The publication date of Sport Illustrated Magazine’s premiere issue was August 16, 1954. It featured Milwaukee Braves slugger Eddie Mathews on the cover.
Six days later, the fist incident of the Sports Illustrated Jinx occurred.
The Milwaukee Braves were playing the Cubs at Wrigley field, and Mathews got hit on his left hand. It was the result of an errant fifth inning pitch from Chicago’s Hal Jeffcoat. Mathews had to come out of the game and was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital. X-rays were taken there, but did not show any fractures. However, he was unable to return to action for another week.
