Behold my newest addition, and I absolutely love it.

Rick Mount runs a shooting camp a couple days each June and July in his hometown of Lebanon. So, I'd reached out via email and text and we worked something out. Today was the first day of the camp, and he told me to come by around 3 p.m. (I actually got there earlier, this place is north of Indy). I had to then turn right back around and get to work in the evening.

He also signed a Purdue jersey for someone, but the SI cover stole the show afterward. People were asking me where I got it. It was on eBay and I got it last Christmas in hopes of doing exactly what I did today. Someone asked if they could take a picture of my magazine after he had signed it, and there must've been three or four people in all who took a picture of the signed cover.

Rick was the very first high school athlete to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Huck, I kindly would love to take you up on such an offer. Thank You. I'd have to buy the Ripken cover online, but I want to thank you for such an offer.

I went to the Music City Collectibles Show today, added Chris Sabo and Jevon Kearse. I’ll be back tomorrow for Atlanta Braves Sunday.

I get there today, and I'm not happy with how it's ran, but I have fun walking around. Darrell Evans shows up an hour late, if not more. I've got a low ticket for him, but my gosh, he's talking his life away with everybody he's signing for. And, something I've never seen before, some people walk up to him from behind his table. He completely stops his signing session, and he stands up and talks to them for five or 10 minutes, taking a picture with them, while all of us are just standing there in line waiting for him, and I'm not the only one who was frustrated. But, he was nice enough when it was my turn.

From there, it's all smooth sailing, as Ryan Klesko is literally the next table over and he's outgoing, but moved a lot faster.

So, that's another four SIs added to the collection this weekend, to go along with two from yesterday.

Sabo and Klesko are my favorite adds from this weekend.

Added 3 covers at the CSA show this past weekend. Got Pete to finish the cover with Banks and then added two Billy Ripken covers.

Pete was looking very frail.

McLain was supposed to be there all three days but he was a no-show the entire weekend.

I wonder why McLain no-showed?

Those look great. Pete is 82 years old, was just in Nashville, now CSA and is going to to be at a couple of shows in November.

McLain has cancelled several signings lately. He was supposed to be in the 'Forward Area' all three days. That is where athletes/actors set up on their own and collect $$ directly. Not sure what is up with Denny.

McLain was there yesterday in Cincinnati at the Moeller Show, despite me not seeing him advertised.

So, I took a three-hour trek to Moeller yesterday for their Thanksgiving show for the second year in a row, with three new SIs added to the collection.

First was Pete Rose, by far and away the biggest attraction, but cheaper at $60 than I've seen him at other shows. I waited well more than an hour, as the VIP line was separate from the regular line. It's absolutely among my absolute favorites in the collection. There are a few other covers I wouldn't mind getting signed by him, but the cover of his I got signed was my favorite.

A few hours later came Will McEnaney and Clay Carroll. It was actually McEnaney who initially drew me to wanting to attend the Moeller Show, as he doesn't really sign by mail and I haven't seen him appearing at a show before, not any that I've paid attention to. It'd be nice to get Bench to complete it, though I know I'd also like to have Bench on a solo cover, too, since, when push comes to shove, I'll choose individual covers over solo covers.

Carroll was right next to McEnaney, and one of the later additions to the show. I've had a liking for this cover for a while. Hopefully, I can add the others, which consist of Gary Nolan, Jack Billingham and Don Gullett. Technically, 100% completion is impossible, because the pitcher obscured by Carroll throwing is the late Clay Kirby.

I had a blast, and will look to add to the SI collection in the next month or two.

Very nice; I really like the Rose cover. Reds fan here also.

Thank you, but in case you’re implying I’m a Reds fan, I’m actually a Cubs fan.

All good covers. I have the Bench/McEnaney cover signed by both players. I have quite a few Rose covers but can't recall if I have that specific cover. I have always liked the spring training cover but when Kirby died, I would not be able to complete the cover. Gullet will be tough. Does not appear at a ton of shows. Got him on the Bill Purdom "Big Red Classic" lithograph at the Big Red Machine MAB show in NJ. Good luck!

I have always liked the rose/banks cover. When Banks was a guest, there were always other items with a higher priority. Missed opportunity.

I consider missed opportunities with a lot of my collecting. I didn’t get really into SIs until mid-2019. So, I have a lot of people who’ve made the cover of SI on other items and am trying to change that now….

I had not planned to go down the SI rabbit hole but an extra ticket for Fisk at a 90's Tuff-Stuff show and a dealer with the 1972 SI Fisk cover (Four for the Flag) for sale........

