Derek Jeter

His first mainstream licensed card, from Upper Deck's first-ever minor league product, a year before his celebrated 1993 rookie class. A draft-pick prospect issue that predates every one of his more famous rookie cards.

A hand-signed version of the same 1992 Little Sun prospect card, distributed roughly one to every three factory sets for an estimated 250 signed copies. Some price guides call this his first pack-issued autograph; this set credits 1994 Signature Rookies instead since Little Sun was inserted into pre-assembled factory sets rather than randomized retail packs, but the dating is genuinely disputed among collectors.

His consensus rookie card and one of the most recognized RCs of the 1990s, a foil parallel base card from Upper Deck's premium SP brand. High-grade copies are extraordinarily scarce, with PSA 10s selling for well into six figures.

His first officially pack-pulled autograph, an on-card signature from the 1994 Signature Rookies base set, hand-numbered to 8,650. The product was the first in the hobby to guarantee a certified autograph in every pack. Unlicensed, with no MLB team logos.

His rarest and most valuable insert, a Mirror Gold parallel with an announced production of just 30 copies. Widely cited as the most expensive 1990s baseball insert ever sold, with one copy trading for $288,000.

His flagship Topps rookie card, from Series 1 of the 1993 set. The mainstream, most widely available of his rookie-year cards and a cornerstone of any Jeter collection.

His first serial-numbered card, a mail-in redemption prospect card from 1994 Signature Rookies limited to 3,000 copies. An early example of print-run scarcity, four years before serial numbering became standard across the hobby.

His Upper Deck rookie card, from the brand that helped define premium 1990s baseball card design. One of the four widely collected 1993 Jeter rookies alongside SP, Topps, and Bowman.

His scarcest mainstream rookie card, a hobby-exclusive issue from the Topps Stadium Club Jack Murphy Stadium factory set, limited to 8,000 cases. Often called the second most important Jeter RC after the 1993 SP, and tougher to find than any of his other rookies due to its factory-set-only distribution.

An unlicensed prospect card from a small independent 1992 set spotlighting top high school draft picks, limited to 3,000 unsigned copies. One of his scarcest pre-rookie issues, released the same year the Yankees drafted him.

His first memorabilia card, a game-worn jersey swatch relic from 2000 Upper Deck. Card number DJ, with a signed jumbo version also produced in the same release.

The print-to-order card marking his number retirement ceremony at Yankee Stadium on May 14, 2017. Topps Now did not exist during his playing career, making this his first and only on-demand card, numbered to 7,791.