10 Most Valuable Derek Jeter Rookie Cards
Duane Beckett
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Even if you are not a fan of baseball, chances are you’ve heard the name Derek Jeter. In an incredible 20 year Major League Baseball career, Jeter excelled as a shortstop for the iconic New York Yankees. While there has been plenty of sports memorabilia affiliated with this player, many fans and collectors revere baseball cards as the number one item on their wishlist. With many different cards from a variety of companies, rookie cards are generally the most sought after. These cards feature the player in their debut season and they can fetch quite a high price at auction. Here we will be breaking down the 10 most valuable Derek Jeter rookie cards alongside their approximate price tag.
10. 1993 Topps Micro Derek Jeter #98
First up, this novel card is one of the most valuable Derek Jeter rookie cards because of its unique features. It has a special factory setting, which shrinks the card down to a small size. That’s why it’s called the “Topps Micro” rookie card. Featuring the same design as another card on this list, this tiny card is highly collectible.
Card Value: ~$200
9. 1993 Score Derek Jeter Rookie Card #489
While some cards opt for more of a minimalist design, this next one has quite a lot going on. It features Derek Jeter in a pinstripe kit set against a blue geometric background, multiple logos and a variety of text. It’s definitely a card that collectors want to get their hands on.
Card Value: ~$200
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8. 1993 Select Derek Jeter Rookie Card #360
In this very playful rookie card, we see a rookie youngster, Derek Jeter, jumping into the air. It’s set against a blue sky backdrop, which makes it stick out compared to other cards. On top of this, there is a green header and footer as well as the select logo in the bottom left corner. These factors increase the sports card value to baseball fans and collectors.
Card Value: ~$400
7. 1993 Bowman Derek Jeter Rookie Card #511
The 1993 Bowman Derek Jeter Rookie Card has a slightly different color palette than the others on this list. It features a dustier playing field and Jeter ready to throw at any moment. The jersey he is wearing is also unique for the Yankees since it doesn’t feature the Yankee blue and white pinstripe. All of these factors contribute to the card’s overall estimated worth in 2023.
Card Value: ~$500
6. 1993 Upper Deck Derek Jeter Rookie Card #449
This next entry features a very large photo of a young Derek Jeter reaching up to the sky with his glove, squinting into the sun. It also features a gold footer which says the player’s name in bold letters. The Top Prospect badge and the Upper Deck logo are stamped into opposing corners, which validate this card’s value.
Card Value: ~$600
5. 1993 Stadium Club Murphy Derek Jeter Rookie Card #117
Featuring a much closer shot of Derek Jeter than the previous entries on this list, this card is highly sought after. It shows a very clear picture of his young face and he is ready to hit at any moment. When in good condition, this is definitely one of the most valuable Derek Jeter rookie cards out there.
Card Value: ~$800
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4. 1993 Pinnacle Derek Jeter Rookie Card #457
Set with a black border, this card features a close up portrait shot of Derek Jeter holding the bat over his shoulder. It’s simple, but that’s what fans tend to love about it. There is a “1st round draft pick” stamp on the border and the Pinnacle logo, making it extremely legit to any collector.
Card Value: ~$850
3. 1993 Topps Gold Derek Jeter #98
Next up, we have a very striking card that features Derek Jeter in a throwing pose with a bright green baseball diamond graphic as the backdrop. With the player’s name stamped in gold and the 1992 draft pick text in big bold letters, this card can go for quite a high price.
Card Value: ~$1,750
2. 1993 SP Derek Jeter Rookie Card #279
In this second most valuable Derek Jeter rookie card, Jeter is featured in a cut-out pose while throwing a ball. Against a reflective foil background, this action-packed photo stands out among other rookie cards. The premier prospect stamp is official and pushes this card value past $4,000 if found in good condition.
Card Value: $4,000
1. 1992 Little Sun High School Prospects
Lastly, the most valuable Derek Jeter rookie card is actually from his high school years. It has very striking coloring, making it the most unique on this list as well. In a red oval border, there is a yellow wood grain background that contrasts to the multicolor name of the player. Our example featured above is in great condition, which is why it can catch the most amount of money at an auction out of all of these cards.
Card Value: ~$5,000
How Many Derek Jeter Rookie Cards Are There?
There are a large number of Derek Jeter baseball cards out there, but not too many of them are rookie cards from his 1993 rookie season. Out of these, just eight are true rookie cards and our list has featured some variations of them, such as the mini card. Therefore, true Jeter rookie cards are rare and worth a good chunk of change.
How Much Is The Average Derek Jeter Card Worth?
This is a difficult question to answer, since the price of a Derek Jeter card will depend largely on the card type, its rarity, and most importantly, its condition. Cards are graded based on their condition and the better shape they’re in, the more they’re worth.
Despite this, Cardbase has tracked the average selling price for a Derek Jeter card, which is around $81.23. This is pretty high as compared to other sports cards, but it makes sense given his level of fame and not all of those cards factored into the sales were rookie cards.
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What Brand of Baseball Cards Are Worth the Most Money?
There are many different brands of sports cards such as Topps, Upper Deck and Panini. The former is the most prominent in terms of baseball cards. Topps was established in 1938 and has been the prominent brand for baseball cards since they started making and selling them in 1951.
If you have a card collection with a Derek Jeter rookie card in it, chances are you have something that is worth quite a bit of money. This will all depend on the condition of the card, of course, but with the proper grading, you could be on to a winner. Auction sites will always vary in price, but the list above should be a good indicator as to the sort of value that can be held in Derek Jeter rookie cards.