That’s not a bad one to start with.

Now, I hope to spend the rest of my life collecting SIs.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Here’s my favorite present I got.

Can anyone use a Box of 100+ issues from 1981-85 for just $50?

What is the overall condition of the issues? Mailing label or news stand copies?

Condition is nice with labels.

I went to Night of Memories in Evansville, and boy, did I feast.

I'm going to go with solo covers over covers with multiple people on it when push comes to shove, but no solo cover guests actually appeared at this event.

Don Mattingly is $130 everywhere else, was $65 for this. Tony Perez I think was priced at $79 not too long ago somewhere else, he was $50 at this event.

Now, I just need to get Darryl Strawberry, but I'm not paying $80 for him. I saw him doing an appearance in Nashville a couple of years ago for $50. That I could be more okay with. I'm loving that Mattingly autograph, my first one of his.

I have always liked both covers. Can't get Hendricks so the WS issue is a non starter for me. Great price on Mattingly. $80 seems high for Strawberry.

I know you and I are different, but as long as there's at least one signature, I consider it as part of the collection.

No kidding, but I've seen Strawberry's prices at $80 a lot recently. He used to be much cheaper, wonder if inflation has played a part in that.

The price will vary by promoter and the location of the show. On the east coast Mattingly will cost $130-$150 all day long. Strawberry needs to wake up. He at best is a $35-$50 any item guest.

Is he the one setting the prices, though?

Picked up a couple today at a local card show where McLain and Means were signing. Both seemed like nice guys - I chatted with Means about his coaching the RBs at UNC and McLain just kept on signing his cover without me asking.

Great covers. Nice work.

I saw Means was appearing, would love to get him someday if he’s ever by me.

I've been tired and busy, so now I've got a chance to share my pickups from graphing NBA Crossover on Sunday.

You had to download the NBA Events App, and they'd give the schedule of who was appearing each day. I saw Dominique Wilkins was appearing Sunday and knew I had to go, having randomly bought his SI from eBay last year in anticipation of one day getting it signed. Little did I know it was going to be this past weekend at Crossover in Indy.

Then I saw Bill Walton was appearing on Friday and was bummed out, but what do you know? I saw on Friday he got added for all three days. So, I scurried over to my nearby card shop, where a bunch of SIs are available for sale, and I picked one of his covers up for $5.00.

The only thing it cost me was $35 for an adult admission ticket, with autographs being absolutely free.

If I had my choice of Walton covers to get signed, I can't say it'd be my first choice, but it certainly does the job and I like it a lot to get it signed for free by a legend.

Wilkins, I was very happy to finally add his cover.

I had a blast shooting hoops at different stations, got my picture taken with the Larry O'Brien Trophy (and I'm fortunate to have had my photo taken with all four trophies from the four major North American sports leagues in my lifetime), took a picture of myself inside the Hoosier bus next to a cardboard cutout of Gene Hackman and also with life sized bobbleheads of Tamika Catchings and Reggie Miller.

It was a blast, way more fun than I would've had just paying for these at a show. I'd reckon I saved a good $90-$100 on Sunday by going.

I'm not sure what could top an experience like that as a collector and fan - maybe if Michael Jordan knocked on my door, gave me all 50 of his SI covers and signed them all for free right before my very eyes, something that wouldn't happen in a million years. But it would take a lot to beat the experience I had Sunday. I'm not sure I'll ever cease to smile thinking about that.

I had a four-and-a-half hour trip to Westerville today, just outside of Columbus, where I met former Ohio State linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer. I saw an SI available online for $135, he was only $25 today.

I told him he should be in the College Football Hall of Fame and he thanked me.

Also, stay tuned. I'll have another posting/update this month for my next addition. I've now got 121 in my collection between in person/TTM/purchases.

I took a vacation day to go to Louisville today. Well spent.

I found Will Wolford's 1994 SI cover at the card shop a couple of weeks back, and decided to try to do something different and pay him a visit to where he works now. I went to the receptionist, and after a few minutes, someone told me to come on back and told me to wait in a room. I told him I was there for something later in the night and asked if he'd be kind enough to supply his John Hancock for my SI, and he was gracious and took a photo. He couldn't have been nicer, nor could have the other workers there.

