Image source: Fanatics
When an 11-year-old collector unearthed the Paul Skenes MLB Rookie Debut one-of-a-kind baseball card, speculation about the card’s future quickly ran rampant. That answer came quickly when the card went up for auction with Fanatics.
Initially, there was speculation that the bounty offered by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Olivia Dunne, and others would come to fruition. Still, the collector and his family chose the auction block and made bank, to say the least. The auction closed on March 20, 2025, with a final purchase price of $1.11 million.
As many pointed out quickly on social media, the card sold for more than Skenes’ rookie-year salary of $825,000.
Speculation on the winning bidder soon ended, with a press release announcement that a DICK’S Sporting Goods location in Pittsburgh took home the coveted card.
“DICK’S is passionate about bringing fans closer to the game,” said Ed Stack, Executive Chairman, DICK’S, in a press release. “Acquiring the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card enables us to celebrate his incredible talent while giving our athletes a unique opportunity to experience a piece of baseball history up close. We’re thrilled to bring this special card home and display it in our Pittsburgh House of Sport store, where it can inspire the next generation of athletes and collectors.”
As previously announced by Fanatics Collect, the company’s portion of the auction will go to fire relief funds in Los Angeles.
Several other cards from the Topps Debut have yet to appear on the secondary market. The program will continue for the 2025 Major League Baseball season.
Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer. He has written for Beckett, Go GTS, Canadian Sports Collector, and several other hobby outlets over his two decades in the hobby. His experience also includes two books on sports cards and memorabilia. Connect with Jon on Twitter at @jonwaldman.
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