The First 9.8 "A Star Is Born" to Reach Auction in 3 Years! - Dec. 10, 1984 Sports Illustrated Michael Jordan 1st Pro Cover (Newsstand) - Pop 3, None Higher - CGC 9.8 - Only 4 Top Pop 9.8's Total Across Both CGC and PSA

Are you following the meteoric rise of Graded Magazines? Our Hobby's hottest new sector?!

If not, let's catch you up to speed.

CGC has been grading and slabbing magazines since 2009. Of the 40,000+ Sports Illustrateds in CGC's Census, only 3—yes, 3!—are Newsstand 9.8 examples of Michael Jordan's 1st Pro Cover.

PSA began its Graded Magazine service in 2025 and stakes claim to one Newsstand 9.8 of "A Star Is Born," thus bringing the grand total to just 4 across both PSA and CGC.

Which is to say: 1) They each represent the far rarer, far more desirable Newsstand editions that were sold off retail magazine racks; 2) They were never among the millions of Subscription copies shipped with mailing labels to S.I. subscribers; 3) Their miraculous condition is near-pristine, best-possible, Top Pop 9.8; 4) This is the GOAT of all GOATs in his 1st S.I. Bulls uniform appearance!