali- Frazier – Chronicled in this issue is the 3rd of 3 bouts between the Greatest and one of the Greatest of all time. Affectionately known as “The Thrilla in Manilla”, Ali defeated Frazier to take the series 2-1 (Frazier defeated Ali for Ali’s first loss in 1971).  Famous for their colorful press conferences and threatening playful overtones, any collection of these issues always stimulates value and conversation.  A tough issue in high grade but work on the Ali-Foreman-Frazier series issues.  They’re a chronology that we 50 and 60 somethings love to collect.

 

  1. 1974 Ali-Foreman – See #34 above. “The Rumble in the Jungle” and the “Rope a Dope” – perhaps the fight that endeared Ali most to his adoring fans.  A huge upset – Ali wore Foreman down by taking blow after harmless blow until Foreman had nothing left.  Also a tough find in CGC High Grade.  Collector’s love the chronology of this series along with the 71 Frazier-Ali.

  1. 1971 Ali – Frazier – The first Ali Frazier bout saw Frazier taking the decision but his face looked like a punching bag. He had been beaten to a pulp but took the punishment to hand Ali his first defeat.  Again, a tough find in CGC High Grade but if you can put together an Ali-Frazier–Foreman collector series, you’ll be glad you did!

  1. 1955 Hogan – First Cover highlighting the 8th hole of the Masters, a tournament Hogan had owned in the past. One of the most popular of the 55 covers, and there are many, but difficult to find above the grade of CGC 9.0.  The highest grade to date is 9.4 with a pop of 1.  All of these 55’s are holding their values and Hogan is no exception.  Grab a high grade Hogan and keep it – then check the value next year!

  1. 1956 Mantle World Series – Any early Mantle covers are among the top collected SI’s and most valuable. The 56 World Series cover is one of those covers that just refuses to turn up above the grade of CGC 7.0.  If you can find a decent looking copy, take a chance and have it graded – you may own the highest grade out there.  Plus it’s Mantle’s third cover in his Triple Crown year.  It’s a no brainer.

  1. 1996 Derek Jeter – Holy Cow! You would think the relevant age of this issue would turn up at least several CGC 9.8’s.  But believe or not, none have appeared on the CGC census higher than a 9.4.  You might have the highest recorded mag to date in your attic!  Any Yankee cover tends to be popular but Jeter ranks right up with the top Yankee icons.  Keep your eye out for one of these – they are out there!

  1. 1960 Arnold Palmer – The King – Arnie’s Army. The undisputed King of the 50’s and 60’s PGA and the man most responsible for the incredible modern day golf purses.  This 60’s issue is another dark era copy and is very very difficult to find above the grade of CGC 6.0.  A nice clean copy could would quickly attract the attention of investors.  There hasn’t been a clean copy even submitted to grade yet.  So if you’ve had that copy stored in your attic for 50 years, it’s time to pull it out and have it graded.  You might be sitting on a bunch of cash!