In 1997, Fleer/SkyBox released E-X2000 – an experimental product that utilized a plastic stock, intricate layering, and die-cutting. That set proved popular with collectors, but many have a greater attachment to the second release of the popular premium brand. For the 100-card follow-up series, 1998 E-X2001, the company put a new twist on the Credentials parallel, utilizing a new plastic stock, unique serial numbering, and two tiers that offered more scarcity.
The 1998 Essential Credentials Future parallel features a pink color scheme on each card, and the serial numbering runs in inverse order of card numbers (e.g., Jeter’s card #7 is /94).
Essential Credentials are one of the biggest highlights from one of the busiest baseball card production years ever. In 1998, Fleer/SkyBox, Topps, Upper Deck, Pacific, and Pinnacle Brands (Pinnacle, Score, Donruss, and Leaf) combined to produce 57 mainstream baseball sets (an increase of 15 products compared to 1997. Yet, few printings have had the lasting impact and enduring appeal of Essential Credentials parallels such as this BGS 9.5 Jeter. None have been graded higher by the service.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 11/05/24.
