Derek Jeter Reveals Why He's 'Still Not Happy' with the First Trading Card He Ever Appeared on (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Derek Jeter on Aug. 16, 2024.Photo:Roy Rochlin/Getty

Roy Rochlin/Getty

Derek Jeteris looking back on the first time he ever appeared on a trading card — and why he’s “still not happy” about it to this day.

While speaking to PEOPLE about the launch of theArena Club, an online marketplace revolutionizing the sports card industry that he co-created with Brian Lee, the founder of LegalZoom and The Honest Company, the 50-year-old baseball legend says it came down to one thing: the photo.

“I didn’t like the picture. I was in my high school uniform and I didn’t like the picture,” Jeter says, while noting that doesn’t “want to put any shade on a particular card company, but I was not happy with the photo.”

He adds, “I’m still not happy if I see it.” The retired New York Yankees star then reveals that “there’s nothing I could do,” before recalling how he wanted to show his friends, “Look I’m on a card. But then you’re like, ‘No, no.’ "

While there’s not much he can do about the past, Jeter is looking forward to the future — and revolutionizing the sports trading card world.

“What really hits home with me is my parents used to always collect my first baseball cards and memorabilia. And we had a flood in our house in Michigan, and a lot of it got ruined,” Jeter recalls to PEOPLE while promoting his new company, which promises to advance the sports trading card market through improved authentication, trustworthiness and security as well as offering physically availableSlab Packs.

“My parents would just save them for me,” he continues, explaining that his family housed a collection of extra trading cards he appeared on over the years before the flood. “And we just lost a lot.”

Jeter says that after reconnecting with Lee about the Arena Club and thinking back on his own family’s loss, “I thought it was an unbelievable idea.”

Derek Jeter on Aug. 16, 2024.Roy Rochlin/Getty

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On Friday, Jeter also appeared on the “Character Counts” panel with fellow retired baseball legendDavid Ortiz.

Also appearing at the sporting event and participating in panels are NBA stars and Olympic gold medalists Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards, as well as former NFL quarterbacksTom Brady, whoteamed up with Make-A-Wishto meet a young fan, and Eli Manning.

source: people.com