Sports Illustrated ·

Publications & Printed Items · PSA 9.8 · Magazine

Sports Illustrated · "I'm Back"
March 27, 1995 · Newsstand

PSA 9.8 · authenticated original

Estimated value

$15,000

One of one · not for sale

Front · Vol. 82 #12 · March 27, 1995

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Back · PSA slab reverse · Cert #143630973

Sports Illustrated I'm Back back cover Merit ad

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Item details

GradePSA 9.8 · highest graded

PopulationPop 5 · PSA census at time of acquisition

Significance"I'm Back" comeback issue

Why it mattersJordan's first game back, No. 45 vs Pacers

Cover & backNewsstand edition

PublisherTime, Inc.

CertificationCert #143630973 · PSA 9.8

Jordan's return, on the cover

Jack McCallum's coThis issue captured Jordan's comeback from baseball. After 17 months away, he returned to the Bulls on March 19, 1995, wearing No. 45, and the cover shows him driving to the rim against the Pacers.

The "I'm Back" fax announcing his return became one of the most famous moments of the era. This is the newsstand edition, graded PSA 9.8.

Two words — "I'm back" — ended Jordan's baseball detour and returned him to the Bulls for the run to three more titles.

— DimeLabs · Sports Illustrated Vol. 82 #12 · PSA Cert #143630973

This is the newsstand edition, graded PSA 9.8. Per the PSA census at time of acquisition it sits at Pop 2 with none higher, and is the top-graded newsstand copy recorded — the kind of top-of-census, culturally significant piece DimeLabs targets.