Before he became “Mr. November” Hall of Fame New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was a highly touted baseball prospect out of Kalamazoo, Michigan, named USA Today’s High School Player of the Year in 1992. Selected sixth in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, the Yankees feared Jeter would go to Michigan where he was offered a scholarship. Yankees scout Dick Groch, on the other hand, responded to those fears with “The only place Derek Jeter is going is Cooperstown.” Jeter signed with the Yankees, spending the entirety of his 20 seasons with the team, earning five World Series titles, the 1996 AL Rookie of the Year honors, and 14 All-Star selections. Jeter entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020, proving Groch correct.

Presented here is a contract from Little Sun Trading Card Company and Derek Jeter. The contract was for Jeter to appear in Little Sun’s “1992 High School Baseball Prospects” card line that featured 30-40 of the nation’s best high school baseball players. Jeter, and other players, could not take part in the program if they planned on attending college, as NCAA rules forbid player-athletes from earning a profit from their sport. Jeter signed the contract while visiting the University of Michigan, choosing to play minor league baseball for the Yankees instead. The five-page contract features the terms of the contract and a questionnaire signed by Jeter that lists his personal information, stats, and hobbies. Jeter was paid a total of $1,000 paid in two installments of $500 and received a card set for his participation. This set was the first set Jeter was featured in and it beat other card manufacturers by weeks. Included in this lot are a check made out to Jeter for $500 from Little Sun signed by his mother, Dot, since Jeter was not home at the time. There are also promotional and public relations letters as well as a letter from Jeter’s management at the time, Blanning & Baker, to Little Sun. A signed letter from Jeter’s mom, Dot, is included, and it lists enclosed pictures sent on her son’s behalf to Little Sun. The contract is in fantastic condition and features no cornering, edging, or fading. The accompanying documents included in this lot feature some creasing but are otherwise in fantastic condition. Jeter signed the cover letter of the contract with a blue ballpoint pen, and the signed cover letter comes with a COA from Steiner Sports. The questionnaires come with LOA’s from JSA (YO6167, YO5007, YO6165).

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