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Autographed Time, Sports Illustrated Issues
12 Lots
 Lot 356. Nov. 12, 1945 “Time” Magazine Signed by Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard. Arguably college football’s best ever backfield duo, Blanchard and Davis were largely responsible for Army’s record of 27-0-1 between 1944 and 1946. Blanchard was known as “Mr. Inside,” while Davis was “Mr. Outside.” They were known as the “Touchdown Twins” because together, they scored 97 touchdowns, a college record that stood until 2007. Blanchard was the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner, and Davis, the 1946 winner. After graduating from West Point, both, of course, served in the military. Afterwards, Blanchard continued his military career as a pilot, achieving the rank of colonel. Davis played for one season with the Los Angeles Rams before a knee injury ended his career. Both men are in the College Football Hall of Fame. The magazine, which has a mailing label, is vg-ex. Both sharpie signatures are bold mint 9s to gem mint 10s. Davis passed away in 2005, and Blanchard, in 2009. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $134.
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 Lot 357. Bobby Orr Autographed Feb. 3, 1969 “Sports Illustrated.” Orr revolutionized hockey by demonstrating that defensemen could contribute in a big way to the offense. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, he still is the the only defenseman to win the league scoring title twice, in 1970 and 1972, and to lead the NHL in assists. He earned a record eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenseman and three consecutive Hart Trophies as the league's MVP. He played on two Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins teams. In its list of top athletes of the 20th century, ESPN ranked him 31st, with only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe, both offensive stars, ahead of him. Orr’s autograph is a gem mint 10 on the cover of an ex-m+ issue with a somewhat inconspicuous mailing label in the lower left. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $110.
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 Lot 358. Joe Namath Signed “Sports Illustrated” Showing Him in “The Last Rebel” Movie. Huge, bold gem mint 10 autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating on the cover of the Aug. 17, 1970 issue. After the 1969 football season, the Hall of Fame New York Jets quarterback devoted some time to his acting career. In “The Last Rebel,” set in Missouri in 1865 at the end of the Civil War, Namath plays a Confederate soldier. Ex-m magazine. Namath was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Winning Bid $125.
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 Lot 359. George Blanda (HoF) Autographed July 19, 1971 “Sports Illustrated.” Blanda was inducted into the Pro Hall o Fame in 1981 as a quarterback and placekicker following a 26-seaon pro career that took him to Chicago (Bears), Baltimore, Houston and Oakland. No one ever played longer in the NFL. Only he and two other players appeared in games in four different decades. At his retirement, he had kicked more extra points than anyone else. Blanda started his pro career with the Bears in 1949, but he achieved his greatest success in the AFL in the 1960s. He quarterbacked the Houston Oilers to three NFL championships, was a four-time All-Star and was named the league’s MVP in 1963, when he led the AFL in passing. In 1970, he was the NFL’s Player of the Year. In 1999, “The Sporting News” ranked him as one of the top 100 football players of all-time. Blanda passed away last year. His signature is a bold 10 that contrasts sharply with white of his jersey shown on the cover of the “SI” issue, which is ex with a label. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph.
Winning Bid $50.
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 Lot 360. “SI’s” First Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Issue Signed by Wooden and King. In its first year, Sports Illustrated” initiated the practice of honoring a “Sportsman of the Year.” For the first time in 1972, the award was expanded to include a woman as well. John Wooden was selected for leading the UCLA basketball team to its sixth consecutive NCAA basketball championship, and eighth in nine years. Billie Jean King was chosen for winning the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Their autographs are gem mint 10s on the cover of the Dec. 25, 1972 issue, which is ex-m+. Autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $121.
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 Lot 361. 1973 “SI” Signed by Secretariat Owner Penny Chenery Tweedy and Jockey Ron Turcotte. As anyone knows who saw the 2010 movie “Secretariat,” Turcotte rode the precocious thoroughbred, bred and owned by Chenery Tweedy, to horse racing’s Triple Crown in 1973. Secretariat’s winning times in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes remain unequaled. ESPN selected the Triple Crown winner as the 35th best athlete of the 20th century. Only two other non-humans were so honored – the thoroughbred Man o’ War, ranked 84th, and Citation, ranked 97th. Tweedy served as president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association from 1976-84. She was the first woman elected as a member of the Jockey Club. Portrayed by Diane Lane in “Secretariat,” she made a cameo appearance. Turcotte is in the Racing Hall of Fame. The breeder-owner and the jockey signed an ex copy of the June 11, 1973 “Sports Illustrated” that pictures them and Secretariat. Both signatures are gem mint 10s. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $113.
