Back in 1994 Derek Jeter was just another minor league hopeful – all be it one who was ranked the 16th-best prospect in baseball. Still, the Tampa Yankees were a long way away from the Bronx. The 20-year-old Yankee legend in the making used this bat during his 1994 season in Florida State League in which he hit .329 in 69 games. Before the season was out Jeter was advanced to the AA Albany Colonie Yankees and finally the AAA Columbus Clippers.

The next season he would be playing shortstop in Yankee Stadium. It is an interesting comment on Jeter’s reputation of consistency that this is essentially the same model and style of bat he would use throughout his entire Hall of Fame career. Most players switch bat models and finishes regularly during their playing days, but then again, those players ain’t Derek Jeter.

The Louisville Slugger P72 model bat displays outstanding use with a repaired handle crack. Numerous ball marks with stitch impressions can be found on all sides of the barrel along with blue ink transfers and cleat imprints on the left and right barrel. The handle still has a light coat of pine tar. A very choice bat from Jeter’s early career when he was a kid trying to make his way to Yankee Stadium. One of the finest of all early Jeter bats ever offered in the hobby. This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B17199) for the game use and has been graded a near-perfect GU 9.5 and a LOA from Jason Cretella stating how he obtained the bat in 1994.

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