Presented is a copy of the first issue of Sports Illustrated, Vol. 1, No. 1.1, dated August 16, 1954. The cover features a photo of Hall of Fame third baseman Eddie Mathews, a Milwaukee Brave, as he swings in front of a packed crowd at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Mathews became the only Brave to play for the franchise in three cities: Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta. The catcher for the New York Giants, Wes Westrum, squats behind the plate and the umpire is Augie Donatelli. The photo was actually taken by Mark Kaufman, on June 9th of that year, and the Giants, who won the World Series in 1954, won the game 4-0. The magazine did not have a story on the Braves or Mathews. The magazine printed 20 issues in 1954 and it lost six million dollars. It would be ten years before the magazine was profitable. This inaugural issue also included 2o Topps baseball cards: Mathews, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Larry Doby, and the winning pitcher in the game, Johnny Antonelli. The magazine measures 8.25" x 11.5", and it has been encapsulated and graded by CGC 9.4