In the lively marketplace of sports memorabilia, a new record was just established, not under the name of baseball royalty like Mike Trout or Babe Ruth, but by Pittsburgh Pirates’ rising star, Paul Skenes. His 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB debut patch autograph card recently sold for a jaw-dropping $1.11 million, a humbling figure when juxtaposed with his 2025 base salary of $875,000. This sale, facilitated by Fanatics Collect, seals Skenes’ card as the priciest modern baseball card not associated with Mike Trout, whose top-performing one-of-one rookie card eclipsed the podium at $3.9 million in August 2020.
The identity of the connoisseur keen enough to splurge such a fortune remains undisclosed, perhaps shrouded in the mystery and allure that accompany the high stakes of collectible investments. Why, you might wonder, did this particular card command such a princely sum? For starters, it is a singular treasure—a one-of-a-kind emblem bearing Skenes’ on-card autograph and a genuine patch from the Pirates uniform he proudly donned during his major league debut. Produced by Topps under MLB’s exclusive trading card license for the 2023 season, the artifact is cherished for its rarity.
Competitive card bids seem ever-commanding in recent times, as the erstwhile high-water mark was set at $150,000 for an Anthony Volpe card during an intimate exchange, with Jackson Holiday’s MLB debut patch autograph card following close behind, raking in $198,000 at a Thursday auction.
Skenes’ celebrity status in the sport, as the National League’s All-Star Game ace, a Cy Young finalist, and the celebrated 2024 Rookie of the Year, further fans the flames of his collector appeal. His magnetic story even captured the heart of an 11-year-old Dodgers fan who, one Christmas, discovered a Skenes redemption card camouflaged amid the festive wrapping. This unexpected windfall propelled a beseechment from the Pirates trying to retrieve this rare artifact: a reward package brimming with 30 years of cherished season tickets, personalized interactions with Skenes himself, signed jerseys, and private tours of PNC Park and spring training grounds. Curiously, Skenes’ social media sensation girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, stepped into the limelight, offering a VIP game experience from her suite in case the card owner chose to meet at a game. Even late-night host Seth Meyers chimed in with a glitzy invitation to merely glimpse the prized card.
Despite the tantalizing offers, the boy’s family opted for the thrill of the auction block. They initiated talks with several auction houses in the early days of January, ultimately forging an agreement with Fanatics Collect. Kevin Lenane, Fanatics’ Marketplace vice president, experienced his own odyssey to Texas, retrieving the card from Topps and safely ushering it to New York, amid vigilant eyes even within the privacy of a commercial flight.
Exhibited like a Mona Lisa of baseball lore at Fanatics’ Super Bowl LIX party, the card quickly became a magnet for enthusiasts. Encased within its protective shell, it drew admirers and whispers—that “a card drew a crowd reminiscent of a prized work of art.” According to Fanatics Collect CEO, Nick Bell, the announcement of the upcoming auction precipitated a flurry of digital inquiries, as fans scrambled to witness this historical moment unfold. Once an admirer of Shohei Ohtani, the 11-year-old fan’s dream future meeting with Skenes edged closer to reality, now orchestrated by Fanatics.
But beyond the glitz and glitter of this high-stakes auction, it’s a heartwarming tale of wise investments. The colossal proceeds are earmarked for the future education of the young cardholder and his brother. A small sliver might homage the family’s nascent passion for collecting, but the lion’s share is poised to undergird their college aspirations. Kevin Lenane echoed this sentiment, underscoring that most proceeds were slated for education, spotlighting a lovely reminder that while baseball cards may hold their own excitement, they also secure dreams beyond diamond fields.
Such was the journey of a card—and a boy—carving their place in the annals of history, with charming resilience and a nod to a future more studied, perhaps, in academics than in athletics. And so, the world spins anew, richer by a story of youthful fortune touched by an icon just embarking on his legacy. As the auction baton returns to the starting line, one can only ponder: What curious tale and its subsequent prices next await the ever-enthusiastic world of card collecting?
