2015 Cover

And speaking of models, February means the publication of the Sports Illy swimsuit issue (click here).  It always reminds me of my buddy Doug Ford whom I worked with for several years on Base.  Every February Doug would give me the Sports Illy swimsuit issue as a birthday present.  Back in the day, the swimsuit issue was also baseball’s Spring Training issue.  It wasn’t until 1997 that the issue became exclusively centered on swimsuit models (click here.)

Prior to 97, the February issue also contained baseball writer Tom Boswell discussing the results of his Total Average stat.  Doug would always comment to me as he gave me the magazine “J. you and I are probably the only two people who look at this magazine and read Boswell’s article first.”

Because Sports Illy started featuring the models on their cover in 1964, last year’s edition celebrated 50 years with this great photo of the cover girls.  I gave my copy to JW Raley and kind of regret having done so now.  Thank God for that there internet though.  Here it is:

From http://swimsuit.si.com/swimsuit/50th/

Note that the lady to the far right with arms folded is Babette March who was featured on the original 1964 issue when she was a brunette.  She’s now 73.