The Dugout│Best Derek Jeter Rookie Card to Invest In

Derek Jeter rookie cards are the holy grail for any baseball card collector, and they’re worth a pretty penny too. There are several Derek Jeter rookie cards, with the 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter rookie card considered to be one of the most valuable. It’s worth up to six figures and ranks as the most expensive Derek Jeter rookie card ever sold at $600,000.

So, if you’re looking for an investment that’s sure to appreciate over time, consider adding a Derek Jeter rookie card to your collection. With several different cards to choose from, you’re sure to find one that fits your budget.

Derek Jeter is a perennial All-Star and superstar who has blazed his way through the world of baseball. For Derek, the accolades began from the very beginning of his glittering career and continued for the 20 seasons he spent in the big league.

Wowing fans since 1995, he was unanimously voted the American League Rookie of the Year—quite a feat. His talents went even further when, in 2003, he was named Yankees team captain. Jeter has achieved a massive 3,465 hits and 1,923 runs scored, plus 4,921 total bases over the course of his illustrious career.

And who could forget the 158 postseason games combined with a .308 batting average, 111 runs scored, 200 hits, 32 doubles, 20 home runs, and 61 RBI—impressive, to say the least.

It’s no surprise that his rookie cards are worth an absolute fortune. Jeter is a marvel of the baseball world, with a Hall of Fame induction in 2020, five World Series titles, five Golden Gloves, and five Silver Slugger awards, plus a Rookie of the Year title and the World Series MVP Awards in 2000.

With a load of other records, accolades, and awards, Derek's career is something special.

Derek Jeter is a living legend, and some of his rookie cards have become highly coveted by collectors. A common theme among his most popular cards is that they tend to have a low production run, and the chances of finding a pristine-grade example are even slimmer.

There is no doubt that the staggering rarity of these cards is what turns heads and drives up their value. As they say, great things come in small packages, and his rookie cards are certainly no exception.

1. 1993 Premier Prospects Derek Jeter Foil #279 SP

• Price Range: $62 to $360,000
• Highest Sale Price: $600,000
• PSA Graded Supply: 21,152
• Type: Rookie card

Derek Jeter is a Hall of Famer who had a 20-year career with the New York Yankees, becoming the team's all-time hits leader. This rookie card is one of the most valuable Upper Deck baseball cards of the Junk Wax Era. It comes with a foil finish and attractive designs, featuring clean lines, razor-sharp corners, and a blemish-free surface.

The 1993 SP Foil Derek Jeter (#279) is a true modern-day treasure. Its exquisite design, combined with its ties to one of the greatest players of all time, has made it one of the world's most valuable and sought-after rookie cards.

Only 21,152 Upper Deck SP Jeter rookie cards have been graded so far, with just 21 of them being PSA 10s—that's a mere 0.1% of the total population.

It's no wonder that this iconic card is selling for over a quarter of a million dollars in PSA 10 cases. The earliest recorded sale was in July 1992 for $356, and the maximum amount ever paid for one is an astonishing $600,000 on Goldin Auctions. Derek Jeter's 1993 SP Foil Rookie (#279) is a legend in its own right and a must-have for any serious collector.

2. 1993 Upper Deck Derek Jeter #449 Gold Hologram

• Price Range: $83 to $7,700
• Highest Sale Price: $15,500
• PSA Graded supply: 320
• Type: Gold Hologram

The 1993 Upper Deck Gold Hologram set featuring baseball legend Derek Jeter is a highly sought-after collector's item. It features an image of the future Hall of Famer in the middle of catching a pop-fly, complete with the Upper Deck logo in the top left corner, a chain-link fence, trees, and the “Top Prospect” mark on the bottom right-hand side.

This iconic card is so popular that PSA has graded 320 of them, with 46 of them receiving the coveted PSA 10 rating. This has high-grade examples of this card to increase in value, with PSA 10-rated cards currently selling for up to $15,000. PSA-9 examples of the card have also increased in value, commanding up to $3,000 and above. Even the lower-grade PSA 8s can sell for considerably less, now ranging from $150 to $1,000.

For those looking for a more affordable option, the 1993 Upper Deck Gold Hologram Set featuring Derek Jeter is a great choice. You can find PSA 7 examples of the card available for as low as $200—an amount that won't break the bank but will still get you a piece of history.

3. 1992 Front Row Derek Jeter Draft Pick Gold #55

• Price Range: $83 to $4,500
• Highest Sale Price: $7,000 
• PSA Graded Supply: 247
• Type: Front Row Draft Picks Set

The 1992 Front Row Gold Derek Jeter Card #55 is a valuable card for any collector. Not only is it one of the earliest cards, but its style and design makes it a great addition to any collection. With only 246 PSA-graded copies so far, it is one of the rarest cards out there and therefore has become a highly sought-after piece.

The card features a young Derek Jeter in his iconic batting stance, with a gold foil background and the classic Front Row logo. Its thick plastic case and certificate of authenticity make it even more desirable, with just 14 graded PSA-10.

The prices of PSA 9 versions have ranged from $500 to $1300 in the past two years, and PSA 10s have even sold for as much as $7,000. The Front Row set also featured five different versions of this card, including a base, gold foil, silver foil, promotional, and autographed version—a real treat for any Derek Jeter fan.

