CGC-certified Sports Illustrated Scores Big in Goldin Auction

Goldin Auctions knocked one out of the park in their July Elite Auction as all-star magazines graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) crossed the plate. A Sports Illustrated magazine published in 1956 featuring the legendary Mickey Mantle was among the top scorers in the sale, which ended on August 9, 2025.

Sports Illustrated has been a cornerstone of American sports journalism since its debut in 1954, blending in-depth reporting with striking photography to capture the drama, personalities and culture of athletics. The magazine quickly became a definitive source for sports fans, chronicling iconic moments across decades, from historic championships to groundbreaking athlete profiles.

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Leading the CGC-certified magazines in this auction was a Sports Illustrated v4 #25 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 66), which realized $12,200. Published June 18, 1956, this issue features a young Mickey Mantle on the cover during the early years of his Hall of Fame career with the New York Yankees. Fifty examples are recorded in the CGC Population Report, and only 10 are graded higher than this one.

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Other CGC-certified magazines sold in this auction were:

• a Sports Illustrated v59 #23 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 67), which realized $11,590
• a Sports Illustrated v70 #21 graded CGC 9.2 with a JSA-authenticated Michael Jordan signature (lot 761), which realized $8,040
• a Sports Illustrated v96 #7 graded CGC 8.5 with a JSA-authenticated LeBron James signature (lot 763), which realized $5,057
• a Sports Illustrated v27 #1 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 755), which realized $4,880
• a Sports Illustrated v61 #5 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 759), which realized $2,806
• a Sports Illustrated v55 #16 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 758), which realized $1,708
• a Sports Illustrated v32 #24 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 756), which realized $1,615
• a Sports Illustrated v65 #21 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 760), which realized $1,159
• a Sports Illustrated v88 #17 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 762), which realized $1,098
• a Sports Illustrated v52 #9 graded CGC 9.0 (lot 757), which realized $793

For more CGC-certified comics and cards sold in this auction, click here.

Prices realized include a buyer’s premium. The $ symbol indicates US dollars.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.