An 11-year-old collector from Southern California, who nabbed a unique baseball card featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates’ star pitcher, decided to reject a trade offer from the MLB franchise.
The card was featured in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set. On Friday, the trading card and collectible manufacturer confirmed that the collector had “chosen to submit the card to the auction with @FanaticsCollect,” Topps wrote in an Instagram post.
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Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws out a pitch against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 17, 2024 in Chicago.
The Pirates offered a package of perks in exchange for the card. A pair of premium Pirates season tickets spanning three decades, a chance to play a softball game on the field, a meet and greet with Skenes and autographed jerseys were among the team’s offerings.
Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne on the set of ESPN “College Gameday” at the LSU Quad on November 9, 2024 in Baton Rouge.
While the collector wrote in a journal entry shared by Topps that nabbing the card was a “dream come true,” that dream apparently didn’t include spending time over the next 30 years attending games at PNC Park.
The Pirates admitted they were “disheartened” after learning of the collector’s decision, but offered to have the fan at a game sometime during the 2025 season.
(Charles Leclaire/USA Today Sports)
“Well…we’re bummed we won’t see you behind Home Plate for 30 seasons. But we’d still love to take you to Pittsburgh for a special day at PNC Park this season,” the team posted on X.
Fanatics Collect, which will handle the auction of the card in March, said it will donate its proceeds from the sale to relief funds in the Los Angeles area.
Skenes delivered a season to remember in 2024, finishing 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. Before winning the National League Rookie of the Year award, he was named to the MLB All-Star team. Skenes was the top pick in the 2023 MLB draft and made his big league debut in May 2024.
Rookies have worn MLB debut patches on their jerseys since 2023. Topps acquired the patches and created the unique cards. The card could be worth quite a bit considering the potentially bright future for the 22-year-old, who finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting.
Skenes said over the weekend that he hasn’t thought about the potential of signing a long-term contract to remain with the Pirates, saying instead his focus is on helping the Pirates take a step toward contention in 2025. He is eligible for free agency later. the 2029 season.
