Summer Live and Premium 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/2/2018
Graded GEM MT 10 by PSA. A debut-year collectible of a future Hall of Famer, and easily the most widely pursued baseball Rookie Card of an entire generation. Among more than 14,400 copies recorded in PSA’s census reporting, fewer than one-sixth of one percent – twenty-two specimens, in total – have achieved this unimprovable tier. (Significantly, not a single example of this esteemed collectible has been awarded the SGC 100 or BGS 10 grade.)
Derek Jeter, of course, represents the quintessential superstar of his time. Every aspect of his athleticism, his personality and his character inspires admiration and devotion among casual and enthusiastic fans, alike. His record of achievement – the 5 World Series Championships, the 14 All-Star Games and the 5 Gold Glove Awards, to name just a few – represent an incomparable legacy, and his continuing involvement with the sport suggests that Jeter's past greatness was merely the preamble to an even brighter future.
Jeter's iconic stature is unquestionable. But beyond that, it's useful to ponder, for a moment, the difficulty of obtaining his delicate and sparsely produced Rookie Card at the pinnacle of condition. Indeed, only twenty-two cards on the face of the earth (among tens of thousands submitted for evaluation) combine attributes of sufficient quality to allow the enthusiast to be comfortable that no upgrade is ever necessary ... or possible. With respect to an attempt to equal its PSA GEM MT 10 grade, a collector would realize a greater chance of success by taking a bucket-load of sand from the beach and sifting it to isolate the grains composed of diamond. Simply, this phenomenal Jeter card exhibits perfection, where others require excuses.
As a point of reference on value, the last 1993 Upper Deck SP Foil #279 Derek Jeter Rookie Card PSA GEM MT 10 example sold at auction (in May, 2018) commanded more than $99,000. The offered SP Foil Jeter card, with its faultless manner of presentation, represents the wish of countless collectors, but can be a reality for only one. Absolutely splendid Gem Mint condition.