Fast Five: Sports Illustrated covers I'd want on cardboard now

This one is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five Sports Illustrated covers I'd want on cardboard now in Topps' new card set ... and five more after that.

Junior goes home ... Ken Griffey Jr. | Feb. 21, 2000
It was a blockbuster kind of move, and, while Junior's first SI cover (May 7, 1990) might be in more demand, the portrait on this one would get my cardboard nod first in the new Topps set. Why? It's just a much better photo than his debut. I'm pretty sure I saved my copy of this one from back in the day ... so if there's no card I'll survive. Junior's days in a Seattle uniform seem get more attention than his time with the Reds and that's another reason I'd do this one.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time ... and five more after that.

Taste for the game ... Jay Buhner & son | March 18, 1996
This exact cover actually has appeared on a card from the Fleer years of sets branded with an SI approval -- and a a different crop (and no cover blurbs) appeared in a different set showcasing the work of the photographer (more details here ... scroll down). This one is simply a classic and it needs cardboard very soon in the Topps series.

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Legendary later on ... Ted Williams | Nov. 25, 1996
We all have seen plenty of cardboard for MLB Legends in their primes -- and we even saw a lot of Ted Williams' life before and away from the game in his 1959 Fleer set -- but the world hasn't seen many cards of players in their later years unless they are in a manager's uniform. This could be a unique card and I can only think of a Mickey Mantle from back in the day showing him older but in uniform that might compare to something like this.

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The record-holder ... Hank Aaron | April 15, 1974
If you watch the video of the celebration following Aaron's 715th career home run to pass Babe Ruth as MLB's all-time leader, then you know this moment and you can see the photographer get the shot somewhere in the scrum here. This cover also had a card from Fleer back in the day, but it's one that needs to happen again and a moment that can't happen enough on cardboard if you ask me.

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His arrival ... Ichiro Suzuki | May 28, 2001
Ichiro Suzuki's arrival helped change the game in a few ways, reminding us that there was more to the game than the longball and that legends can be found from around the world. This future Hall of Famer appeared on this first cover and I remember hitting the bookstore and grabbing three of them when I knew they had arrived. I'm pretty sure he only appeared on one other cover during his career, too.

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And five more ... this time not only MLB covers

Topps probably going to stick to just MLB and not ruffle any licensing feathers out there, but let's imagine that anything is fair game for past Sports Illustrated covers ... here are five more I'd want to see.

The first of many ... Michael Jordan | Nov. 28, 1983
Long before the shoes, the Olympics, the championships, the Hall of Fame and countless mentions of farm wildlife, His Airness was a star for the University of North Carolina. (The other guy here, Sam Perkins, is a college Hall of Famer and NBA veteran, too.) This is Jordan's first cover and it can be a pricey one if you can find it in good condition. Jordan has appeared on the cover of the magazine more than anyone else -- more than 50 times -- and also up there are Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and the next guy ...

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The first of many II ... LeBron James | Feb. 18, 2002
It's pretty easy to say that James was introduced to the world with this one. He had a ton of cards made in that uniform -- and plenty made as a pro since on both the magazine and cards. This was the first.

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Welcome to Oakland ... Brad Pitt | Sept. 26, 2011
Moneyball took a look at baseball in a different way and the Michael Lewis book came to the big screen with Pitt playing A's GM Billy Beane. There were no baseball cards and few ways to collect the film when it arrived, but this one was one tangible thing you could grab.

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Oh, brother ... Hulk Hogan | April 29, 1985
Think of the growth of WWE and its place in pop culture in the last 40 years. Now consider that this cover, from just after the first WrestleMania and before WWE truly exploded in popularity, is the only time that an active WWE star was on the magazine. It doesn't even have Hogan in his trademark red and yellow Hulkamania gear ... just a generic headband. The only other WWE-ish cover showcased The Rock for a Year in Sports Media issue ... during his run with Ballers.

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A whole set of its own ... Beyoncé | May 22, 2007
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue could have its own covers set with its debut way back in 1964, but this one might be one of the more iconic ones representing its present formula -- a mix of athletes, celebs and models. Believe it or not (only because most of you have probably never seen them) there are a number of Swimsuit Issue card sets from around this time, complete with autographs and memorabilia cards for many notables. A lot of big names have been found here ... Ronda Rousey, Danica Patrick, Kate Upton, Kathy Ireland, Chrstie Brinkley, Hannah Jeter, Heidi Klum, Page VanZant, Tyra Banks, Lindsey Vonn, Alex Morgan, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Megan Rapinoe and Serena Williams to name a few.

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What would you want to see in a future Fast Five? Let Buzz know on Twitter or email.

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