1980s

Wayne Gretzky took the NHL by storm in the '80s, waging an assault on the record books and winning three Stanley Cups with the Oilers. When he was traded from Edmonton to Los Angeles in 1988, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED put Gretzky on the cover alongside Magic Johnson with the headline "Great Move, Gretzky."

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED made several notable hires during the '80s, including Gary Smith, Jack McCallum, Peter King, Leigh Montville, Rick Reilly, Richard Hoffer and Alexander Wolff.