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 Lot 362. Hank Aaron Autographed “Sports Illustrated” 715th Home Run Issue. Facing Al Downing on April 8, 1974, Aaron hit his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth’s career record. “SI” captured the event with the cover of its April 15 issue and in an article inside titled “End of the Glorious Ordeal.” Aaron’s signature is mint 9 to gem mint 10, and the issue is nm. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph. This is an outstanding collectible marking the brilliant career of the major league’s true home run king!
Winning Bid $102.
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 Lot 363. Arthur Ashe Autographed July 14, 1975 “Sports Illustrated.” The headline on the magazine’s front cover tells the story: “Shocker at Wimbledon: Ashe Chops Up Connors.” He was the first African-American to capture the Wimbledon championship. In 1968, he won the U.S. Open and became the first black man to be ranked #1 in tennis. In 1970, he won both the French Open and the Australian Open. These successes place him among the all-time elite of tennis. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1983, Ashe underwent a second round of bypass surgery. Subsequently, he developed AIDS from a contaminated blood transfusion received during the surgery. In the final year of his life, he worked to call attention to AIDS sufferers, and he established the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health to deal with health care delivery issues. For these efforts and his life in sports, “SI” named him its “Sportsman of the Year” for 1992. He died in early 1993. Ashe’s autograph is mint 9 to gem mint 10 and has been authenticated by Kevin Keating. The magazine has a label at the lower left.
Winning Bid $134.
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 Lot 364. Sadaharu Oh Autographed Aug. 15, 1977 “Sports Illustrated.” Playing in his native Japan, Oh established the international record for home runs with 868. His autograph is a large, bold unimprovable gem mint 10. The “SI” issue is ex-m+ without a label. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $121.
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 Lot 365. Larry Bird Signed “Sports Illustrated” Previewing the 1979 NCAA Final Four. Led by Bird, the Indiana State basketball team completed an unbeaten regular season and then navigated its way through the NCAA tournament to face Michigan State for the championship. With Magic Johnson at point guard, the Spartans captured the NCAA title, 75-64. The game marked the beginning of the Bird-Johnson rivalry that prevailed throughout their Hall of Fame NBA careers. Bird ranks among the NBA’s all-time 10 best. In selecting the top 100 athletes of the 20th century, ESPN rated only five basketball players higher than Bird, who landed at the 30th spot on the overall list. With the Boston Celtics, he won three championships and three MVP awards. He earned 1980 Rookie of the Year honors, and he was an All-Star in 12 of his 13 seasons. Bird successfully made the transition from player coach, and in 1998, he was the NBA Coach of the Year. His signature is a large, bold gem mint 10 on the March 26, 1979 “SI,” which ex with a label. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $100.
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 Lot 366. Magic Johnson Autographed June 4, 1984 “Sports Illustrated.” The cover of the issue promotes the Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry in the NBA Finals. Bird and the Celtics defeated Johnson and the Lakers in the championship series, but during his tenure in LA, Johnson earned five championships and three NBA MVP awards. He landed at #17 on ESPN’s list of the best 20th century athletes. Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain were the only basketball players to rank higher. Johnson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. His signature is gem mint 10 on an ex-m “SI” issue. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $100.
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 Lot 367. “Sports Illustrated” Signed by 1985 “Sportsman of the Year” Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Gem mint 10 “Abdul Jabbar” signature on the cover of the Dec. 23-30 double issue. The label has been removed; otherwise, the issue is ex-m+. Jabbar entered the Hall of Fame in 1995 following a career that included six NBA championships and MVP awards, 19 All-Star games, three NCAA championships and selection three times as the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He was the NBA’s 1970 Rookie of the Year. He retired with 38,387 points and 17,440 rebounds. Karl Malone, who is next on the all-time scoring list, ended his career with 1,459 fewer points. His nearest competitors among active players still need about 9,000 points to catch him. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $75.
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