SI’s Top Covers of the 1970s

SI Staff | Jan 16, 2009

SI’s Top Covers of the 1970s /

SI’s Top Covers of the 1970s

November 28, 1977: Larry Bird

Larry Bird was still a relative no-name when he appeared on the SI cover for the first time. He would go on to grace the cover 15 more times as a player, coach and executive.

August 17, 1970: Joe Namath

Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Broadway Joe Namath spent his NFL offseasons pursuing a career in acting, including the lead role in the 1970 film C.C. and Company (here with Ann-Margret). The next year, he starred in the movie The Last Rebel. (IMDB users give the 1971 film 3.3 (out of 10) stars.) Once his pro career ended, he guest-starred on TV shows The A-Team, The Love Boat and ALF, often as himself.

June 6, 1977: Mark Fidrych

This June 1977 cover of Mark Fidrych marked the first time Big Bird -- or any Sesame Street character, for that matter -- appeared on an SI cover.

November 27, 1978: Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson has appeared on 25 SI covers, but none as unique as his first one, in which the 6-foot-9 Michigan State forward is shooting (and what looks like missing) a layup in full tuxedo and top hat.

September 15, 1975: Muhammad Ali, Don King and Joe Frazier

The third and final bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier -- better known as The Thrilla in Manila -- was marketed and broadcast worldwide by Don King. After the duo's first two bouts went 15 grueling rounds (each fighter winning one), the final bout ended in the 14th with Ali winning by TKO.

June 22, 1970: Tony Conigliaro

In the middle of an All-Star season, Tony Conigliaro was hit by a pitch that changed the young slugger's life. Jack Hamilton's fastball broke Conigliaro's cheek and severely damaged his retina, forcing the outfielder to miss the 1968 season. In this SI cover story, he recounts the injury and his comeback.

June 12, 1972: Dick Allen

After wearing out his welcome in Philadelphia, St. Louis and Los Angeles, Dick Allen settled in with the White Sox in 1972. Under Chuck Tanner's low-key managerial style, Allen flourished, hitting 37 home runs, driving in 113 runs and leading the Sox to a surprise second-place finish in an MVP season. And as this photo indicates, he wasn't afraid to light up a mid-game cigarette either.

January 14, 1974: Julius Erving

After being traded by the Virginia Squires, Julius Erving not only helped establish the Nets as one of the ABA's better clubs, but also elevated the status of the league itself, eventually leading to the merger with the NBA. In his first season with the Nets, Erving led the club to a championship.

September 21, 1970: Dick Butkus

A Hall of Famer and one of the greatest linebackers of all time, Dick Butkus had his reputation as the most feared man in football sealed by this SI cover. During the 1970 season, Butkus recorded 132 tackles, made three interceptions and recovered two fumbles.

December 22, 1975: Pete Rose

Before a gambling scandal ended his baseball career in 1989, Pete Rose was among the game's brightest stars and recipient of the magazine's 1975 Sportsman of the Year Award.

August 23, 1971: Steve McQueen

One of the top box office draws of the '60s and '70s, Steve McQueen was a car and motorcycle enthusiast who performed many of his own stunts -- especially the driving ones. An inductee into the Off-Road Sports Hall of Fame, McQueen is pictured here atop a Husqvarna dirt bike.

September 10, 1979: Charles White and Billy Sims

As the 1979 college football season began, the Heisman was a two-man race between USC's Charles White and Oklahoma's Billy Sims. By the end of the season, White, who averaged 194.1 rushing yards per game, was the clear winner, earning 1,695 votes compared to runner-up Sims, who received 773. Sims would have the last laugh, though, being selected as the first pick in the 1980 NFL draft (White was picked 27th).

October 14, 1974: Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul Jabbar — Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated

After winning three Naismith awards at UCLA, Bill Walton arrived in Portland as the savior of the Trail Blazers franchise. Big Red was injured for much of his first two years in the league, but in 1977 he led the Blazers past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers in the conference finals and to an NBA Finals championship.

April 15, 1974: Henry Aaron

Hank Aaron — Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated

Henry Aaron leapfrogged Babe Ruth and became the all-time home run king in April 1974 with a round-tripper against the Dodgers' Al Downing. One of the best-known numbers in sports, "715" was all it took to mark the occasion.

July 15, 1974: Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert

Four months before they were to be married, Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert both won singles titles at Wimbledon. The pair went on to win 23 more Grand Slam singles titles, but the romance fizzled soon after this cover hit newsstands.

February 5, 1979: Christie Brinkley

It's tough to pick just one SI Swimsuit cover to represent an entire decade, but Christie Brinkley's 1979 cover from the Seychelles does a pretty good job.

September 4, 1972: Mark Spitz

It took 36 years for someone to break the record Mark Spitz set in the pool at Munich in 1972: seven gold medals in one Olympic Games. The forerunner to Michael Phelps, Spitz is one of only five Olympians ever to win nine or more gold medals.

October 25, 1976: Dave Cowens and Julius Erving

The landscape of professional basketball changed forever in 1976, when four teams from the recently disbanded ABA joined the NBA. No star was bigger than Julius Erving, seen here posing with Celtic star and defending NBA champion Dave Cowens.

February 24, 1975: Ch. Sir Lancelot of Barvan

An Old English sheepdog made history at the 99th Westminster Dog Show. Ch. Sir Lancelot of Barvan became the first bobtail in 61 years to be named Best of Show and the first herding breed to appear on an SI cover. The 3-year-old Dudley, as he was called, made the trek to Madison Square Garden from Ontario, the first dog from north of the border to win top honors since 1918.

March 24, 1975: Chuck Wepner

Often credited as the inspiration for the character Rocky Balboa, Wepner went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali in 1975, even knocking down the champ in the ninth round. Wepner went to his corner and said to his manager, "Hey, I knocked him down." His manager shot back: "Yeah, but he looks really pissed off now."

August 3, 1970: Frank Shorter and Leonid Mikitenko

Frank Shorter, Leonid Mikitenko — Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated

Running in only the third 10,000 meter race of his career, Frank Shorter set a blistering pace and stunned the Soviet Union's Leonid Mikitenko in a dual meet in Leningrad. Shorter is the only American athlete to win two Olympic medals in marathon (gold in 1972, silver in 1976).

April 23, 1973: Muhammad Ali

In his March 1973 bout with Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton connected with a straight right that broke the champ's jaw. Ali fought another 10 rounds after the punch, and lost a narrow decision and his belt to the former Marine.

July 17, 1978: Money!

A quarter century before Alex Rodriguez signed a $250 million contract and the term "Evil Empire" referred only to Star Wars, there was a general concern that greed was ruining sports. Today, sports are as strong as ever and fans still are concerned money is ruining the games they love.

March 5, 1973: The Changing Room

The run only lasted five months and 192 performances, but in March 1973, The Changing Room -- a play about a North England rugby team -- made its way to Broadway. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

June 9, 1975: Rocky Bleier

After a successful rookie season with the Steelers, Rocky Bleier was drafted into the U.S. Army and shipped out to Vietnam. As a member of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, he earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. After recovering from his injuries, he returned to the Steelers, playing for four Super Bowl-winning teams. SI chronicled his journey in this issue.

Published Jan 16, 2009

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