Earlier this week, a young collector pulled a coveted autographed MLB debut patch card of Pittsburgh Pirates’ star pitcher Paul Skenes from the market. The 11-year-old collector from Southern California, who made the purchase, decided to turn down a trade offer from the MLB franchise.
The trading card and collectible manufacturer, Topps, announced on Friday that the collector had chosen to send the card to auction with Fanatics Collect instead. The Pirates, in an attempt to get the card back, offered a package of perks, including a pair of premium season tickets for the next three decades, an opportunity to play a softball game on the field, and a meet and greet with Skenes. Skenes’ girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, also offered an incentive, stating that the owner of the card can sit with her at a Pirates game in her suite.
Although the collector wrote about feeling like a “kid in a candy store” upon receiving the card, they decided that the prospect of attending 30 years of Pirates games was not enough to part with the card. The Pirates were “bummed” by the decision but offered to have the fan at a game sometime in 2025. Fanatics Collect will be handling the auction, with proceeds going to fire relief funds in the Los Angeles area.
The card, which is part of the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set, is highly valuable due to the potentially bright future ahead for Skenes, who finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2024. Skenes himself has not given any thought to signing a long-term contract with the Pirates, instead prioritizing helping the team take a step towards contending in 2025. He is eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.