A ground-breaking publication that remains a trusted source to this day, Sports Illustrated hit the newsstands on August 16, 1954 with a color photo of Milwaukee Braves slugger Eddie Mathews on the cover. This first-run edition is autographed by its fence-clearing cover subject. Executed diagonally just to the left of his likeness, Mathews’ blue-ink fiber tip signature shows (“8”) strength and clarity. The 146-page issue is complete with 1954 Topps Baseball card inserts and all pages/covers intact. The keepsake comes with a handsome leather binder and a COA from Sports Illustrated attesting to the magazine’s status as a Volume I, Number I original. Accompanying is a full photo LOA from JSA.