SI’s Top Covers of the 1990s

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 12, 2009

SI’s Top Covers of the 1990s

July 19, 1999: Brandi Chastain

This shot of Brandi Chastain celebrating after scoring on the fifth penalty kick of the World Cup finals against China is arguably one of the most famous photos in the history of sports. This image was featured on the cover of not only SI, but also Time and Newsweek.

May 4, 1998: Athletes and Paternity

This remains one of the most memorable covers in SI history as the magazine delved into the controversial issue of athletes and their out-of-wedlock children. Two-year-old Khalid Minor, whose father, Greg, was a member of the Celtics, holds a basketball in this haunting cover photo.

March 14, 1994: Michael Jordan

After his first retirement from the NBA, Michael Jordan famously tried his hand at baseball, playing for the White Sox farm club, the Double A Birmingham Barons. During his time on the diamond, Jordan batted .202 with three home runs, 51 RBI, 30 stolen bases and 11 errors. Jordan was 31 at the time and hadn't played baseball since high school. A mixed bag, for sure.

May 20, 1996: Marge Schott

The first woman to buy a Major League Baseball team, Marge Schott was a lightning rod as the owner of the Reds. Notorious for racial and ethnic slurs, Schott was fined and disciplined numerous times for her behavior. Just before appearing on this '96 cover of SI, Schott went too far one last time, saying Hitler "was good in the beginning, but went too far". In response, MLB banned her from day-to-day operation of the club.

February 18, 1991: Dream Team

The 1992 Barcelona Olympics marked the first time NBA players would participate in the Olympics and for this February 1991 cover SI picked a powerhouse five to build the roster around: Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. At the '92 Games, joined by six other pros and a lone collegiate player, this quintet steamrolled through the competition on its way to a gold medal.

February 27, 1995: Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden

Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden were supposed to be the lynchpins of a Mets dynasty, but drugs and alcohol cut their careers short. This 1995 cover story looked at the promising careers of these two youngsters and where it all went wrong.

February 17, 1992: Mike Tyson

A month after defeating No. 2 contender Donovan "Razor" Ruddock in a 12-round bout, Mike Tyson found his boxing career come to a sudden halt when he was sentenced to prison for raping 18-year-old beauty queen Desiree Washington. Tyson spent three years in jail and did not return to boxing until 1995.

September 28, 1992: Tony Mandarich

In 1989, SI called Mandarich "the best offensive line prospect ever," but three years into his NFL career, the former No. 1 pick did nothing but disappoint. In 2008, he fessed up to using steroids in college and the role that played in his success at Michigan State.

March 1, 1993: George Steinbrenner

MLB commissioner Fay Vincent imposed a "lifetime ban" on Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in July 1990 for having paid admitted gambler Howard Spira $40,000 to supply damaging information on New York outfielder Dave Winfield, with whom the Boss was feuding. Two-and-a-half years later, the ban was lifted, and Steinbrenner's comeback was hailed by White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf as "the most ballyhooed return since the Resurrection."

May 14, 1990: Sneakers

Led by Michael Jordan and Nike, the sneaker industy exploded in the early '90s. What was once a layer of support between the foot and pavement became a must-have accessory for many young adults. This cover story delved into the market and looked at the upswing in crime related to sneakers and sports merchandise.

June 22, 1998: Michael Jordan

This cover shows the final shot Michael Jordan took as a member of the Bulls, a jumper from the top of the key that buried the Jazz and gave the Bulls another NBA title. Jordan has appeared on the cover 50 times, more than any other athlete (Muhammad Ali is second with 39 appearances).

November 5, 1990: Bill Laimbeer

No athlete drew more contempt from sports fans than original Detroit bad boy Bill Laimbeer, who led the Pistons to two NBA titles. The center put on his classic "I didn't do anything" face for this famous cover.

