In a twist that has both baseball aficionados and card collectors aflutter, an 11-year-old from Los Angeles has struck gold—or more accurately, cardboard gold. The youngster is poised to make a windfall from a one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card, which is currently enjoying a spirited bidding war. The card’s value is climbing towards a realm that is almost absurd when compared to the multifaceted skill set of Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes himself.
As of the latest tally on Wednesday evening at Fanatics Collect auction, the card had dazzled its way to $550,000. This mint-condition gem is worth cherishing not just for its links to the pitching phenom but also due to its unique features—bearing a patch directly from Skenes’ debut jersey and his illustrious scrawl. If you factor in the auction house’s buyer’s premium, this cardboard relic could command around $660,000 by the time the auction ends on March 20th.
Now, take a gander at Skenes’ base salary for 2025: a modest $800,000—certainly not pocket change for any stalwart on the mound. Nevertheless, for this little collector, who pulled the proverbial rabbit out of a hat, the cardboard wizardry could potentially eclipse the salary of the very athlete it immortalizes. It’s the sort of story that makes you want to grab a shovel and start digging through your own forgotten baseball card collection gathering dust in the attic.
In terms of collectible hierarchy, this isn’t just another piece of memorabilia—it’s setting unprecedented benchmarks for Skenes’ collectibles. Before this, the upper echelon of Skenes’ card sales was marked by a one-of-one 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect Superfractor, which fetched a handsome $123,200 last September. This Debut Patch card, however, is already dancing circles around that record with enthusiastic days still awaiting at the finish line.
Comparing it to the titans of the trading card industry further sheds light on its remarkable ascent. According to Card Ladder’s database, a mere half-dozen cards in 2024 have sliced past the current bid on the Skenes card. Consider these stalwarts:
1. Babe Ruth’s 1916 rookie card, which towered to $1.37 million.
2. LeBron James’ illustriously framed 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite RPA at $1.2 million.
3. Roberto Clemente’s storied 1955 Topps PSA 9, which pegged $1 million.
4. Victor Wembanyama’s 2023 Prizm Nebula 1/1 blazing at $860,100.
5. Allen Iverson’s 1997 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now at $701,500.
6. Kobe Bryant’s equally revered 1997 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now at $579,500.
Against this backdrop, Skenes’ card has already trounced the previous record for Shohei Ohtani, whose Bowman Chrome Rookie Autograph hit a ceiling at $533,140. One can’t help but wonder if, by the closing gavel, Skenes will be residing in the same lofty collecting sanctum as Mickey Mantle and Honus Wagner.
Now, to the million-dollar question on every collector’s mind: just how high will this skyrocket go? This one isn’t purely about Paul’s fastball prowess—a perfect confluence of factors is creating waves.
First, Skenes himself: Already stamped as an NL Rookie of the Year and All-Star, he is casting a long shadow in the sport. Add to this mix the clandestine allure of the youthful seller, whose anonymity shrouds the whole event in an aura of intrigue. Who wouldn’t want to root for the kid-turned-mystery of the auction?
Second, there’s the charming Livvy Dunne, Skenes’ girlfriend and a dazzling beacon of NIL stardom, bringing a more mainstream spotlight to the proceedings. Her involvement throws another delightful twist into the tale.
Whether or not the bidding cascade eventually swells beyond the $660,000 mark doesn’t really matter. This Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card has already rewritten the rules for contemporary sports memorabilia, and the effect it’s having on both trades and tales within the community is simply priceless.
For one young Angeleno, this bid is certainly the most serendipitous financial flex the baseball card world has seen—in tandem with the burgeoning market of sports collectibles where a piece of memorabilia can transcend the object of its homage.
As the clock ticks towards the climactic outcome, you can bet your last stick of gum that the air is charged with anticipation, and perhaps, somewhere in a cozy corner of Los Angeles, a child glances at the priceless piece of history and smiles, basking in the unexpected thrill of discovery.
