SGC Grades Fake Derek Jeter 1994 Signature Rookies Auto

Blowout Forums user superdan49 recently discovered that SGC graded a fake Derek Jeter 1994 Signature Rookies Auto.

According to the fake card’s SGC certification #7701181 it was graded in September 2022.

Comparing the fake card to an authentic example you can clearly see the major differences in the signature.

As of this writing the fake card is up for sale on eBay with bids.

This isn’t the first time one of the major grading companies has let a fake card slip past them. It has happened many times before. Not too long ago BGS graded a fake 1990 Topps Frank Thomas No Name On Front Error.

Fake

Authentic

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Fidel Castro and Derek Jeter Keep The Little Sun Card Company Relevant

At one time there was a small card company located in Monrovia, CA called Little Sun.  They pumped out mainly baseball card sets between 1988 and 1992.  Along with Upper Deck, Little Sun is one of the first manufacturers to include randomly inserted autographs within their products.  The first Little Sun autographed cards can be found in their 1991 High School Prospects set.  Shawn Estes, Cliff Floyd, Benji Gil, and Al Shirley all have autographs in there.  Each one is limited to (500) copies.  Of all the sets they issued, their final one gets the most attention.  The 1992 High School Prospects set not only includes a Derek Jeter base card, but an autograph as well.  An unsigned Proof also exists.  Those three Derek Jeter cards are highly sought after.  Collectors are willing to spend big money for them.  Other autographs include Jason Kendall, Dave Landaker, and Chad Roper.  Each of these autographs has a (250) copy print run.  You could say that Little Sun went out with a bang with this set.  Derek Jeter is pretty much the only thing keeping the Little Sun name relevant these days.

Early on in Little Sun’s card making career, they came out with a minor league product.  The set is called 1988 Little Sun Minor League Legends.  It only features (11) cards – Checklist #1, Pete Gray #2, Ike Boone #3, Lou Novikoff #4, Luke Easter #5, Steve Bilko #6, Frank Shellenback #7, Smead Jolley #8, Jigger Statz #9, Joe Hauser #10, and Fidel Castro #11.  Yes.  You read that correctly.  Former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has a card in here.  Castro was a great athlete who enjoyed playing baseball.  The Washington Senators once held tryouts for Cuban players, but he wasn’t offered a contract.  After he came to power, Castro would occasionally pitch an exhibition game for the Barbudos.  Despite the opposing team always hitting strongly against him, nobody would dare pull Fidel Castro from the game.  Over the years, Castro has popped-up in various products.  Topps even made a few cut signatures of him.  While attending the 2016 National, Iconic Auctions had a Fidel Castro signed baseball on display.

Like most of Little Sun’s sets, this one doesn’t hold much value.  You can easily find the cards for dirt cheap.  I like the artwork.  It reminds me of those Diamond Stars cards from the 1930’s.  National Chicle also comes to mind.  Artist Michael Guccione did all of the artwork for these cards.

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Flashback Product of the Week: 2001 Skippy Derek Jeter

Not familiar with CyberAction?  I’m betting most collectors don’t remember this company given it’s short lifespan.  You may also know them as Digibles.  They changed their name a few times.  CyberAction was truly ahead of it’s time releasing what is believed to be the first digital trading cards.  This is long before any of the digital trading card apps that Topps has come out with.  They originally started with entertainment properties like Marvel, Star Trek, and Xena: Warrior Princess, but eventually found their way to Major League Baseball.

Compared to the digital cards of today, CyberAction’s products look quite primitive.  You have to remember that this was a time before smartphones.  CyberAction sold CD-Rom discs that had digital cards on them.  Once you inserted the disc into your computer, installed the software, you were ready to go.  The cards on the disc could virtually be flipped and interacted with.  All kinds of videos, stats, bios, and trivia were included.  If you had the internet, even more digital cards could be found on their website.

Digital collectibles are becoming much more popular in today’s hobby.  I don’t think they will ever replace something you can physically hold though.  When CyberAction was around (1997-2001), I think it was just too early for digital cards.  Its only something that has been getting attention over the last few years.

The only physical cards that CyberAction made were ones used for promotional purposes.  If you were making a peanut butter sandwich in 2001, the odds are pretty good you came across these discs.  CyberAction and Skippy teamed-up to bring collectors this 4-disc set featuring Derek Jeter.  You can easily find all four discs.  Sometimes they’ll even be attached to the lid.  It wasn’t long after when CyberAction folded.  But look on the bright side, Skippy is still around.

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