May 10, 1993: Monica Seles

Terror struck the tennis court on April 30, 1993, when Monica Seles. the world's No. 1 ranked player, was stabbed in the back by a deranged fan during a quarterfinal match in Hamburg, Germany. The fan was allegedly obsessed with seeing Steffi Graf regain the No. 1 ranking, so he rushed onto the court with a 10-inch boning knife to attack the 19-year-old Seles. Seles recovered physically just a few weeks later, but was so damaged psychologically that she didn't return to competitive tennis for over two years.

April 26, 1999: Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky remains the greatest player in NHL history, and this cover shot from his final game at Madison Square Garden serves as a fond farewell to The Great One.

February 24, 1997: Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez

Derek Jeter already had two World Series rings when a 21-year-old Alex Rodriguez joined him on the cover of this 1997 issue. Sure, A-Rod eventually moved to third base, but at the time, the duo headed an incredible crop of young shortstops.

February 14, 1994: Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson and Rachel Hunter

Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson, Rachel Hunter — Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Usually reserved for just one model, the 1994 cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue featured three women -- Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson and Rachel Hunter. Little known fun fact: Ireland and Hunter were both pregnant at the time of this cover shoot.

August 26, 1996: Peyton and Archie Manning

Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning shared the 1996 College Football Preview Issue cover with his dad, Archie, who appeared on the cover in 1970, when he was a quarterback at Ole Miss.

July 8, 1991: Lyle Alzado

One of the first U.S. sports figures to admit to using performance enhancing drugs, the former Raiders defensive end often blamed his longtime use of steroids for the brain cancer that took a devastating toll on him during the final years of his life. Just a year after appearing on this cover, Alzado, 42, died of cancer in his Oregon home.

August 3, 1998: Mark McGwire

Baseball fans were captivated by the 1998 home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. The Cardinals first baseman would end the season with 70 round-trippers, while the Cubs slugger would finish with 66, but steroid accusations would later bring both players' achievements into question.

August 24, 1992: Deion Sanders

In August 1992, with football season approaching and his Atlanta Braves in the midst of a playoff race, Deion Sanders had to pick a sport. Eventually, "Prime Time" decided to report to Falcons' training camp in September and join the Braves for the postseason. In the World Series, Sanders batted .533 with four runs, eight hits (including two doubles) and one RBI; four months later he was named to the NFL Pro Bowl.

March 21, 1994: Bill Clinton

In 1994, March Madness affected the highest reaches of government when President Clinton turned Fan-in-Chief and rooted for Nolan Richardson, Corliss Williamson and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Clinton's enthusiasm was rewarded with a national championship.

May 3, 1999: Kevin Garnett

When he was selected fifth overall by the Timberwolves in the 1995 draft, Kevin Garnett became the first player in 20 years to make the jump straight from high school to the NBA. Over the course of his 21-year career, Garnett was named to 15 All-Star Games, earned an MVP award, won an NBA championship and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

May 24, 1993: Barry Bonds

At the start of the 1993 season, Barry Bonds signed a then-record $43.75 million, six-year deal with the Giants after having spent seven seasons in Pittsburgh. During his tenure in San Francisco, Bonds found unparalleled success, but his reclusiveness earned him a strained relationship with the media and the fans.

September 17, 1990: Pete Sampras and May 19, 1990: Jennifer Capriati

Pete Sampras - 9/17/90 — Caryn Levy/Sports Illustrated (2)

Pete Sampras and Jennifer Capriati were two bright spots for U.S. tennis in the '90s. While Sampras went onto greatness, winning 14 Grand Slam tournaments, Capriati, who appeared on the cover at 13, struggled with success and left the sport for nearly three years before returning in 1996.

January 21, 1991: Shaquille O'Neal

This marks the first of Shaquille O'Neal's 15 appearances on the SI cover. At the time, Shaq was a 19-year-old manchild who would go on to win the Adolph Rupp Trophy as NCAA men's basketball player of the year in 1991.

SI’s Top Covers of the 1990s