When Derek Jeter hung his cleats back in 2014, he didn’t sit idle and enjoy retirement—he stepped into an entirely new game. From launching The Players Tribune, a media platform sounding the athletic voices to becoming the co-owner of the Miami Marlins—he has worn many hats. But there is one venture out of all his ventures that’s close to his heart — Arena Club.

Captain Clutch has always been passionate about collecting cards and he had his prized possession, too. Unfortunately, though, because of a flood back at his home in Michigan—nothing survived. “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up”,  as Vince Lombardi once said, and Jeter did just that. That loss sparked the idea of Arena Club—the online platform where collectors can buy, sell, and trade their cads in a secure digital showroom. There are a plethora of prized Derek Jeter cards, but there is an elusive card out there that Jeter hopes to find someday—the card capturing his first steps into New York Yankee Stadium.

The one card Derek Jeter wishes he had!

When Geoff Wilson, founder of Sports Card Investor—a top platform for trading card enthusiasts—recently spoke with Derek Jeter, he asked which moment from Jeter’s career he wished he had a card of. His answer? The moment he first stepped into Yankee Stadium! Despite the countless memorable moments, he pointed to that very first time in the stadium, such is his love for the Yanks. 

Derek Jeter admitted that the moment was a total blur for him. “I don’t remember,” he said. But even though he’s forgotten, fans haven’t forgotten that iconic day. It was June 2, 1995, when he stepped into the old Yankee stadium. Then the day had 16,959 fans in attendance and fast forward to 2008, as he gave his farewell speech to the old ballpark, there were 53000 in attendance — a testament to his impact. 

Jeter helped the Yankees to five championships, and he has an impressive 3,316 hits. But his impact goes more than just his number! In a world marred by taunts, controversies, and team changes–Jeter remained a steadfast hero. He never let his fans down and remained true to his team till the end. But even though this moment is one of the most special for him, it’s interesting to know that performance-wise, it wasn’t his best!

When Derek Jeter first arrived, he didn’t exactly shout “Hall of Famer.”

Bill Evers will never forget the day he gave life-changing news to Derek Jeter—he was asked to inform Jeter about his jump into the big leagues. Even though the task was temporary, it was a big break. Jeter was called to fill in for Tony Fernandez because he was injured. “I made him aware that he was going up there for the time that Tony was hurt, and when Tony was able to come back, he was going to come back to me,” the manager of the Columbus Clippers, the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate recalled. Jeter was excited but knew this was just a temporary chance to prove himself, but his start was not spectacular.

When Jeter stepped into the big league for the very first time, facing the Seattle Mariners—it was a tough one. The 5x champion faced starter Rafael Carmona and had a fly-out, a groundout, and a line-out in his first three at-bats. When the game tied in the 11th inning, Jeter had a chance to make an impact, but he got struck out against Dave Fleming. The Yankees lost 8-7 in 12 innings, and Jeter finished his debut 0-for-5. But as they say, the sun always rises. So, despite the rocky start, he didn’t give up hope.

Jeter was back the next night, and he got his first hit after an 0-for-6 start, finishing the game 2-for-3 with a walk. His first win came on June 4, when the Yankees broke a five-game losing streak against the Angels. Well, Derek Jeter’s first time at the game might not have screamed “Hall of Famer” — the team believed in him, and Jeter himself didn’t give up. And went on to become the face of the team, the Yankees ‘captain clutch’!

What’s the most memorable performance or moment of Derek Jeter’s career that stands out to you? Share your thoughts below.