An 11-year-old collector in Los Angeles has recently acquired a unique baseball card featuring Paul Skenes, the National League Rookie of the Year. Topps announced on Tuesday that the card, which includes Skenes’ autograph and a patch from a game-worn jersey, had been found.
Now, the excitement shifts to determining the value of the card on the open market. The collector may receive a large return if they choose to trade it to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team has proposed a package that includes 30 years’ worth of season tickets behind home plate at PNC Park in exchange for the card.
Livvy Dunne, Skenes’ girlfriend and LSU gymnast, is offering the card’s owner the chance to enjoy a game in a luxury suite at the stadium during one of Skenes’ starts.
The card could also hold significant value elsewhere, considering Skenes’ promising future. The 22-year-old pitcher finished third in the NL Cy Young Award voting after an outstanding rookie season in 2024.
Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft, made his major league debut in May and delivered one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in recent years. He was selected to start in the All-Star Game after just 11 starts and ended the season with an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA in 23 games.
Over the weekend, Skenes mentioned that he has not considered signing a long-term contract to stay with the Pirates. Instead, his focus remains on helping the team contend in 2025.
