They didn't call him "Sudden Sam" for nothing. Blessed with a deceptively smooth delivery for a power pitcher, Cleveland Indians ace Sam McDowell made a dynamic impression on the American League from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s. Sports Illustrated captured McDowell during his early MLB days, with this 5/23/66 Vol. 24, #21 issue. The fire-balling lefthander's expression in this gripping cover photo is both determined and defiant at the same time. Publication purists score well with this nicely preserved magazine, which is rated (9.0) by CGC, with an "Off-White to White Pages" label notation. This pleasing mark places this quality example at the top of CGC's Census, as "1/1" with none higher.