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Paul Skenes had an incredible rookie season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024.
As a result, there’s a one-of-a-kind rookie trading card produced by Topps that is in high demand. The card features Skenes’ autograph and a piece of one of his game-worn jerseys. The card was recently found in Los Angeles by an 11-year-old collector and the young fan was offered a huge package in exchange for the card.
The Pirates reportedly offered season tickets behind home plate for the next 30 seasons, signed merchandise from Skenes, and the chance to watch a game in an exclusive suite with Olivia Dunne, social media star and girlfriend of Skenes.
It was an offer that any baseball fan would be hard-pressed to pass on, but the young fan declined the team’s offer and opted to instead take the card to auction.
Fanatics Collect will hold the auction and the event will take place in March. Fanatics has announced that all of the company’s proceeds from this auction will be donated to help victims of the Los Angeles-area wildfires. The card’s estimated value is thought to be in the 6 figures.
It’s understandable why the fan would sell the card. Living in Los Angeles means the season ticket offer from the team is impractical, and 6 figures is a life-changing amount of money.
The card’s worth is indicative of Skenes’ special season. The LSU product earned an All-Star nod, a spot on the All-MLB First Team, and the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Skenes finished the season with a 1.96 ERA, 0.947 WHIP, and an 11-3 record.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
