Sometimes rarity is just puzzling...May 1980 Sport Magazine

Rarity is relative, of course.  In the world of sports magazines, rare is probably an overused term.  For any larger periodical, I'm going to guess without trying to do extensive research that circulation was likely going to be in the 100,000s+ back in "the day".  As a reference, SI is running a circulation of roughly 3 million today.  You'd expect a few of those issues to survive even the worst of conditions.

Obviously, the older a magazine, the harder it will become to find as time passes.  There are also going to be those periodicals that just aren't published to the magnitude of say a Sports Illustrated or similar magazine.  Finding copies of older periodicals with small circulations can certainly become a chore as well.  Even today it can be difficult to sell older magazines as collectibles.  Often you will find magazines at shops, garage sales and such for a dollar each or less.  They take up a lot of room and the demand for common issues seems to be minimal at best.

Despite this fact, it seems that online sellers of magazines are an optimistic bunch.  Many of the magazines I run across with mild interest are severely overpriced in my opinion.  Perhaps these types of sellers are willing to wait YEARS for that one person willing to pay $18 for a Golfing magazine from 1989 with a baseball player on the cover!  Add the fact that most sellers want $5+ to ship one, it becomes an expensive endeavor to buy random magazines.  Yet us collectors have our niches and we'll often chase those odd magazines that we need.  I have passed on a number of overpriced periodicals that I still do not have myself, but if the price is fair, I will jump on a deal.


One magazine who's scarcity boggles me though, is the May 1980 issue of Sport Magazine.  Sport was a popular magazine that predated Sports Illustrated.  Known for its fantastic color shots, the magazine thrived for many years but ultimately suffered a sad death in 2000.  After 10 publishers and 54 years, the magazine folded forever.  In 1980, SI had a firm grip on the sports magazine reading public, but Sport was still a viable option.  I always preferred the format of Sport to it's competition.  Maybe monthly issues was just not enough to survive?

Anyway, a little research tells me that Sport ran some regional covers in may 1980, which was not the first time or the last that they would try this marketing trick.  I can find images of covers featuring George Brett and Lou Piniella fairly easily with a basic internet search.

I also have a guide published by Beckett that proves very helpful in cataloging magazine issues.  They do note 3 regional covers for this issue.

So, where is the third cover and who is it?  

Do your own search and you probably won't find a reference or image of that last cover (at least until this blog article is published).  Why is this issue so hard to find?  Of course, the Brett issue tops the list for value of the three in the referenced guide, perhaps because Brett is a popular HOFer.  Is that issue harder to find as well?  Not sure, as I have never really looked for it.  Maybe all three are tough finds, although several of the Piniella issue are listed on Ebay now.  Whatever the reason, this magazine seldom surfaces on Ebay, as I frequently search the subject.  I can remember less than 5 copies being offered in the last 15 years or so!  I know this because I saw it so seldom that it has become one of those little facts that dwells in my head and with daily Ebay searches, I would notice this magazine as soon as it was listed.  If magazines are tough to sell in general and you often can't give them away...where are all the issues of the elusive third subject?

Without further ado, I present to you what may very well be the only image of this magazine cover on the internet today...

Steve Garvey Sport Magazine May 1980