After spending some time at the Louisville Zoo and a nice meal in downtown Louisville, I head on over to Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville and wait more than an hour for Kentucky Basketball legend Jack Givens, who is famous for being the Most Outstanding Player of the 1978 Final Four and scored 41 points in Kentucky's National Championship Game. I knew he'd sign for me, but I also knew he was going to talk for an hour and then do his book signing. A lot of people turned out and went to another room for him to talk.

I greet him by the front door and tell him who I am, that he agreed to sign for me and would love to hear him talk, but I have an hour-and-a-half drive back and an early day at work tomorrow, and he was so kind enough to sign and take a picture. So, I'm tickled pink.

I didn't pay a single penny for Wolford or Givens.

I also recently got back a sending to a Michigan signing for Steve McCatty, who signed his 1981 cover that featured him and five other Oakland pitchers. I know Matt Keough has passed, not sure how I'll be able to track down Mike Norris, Rick Langford and Brian Kingman. Not bad for $10 and they sent a COA.

Three new signed covers, plus Andy Katzenmoyer earlier this month. Heck yes.

Nice. I have always liked that A's cover and started to track down the players but once Keough passed, I was done.

Thanks. I know you’ve said that before, but I like the cover and want to get as many covers signed as I can. If only one person signs a cover or I can’t complete it, I still count it. I will say, though, if I have the choice to get a solo cover signed or a cover with multiple people, I’m choosing solo every time.

Multiple signature covers can be tough to complete. Currently, I have at least half a dozen covers waiting for other signatures to complete. I have quite a few multiple signed covers with one of the best being the 1968 SI The Rookies. It was a huge sigh of relief when Johnny added the fifth and final signature to the cover. The A's cover would have been a cool one to complete.

Maybe you can see if you’d be able to buy a certified cover of all five signed.

So, as a sports editor, I've had the honor and privilege of some unique experiences, and I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cover my local semipro team opening its 2024 season Sunday at Busch Stadium.

And before the game, it just happened St. Louis held its monthly show, which I went to, added Dal Maxvill on the October 7, 1968 cover. Only Maxvill, Orlando Cepeda and Julian Javier are still with us, and I also added Doug Flynn on his 1983 Topps, with Doug wearing his World Series rings with the Reds, being kind enough to allow me to take a photo of his rings.

I'm now at 127 total, with Charlie O'Brien having signed his cover. I know I'll still have to get John Cangelosi, but I count it towards my total. I was the very first one in line for him at the St. Louis show yesterday. He started signing a little early, maybe around 10:56 local time, when he was scheduled at 11:00.

I also got Mike Moore on his 1987 Topps, see the 1987 Topps thread and since St. Louis usually has inexpensive guests, I decided to add Bob Shirley to his 1983 Topps, having previously gotten him by mail on his 1987 and I believe also his 1985 card.

I usually don't spend this much on a single show, but I went to the Music City Collectibles Show in Nashville/Franklin yesterday, and decided to get seven SIs signed and, being a huge WCW/pro wrestling when I was a kid, was craving a Funko pop and decided to get Lex Luger. I think that'll be my one and only Funko signed, as I like my SIs better.

I've now gotten Canseco on both of his solo covers, but I like his 1988 signed cover better, both the cover and the autograph, which turned out better than this one. However, he added the 40/40 inscription absolutely free without me asking.

Albert Haynesworth at $40 was a bargain for me, like Andy Katzenmoyer in April at $25. Both of them I've seen their signed SI covers listed at more than $100 online.

Larry Johnson, it was nice to get his SI cover signed.

Rollie Fingers appeared on a group cover in 1974 with the World Series. Here's his solo cover from 1981, and I paid the $10 to get the Hall of Fame inscription. I'd say that's a top five favorite in my collection.

Steve Garvey was on a few, including the 1974 cover with Fingers, but I tend to prefer solo covers over group covers. If I can get newsstand covers signed, like Fingers and Haynesworth, I did for Garvey. I also really like his 1982 cover, but this 1983 newsstand cover with the Padres had a cheaper price on eBay, plus it's not often I get autographs in gold paint pen. Hopefully, I can add his other covers, especially the 1982 one, at some point. But I'd put Garvey in my top 10 of favorite covers signed.

Lenny Dykstra, like Lex Luger, grips a sharpie differently these days. I know he had a stroke earlier his year.

Johnny Bench was priced at a whopping $129, and it's only the second time I've ever paid north of $100 for a single autograph, but I decided to give in because I got Will McEnaney to sign the cover at the 2023 November Cincinnati show, plus Bench will soon be 77 and you just never know. I would like to get Bench's solo SI covers signed at some point, hopefully at a lower price. But I decided to do it to complete the cover and wouldn't have paid the price for any of his other covers or if I didn't get McEnaney first.

