Before the five championships and the Cooperstown plaque, Derek Jeter was simply a 21-year-old shortstop earning the Yankees' starting job. His .314 average in 1996 earned him a unanimous American League Rookie of the Year Award and helped end an 18-year title drought for the Bronx Bombers. This autographed baseball is hand-signed by Jeter and inscribed "96 AL ROY," connecting the piece directly to the rookie season that launched a Hall of Fame career in pinstripes.