Derek Jeter is “back on Topps.”
The company announced Tuesday that the future Hall of Famer has agreed to a multi-year autograph contract to sign baseball cards for upcoming products. Jeter hasn’t had autographed cards in Topps packs since the early 2000s.
Randomly inserted Jeter signed cards will appear in 2016 Topps Dynasty and 2016 Topps Transcendent Baseball, both due out later this year. He will also be featured in 2017 Topps products, starting with 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1, available February 1, 2017, and Tribute Baseball.
“Adding Derek Jeter autographs to our trading card products will be thrilling for collectors,” said David Leiner, Vice President and General Manager of North American Sports & Entertainment at Topps. “He is one of the most prolific and well-known players of our time, and his addition is one collectors will be clamoring for.”
While signed Jeter cards were absent from Topps for a lengthy stretch, he signed plenty of cards over the first several years of his career, including Upper Deck brands. In 2010, Beckett estimated Jeter had signed somewhere around 60,000 trading cards for various products. Like other Yankee greats though, demand is high and Jeter autographs offered on sites like eBay sell at strong prices. The large number of Yankee and Jeter collectors means many pulled from packs never see the open market.
Jeter has had an exclusive signed memorabilia deal with Steiner Sports for many years.
Topps is tying its digital platform into the return of the former Yankee captain’s signature. Fans accessing the Topps BUNT digital trading card app this week will receive an exclusive digital version of Jeter’s 1993 Topps rookie card. Exclusive new digital designs featuring Jeter will debut in Topps BUNT starting Friday, November 25.
Jeter finished his long career in 2014, with 3,465 hits, five World Series titles and a collection of awards that includes the 1996 A.L. Rookie of the Year and 2000 World Series MVP.
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