I also have made a connection with fellow Net54 member Huck, who sent me an SI to get signed for him, which I did. I'll mail it back to him sometime this week when I'm not so busy with my job. I won't share details or pictures, as I think that's more of his place to do than it is mine.

The Garvey cover turned out really nice signed in gold.

I'm hoping to hit the CSA show in Oct - lots of signers there on covers. Just a matter of how much you want to spend.

I deliberated silver or gold, my girlfriend thought the latter would be better, but you're right, I like how it turned out.

Bench was my favorite of the day, followed by Fingers, then Garvey getting the bronze.

I saw that not that long ago. Since I'm not close to Virginia, I won't be getting anything from there. Thankfully, I saved some money by getting Dominque Wilkins for free at Crossover in Indy in February, and it's easily top 5 for me, maybe top 3. I've had it as high as top 2 among my favorites in my collection.

I'd definitely get Gooden, possibly Rypien, Trammell, Sampson and Drexler/Olajuwon, if I did go. I've got Larry Brown's SI cover signed in addition to Dominique's.

My next concentration is on the Chicago November show, but I've still got the high of the Nashville show this weekend. It was one of my favorite shows as a collector overall and is right up there with Crossover in February among my favorite shows as an SI collector. I still smile looking back on Crossover.

Denny McLain is the most interesting conversation I've ever had with an athlete. He had his own table at show in Chicago last fall. I bought the book he was selling on Kindle in front of him, so he signed my 1965 Topps rookie for free, then told me crazy stories about him and Tug McGraw running wild in Vietnam. He didn't hide from everything he did wrong. Very upfront about it all. Also really seemed to hate Mickey Lolich.

That’s cool, how’d you like the book?

That’s really nice that he did that, as I also have the 1965 Topps I did from a mail order a while back.

Compare that to Brian Bosworth, who apparently won’t sign his Boz Flunks Out cover from January 1987. I guess everyone is different.

I don’t know for sure, but maybe McLain feels some like Lolich better or because of how Lolich performed in the World Series, or that Lolich has a bobblehead in tribute to 1968, whereas McLain does not? I don’t know. It could be jealousy, but I’m only speculating.

Feel free to post the LaRussa cover! I appreciate the fact that you were willing to get the cover signed for me. Hopefully, in the future I can return the favor.

As you wish.

Tony turns 80 on Friday, and I wished him a Happy Early Birthday, which he thanked me for. He was wearing his rings, and I hope I'm not making a mistake in passing on him for this show, something that's also on my mind after we lost Pete Rose (R.I.P.), but I liked other covers and other autographs better. I hope the opportunity for him will come again and I can jump on it. He said he was actually embarrassed in being called the Mastermind by SI.

I'm happy to have helped you out and hope to help out other fellow collectors in the future, including you again.

Just received the following two covers from the Philly Show. Brad Lidge added to both covers. I might add Brad Ausmus and perhaps umpire Jeff Nelson.

I had my birthday yesterday, and I'm proud to add these two to my collection:

I went with my girlfriend last night to downtown Nashville, saw Chuck Foreman was going to be there signing. I just happened to purchase his cover 2-3 months ago off eBay in hopes I'd maybe visit Minnesota someday and see him there. For some reason, he came to Nashville to a couple of restaurants in a rally for the Vikings, who were playing the Titans today, and won.

I didn't realize until yesterday how poor condition the SI I ordered was. I tried tending to some bends/tears and a slight tear happened when trying to put the SI back in the toploader, paid $20 for the autograph.

I've got mixed feelings, because I don't like the condition, obviously, but I do like the autograph, and I do like the cover. I'm happy overall about it, though.

This is from last month, and I have the greatest mother in the world - who, among other things, is kind enough to help me with my SI collection in getting these signed for me at the Chicago Sports Spectacular.

Not pictured is my Bernard King May 7, 1984 issue, personalized to me.

I think I can say that I had a nice Christmas. James Worthy was at the November show in Chicago but opted against getting him there since he pricier and is also younger than some of the people whom I got.

I think my favorite out of these five is either Gary Carter or Ken Norton, was fortunate to receive Norton's 1978 cover as a gift last Christmas. Pernell Whitaker came from Leader in Sports. Pretty much all of these came with COAs in addition to their stickers.

