2017 October Legends Closing November 11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/12/2017
Eddie Mathews was the cover star of the first ever issue of Sports Illustrated magazine, which was first released on August 16th, 1954. Mathews was in the middle of his third professional season in 1954, and was already regarded as a possible candidate for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In ’54 he hit 40 home runs, with 103 RBI and a batting average of .290. Mathews finished his career in 1968, and by 1978 was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The cover of this issue shows Mathews clobbering a baseball, his bat a blur of speed and power. He signed this cover in blue marker. Mickey Mantle has also signed this issue, on the page before the special card insert, in blue marker. This item comes with a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (A03475).