For 100 years — through periods of major influence, scandal, and financial woes — The Ring endured in print as “The Bible of Boxing” until, like so many other publications, it retreated into a digital-only format at the end of 2022. After a recent purchase by Turki Al-Sheikh (Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia), The Ring is back in physical form with the promise of 100-page (!) issues every month.

This issue from October 1962 shows a 20-year-old Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) dodging a punch from Billy Daniels in Ali’s 14th pro fight. It was Ali’s first appearance on the cover of The Ring. This copy is one of three graded 6.0 by CGC, and there are only two graded higher — both at 6.5. A year and a half before Ali knocked out Sonny Liston to win the heavyweight title, it probably didn’t seem like an issue worth keeping in good condition.

Back when Hulk Hogan was universally beloved, WWF put him on the cover of their newly renamed WWF Magazine. The Hulkster just won the World Heavyweight Championship for the first time in January 1984 by defeating The Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden, kick starting what would become the decade-long phenomenon known as "Hulkamania".

This issue is a blast to thumb through. Old school WWF is a far cry from the multi-billion dollar enterprise WWE is now. Swipe to see some of my favorite photos from inside, including a celebratory Rocky Johnson, father of The Rock.

A year before the original AND1 Mixtape turned him into a grainy VHS legend, SLAM had Skip on the cover. Rafer Alston — who earned the nickname "Skip to My Lou" as for his signature skip when bringing the ball up the court at Rucker Park — helped propel streetball into the mainstream before carving out a solid 10-year career in the NBA.

This cover is one of my favorites because it showcases the bold, independent nature of early SLAM issues. No other major magazine covered a sport with the same spirit — before or since.

Only one copy of this issue has been graded by CGC, an 8.5. Fingers crossed this one scores higher when I submit it next week.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) on the cover of Newsweek in February 1967. Just received this back from CGC and will definitely be holding onto it for a while. There are only five total graded at the moment, with the top pop at 8.0.

Today is Sandy Koufax's 89th birthday! (Shout out to @benmburrows for the reminder.)

This beautiful cover shot features Koufax raring back on the mound in 1965, a season in which he racked up 382 strikeouts — by far the most in a single season of the modern era at the time. Eight years later, Nolan Ryan would eclipse this record by just one. (For reference, Tarik Skubal led the majors this year with 228.)

A few days after this issue hit newsstands, Koufax captured his second World Series MVP after allowing just one earned run in 24.0 innings pitched. Because Yom Kippur coincided with Game 1, Koufax started Games 2, 5, and 7, tossing two complete game shutouts on just two days rest to close out the series. They don't make 'em like that anymore.