I've got a signing my girlfriend and I are going to later this month and will post my adds from that one. I've also reached out to some other Net54 members in offer to get something done for them that show. One of them might take me up on it, but pricing isn't up yet.

I hope you all had a nice holiday, and you all have a safe and Happy New Year.

Very nice, especially the Carter and Norton covers. I had gotten SweetPea at a local appearance (not a signing) years ago, and just got 'Sweetpea' scrawled across the cover; yours is a much better signature.

Oh, nice. Which local appearance was this?

I believe it was at a Boy's Club in Newport News, VA. I couldn't make it, but my dad was able to take it and get his signature. I'll try to dig it up and get a photo.

While not an SI, I did see Scott McGregor today and had him sign this 1984 Street and Smith Yearbook, adding '1983 World Series Champs'. Also got his photo showing off his 1983 WS ring. Very nice fellow.

Really cool. Now, you’ll just have to get Dempsey, whom I’ll need on a couple of his SI covers.

He actually made a comment about Dempsey signing it, saying "Where do you want me to sign, because Dempsey will take up the whole cover? I guess I'll sign across Dempsey's butt"

You've heard of a trifecta, but have you ever heard of the Tram-Fecta? That's right. I got Alan Trammell on all three of his SI covers yesterday at Night of Memories inside the University of Evansville's Carson Center. I like the cover of first one, May 1984, the best, but I think his second SI cover, October 1984, turned out the best. We somehow got on Spanish and Latin, and Tram was saying being from San Diego, he regretted he didn't learn Spanish/Latin more. It was a good time, went with my girlfriend.

And, in continuing my connection with fellow Net54 SI Collector Huck, I got him both Don Mattingly and Ryan Klesko on covers. I got both of those covers myself at past shows, now I'll be mailing him his covers back sometime this week.

Nice covers! Thanks again for helping out a fellow collector!

Very nice. I just heard John Smoltz talking about his first time in a MLB locker room with the Tigers and that Tram went out of his wat to introduce himself and welcomed John and how it made a big impression on him.

From the Pinstripe Pride Show. Gooden was from a previous signing.

For anyone interested, I have an April 2, 1962 issue of Sports Illustrated signed by Arnold Palmer available in The Collector Connection auction that just opened.

https://thecollectorconnection.com/b...e?itemid=75740

Auction ends Sunday, March 2 for this autographed Sports Illustrated.

https://thecollectorconnection.com/b...e?itemid=75740

My girlfriend and I went to the North Cincinnati Marriott in West Chester, OH today, and we're staying the night. We went and saw Jack Billingham, who added his signature to the March 3, 1975 cover, as I previously added Clay Carroll in November 2023 at the Thanksgiving Moeller show.

The only other living pitcher left to get on this SI cover is Gary Nolan. Don Gullett passed away in February 2024, and that one stings. I did meet and got Gullett at a March 2006 show when he signed a 1972 Topps for me as a VIP guest, but I was 14 years old at the time and had no idea who he was. I only knew the stars from those Reds teams in Bench, Morgan, Rose, Perez, those kinds of players. Gullett might've been booked for a Moeller show I went to, but it might've been on a different day.

Kirby I can live more since he died just before I was born, and from what it looks like from his database, not even the SI King has Kirby on that cover.

I also found a few covers on the cheap that I hope to get signed in the future. Billingham was very nice. And of course, anytime I'm in the Cincinnati area, have to have that vegetarian chili. I prefer Gold Star to Skyline, having had Skyline for the first time today.

Went to the CSA show in Chantilly and got Johnny Bench and Kordell Stewart SIs signed. Both gentlemen were very friendly. Lots of other athletes there with SIs, but prices for autos were generally too $$$.

Very nice. I like Kordell Stewart’s signature. They both look good, too.

I own that Stewart cover, just don’t have it signed yet.

This month's Kids edition:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/85c5...7a87e1483b.png

:cool:

AWESOME cover of Elly! :cool:

Picked up this Big Mac cover, also signed by his son Matt, last week. Bought it from Tom Orr (Atomic Sports) who does a lot of signings, especially with St. Louis athletes.

My girlfriend and I celebrated our 11-month anniversary Sunday in St. Louis. I treated her to a nice Italian restaurant, but before then, I added Doc Gooden on my favorite SI cover of his. There are some streaks with the sharpie, but overall, I like it.

Really nice Gooden cover and auto. The cover is reminiscent of the 1983 Tom Seaver cover.

It is a similar one, isn’t it? And I know which one you’re talking about, too.

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Mail order from recent Pittsburgh show.