Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
When rookie shortstop Derek Jeter put on his batting helmet and stepped up to the plate at Yankee Stadium, it was the culmination of his life's dream. Not only was the highly touted 21 year-old now a major league baseball player, he was a New York Yankee. Jeter grew up going to Yankee Stadium as a kid and the team was his favorite throughout his life. Now he was a one of them. During his rookie season in 1996 Jeter proved that not only was he one of them, but that he would quickly emerge as one of the team's great ones. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around he'd hit .314, won the American League's Rookie of the Year Award and was fitted for his first World Series ring. The kid who grew up watching the Yankees was now a major cog in the teams resurgence as it established yet another long lasting dynasty.
Typical of the play he became known for, Jeter's first Yankee batting helmet shows excellent game use. The outer surface of the American Baseball Cap helmet shows many dings and scuff marks as is usual for a game used helmet. The classic Yankees "NY" logo appears on the front in raised letters, the style being a particular one used during the 1996 season. The logo displays some nicks and pine tar staining but remains intact and bright. Jeter's soon to be famous number "2" is applied to the front of the brim as well on the back of the helmet beside the ABC logo. The inside of the helmet is in excellent condition with the foam padding intact. The original company labels are all still inside the crown, including the warning and "7 1/4" size labels. These labels plus the ABC date dial reading May of 1996 located on the inside of the helmet all help date this piece to Jeter's 1996 rookie season. Further dating can be established by its provenance from RGA Appraisers who obtained the helmet in November of 1996. To make this Jeter Rookie helmet even sweeter is the autograph added to the crown in silver ink that reads "96 GU". There aren't that many significant Derek Jeter game used pieces that can be definitively dated to his rookie season, and this is by far the most impressive. Letter of Authenticity from JT Sports and Certificate of Authenticity for the autograph from Steiner.