4. 1993 Topps Gold Derek Jeter RC #98

• Price Range: $33 to 2,500
• Highest Sale Price: $9,100
• PSA Graded Supply: 8,952
• Type: Topps Micro Set

The 1993 Topps Gold Card #98 of the legendary Derek Jeter is an iconic card that has transcended its original purpose to become a symbol of his greatness.

Featuring a white exterior with white striped pants and the logo on Jeter’s jersey, a prestigious-looking Topps Gold logo, and a gold-plated design of the player’s name, it is no wonder why of the nearly 9,000 PSA graded cards, only around 400 earned the coveted PSA 10 grade.

PSA 10s are in high demand—in March 2021, one of these cards sold for $9,100 on eBay. Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins inaugural version of this card (PSA 10) fetched a high of $4,825 in February 2021. Even if you don't have the budget for a PSA 10 Florida Marlins Inaugural Derek Jeter Rookie #98, you can still get your hands on a PSA 7 or lower for under $1,000.

5. 1993 Stadium Club Draft Pick Derek Jeter RC #117

• Price Range: $47 to $800
• Highest Sale Price: $2,583 
• PSA Graded Supply: 4,983
• Type: Topps Stadium Club Set

Collectors across the world, including die-hard Yankees fans, absolutely swoon over the 1993 Stadium Club Murphy Derek Jeter Rookie Card #117. This jewel of a baseball card, set within its exclusive series, encapsulates all of the greatness that is the legacy of Derek Jeter. The card has a stunning design, and the story behind it is what really makes it such a valuable commodity.

What’s more, the 1993 Stadium Club Murphy Derek Jeter Rookie Card has some cards which have been given a PSA 10 rating—the highest grade possible. Of the nearly 5,000 cards graded, 947 have earned this prestigious rating, making it a coveted Jeter rookie card on the market.

In a recent sale, a PSA 10 Stadium Club Murphy card sold for $2,583 at auction, and other PSA 10 cards tend to sell for upwards of $800—an absolute steal for any Yankees fan.

6. 1993 Classic Best Greensboro Hornets Derek Jeter #1

• Price Range: $62 to $2,800
• Highest Sale Price: $3,450
• PSA Graded Supply: 100
• Brand: Classic Best 

Are you currently in a Derek Jeter mania frenzy? If so, you can get your hands on a piece of history with Derek Jeter's 1993 Classic Best Greensboro Hornets Minor League Card #1—but it won't come cheap.

This incredibly rare card has only 100 graded cards by the PSA, with only 28 of them achieving the prestigious PSA 10 grade. This means that if you want to add it to your collection, it could cost you anywhere from $60 to an outrageous $2,800. And this number isn't fixed—in 2021, someone actually paid $3,450 for one.

But fear not, if you don't have a small fortune to spend, you can get your hands on a PSA 9 or 10 graded card for around $700 to $1,000. And it's easy to see why it's so sought after. Not only does it feature a great close-up of Jeter, but it's literally at the beginning of the pack at card #1—the position of honor for any baseball fan.

7. 1992 Classic 4 Sport Derek Jeter Gold Minor League Card #231

• Price Range: $19 to $850
• Highest Sale Price: $1,450 
• PSA Graded Supply: 438
• Brand: Classic 4 Sport

Derek Jeter, Shaquille O'Neal, and some other athletes have come together in the 1992 Classic 4 Sport gold collection to make the Derek Jeter Minor League Card #231 one of the world's genuine collector's items. Think you can find it? Think again, there are only 438 PSA-graded versions out there, with 143 PSA-10s.

If you do manage to find one, expect to pay quite a hefty sum. For example, one was sold for as much as $1,450 in the past, and more recently, in February 2023, at an eBay auction, it was sold for a slightly less jaw-dropping sum of $530. Either way, it looks like if you want to get your hands on one of these golden beauties, you'd better be prepared to spend a pretty penny.

Featuring a snap of Jeter himself in his high school uniform, it's immediately recognizable to most. The design is certainly one of a kind and definitely gives it an added value that only enhances its potential price tag.

Sports cards fanatics and keen collectors shouldn’t wait around—the 1992 Classic 4 Sport Gold Derek Jeter Minor League Card #231 is a high-vaue piece of sports memorabilia you don’t want to strike out on.

8. 1992 Little Sun Derek Jeter HS Prospects #2

• Price Range: $43 to $3,000
• Highest Sale Price: $12,500
• PSA Graded Supply: 1,009
• Brand: Little Sun

If you're a Derek Jeter fan and are lucky enough to own one of the ultra-rare 1992 Little Sun High School Prospects Derek Jeter Prospect Cards #2, you should consider yourself very lucky indeed. 

In fact, with only 1,009 of these cards graded so far, along with a special parallel autographed set consisting of just 250 signed cards per player, you've got your hands on a legendary piece of sports history.

The alluring image of a young Jeter in his Kalamazoo high school uniform, coupled with the card's striking pink and green-print name across a black band at the bottom, is something every baseball collector will proudly display. 

Believe it or not, this amazing find could be worth up to a mouth-watering $12,500 graded PSA 10. Now that's something to write home about.

Derek Jeter rookie cards could be the ticket to unlock some serious moolah. That's right, with a 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter rookie card fetching up to six figures ($600,000 to be exact), it's easy to see why this is considered to be the most valuable Derek Jeter rookie card ever sold.

If you're looking for a surefire good investment, Derek Jeter rookie cards are the way to go—who knows, your purchase just might add enough zeros to your bank account in the future to make a millionaire jealous.