Pirate treasure: Kid finds phenom Paul Skenes’ rookie baseball card

An 11-year-old baseball card collector from Los Angeles has made the find of a lifetime. The “2024 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Debut Patch,” a one-of-one autographed card featuring Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes, is his.

Card maker Topps announced the find in a social media post on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with the bold headline “Found.”

The company later added that the child only opened one of their “Hobby boxes” –– which includes 96 cards –– when he found the coveted gem. The saga has since been playing out on the internet. Everyone, it seems, wants the potentially priceless card.

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The collectible commemorates one of the greatest seasons ever by a Pittsburgh Pirates rookie. Skenes went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, winning National League Rookie of the Year and finishing third for the Cy Young Award. Collectors have searched for it since the Topps released the box set in November.

The Pirates have offered a bonanza of treats and perks to the lucky 11-year-old. They include season tickets behind home plate for the next 30 years, a pair of autographed jerseys from Skenes, and a meet and greet with the player himself, just to name a few of the trade pieces.

An 11-year-old collector just pulled the Paul Skenes 1/1 Debut Patch card!

Our offer still stands… you know where to find us 🤝😏 https://t.co/jhY20ODzWa pic.twitter.com/kpdT6u99Sc

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) January 21, 2025

Skenes’ girlfriend, former collegiate gymnast and now influencer, Livvy Dunne, upped the offer with a seat in her suite at PNC Park during a Pirates game this season if they take the deal.

Let's raise the stakes…the person who finds the card can sit with me at a Pirates game in my suite https://t.co/WZTk5SxHW5

— Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) November 15, 2024

However, none of those offers may be big enough to move the needle. The Skenes rookie card could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the near future.

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Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero’s 2024 card was sold in December for $66,000. New York Yankees star Anthony Volpe’s 2023 card also sold in July for $150,000. Neither of those players has come close to what Skenes has already accomplished in the big leagues after one season.