This copy of Sports Illustrated landed on newsstands today in 1998, and it’s one of my favorite pieces in my collection.

If you look closely you can see this copy is autographed and authenticated with CGC’s Signature Series, which is an in person, witnessed authentication. But that’s not Mark McGwire’s auto. It’s comic book legend Todd McFarlane.

In 1999 McFarlane infamously paid $3 million for that 70th HR ball, making it the most expensive baseball ever. Many in the hobby wrecked him for overpaying, and ridiculed his purchase. The McFarlane purchase held the record for over 25 years until the Shohei Ohtani 50/50 ball sold for $4.4 million in 2024.

There’s a ton of McGwire autos out there, and even more McFarlane autos. But this is the only graded copy of this issue featuring McFarlane’s auto. A true 1 of 1. At least for now