Over the course of the 2024 MLB season, rookie sensation Paul Skenes took the league by storm. His ability to top 100 mph and strike out batters with ease captivated fans in Pittsburgh and across the world.
Along with Skenes’ big league debut came the release of his collectible baseball cards. Every collector wanted to get their hands on a Skenes rookie card given the promising start to his young career.
While there are likely thousands of Skenes cards in circulation, one card reigned supreme over the rest. Back in November, Topps, a top manufacturer of baseball cards, announced that they were releasing a one-of-one Skenes card.
This announcement sent collectors into a frenzy, all ripping packs in an effort to find the card. After just over two months, the card has been uncovered. Here’s everything you need to know about the card and the rewards that will come for the lucky collector who found it.
Paul Skenes rookie card search, explained
On Nov. 11, 2024, Topps announced that they were releasing a one-of-one Skenes rookie card that would be put into circulation on Nov. 13.
πππ₯π¦π§ ππ’π’π: The Paul Skenes 1/1 Rookie Debut Patch Autograph is officially hereβ¦
This card can be found in one lucky pack of 2024 Topps Chrome Update, releasing November 13. pic.twitter.com/uwTaUWaenh
β Topps (@Topps) November 10, 2024
The allure of this card has nothing to do with Skenes’ autograph. The card features the physical debut patch that Skenes wore on his jersey during his first big-league start.
Given the skyrocketing trajectory of Skenes’ career, having a piece of memorabilia from his MLB debut is incredibly valuable to collectors.
Outside of the value to collectors, the card certainly means a whole lot to Skenes and the Pirates organization as a whole. In hopes of getting the card back to Pittsburgh, the Pirates offered a rather massive bounty for the card to be returned.
To the lucky person who finds this card β¦ Weβd love to bring this card home to PNC Park to share with all Buccos fans.
Hereβs our offer: https://t.co/qSDgZg3C8p pic.twitter.com/efNGhjidQ4
β Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) November 15, 2024
30 years of tickets behind home plate, a meet ‘n’ greet with Skenes, autographed jerseys, and more await the person who finds the card … if they give it to the Pirates.
Skenes’ girlfriend, social media influencer Livvy Dunne, sweetened the deal as well. On top of the Pirates’ reward, she offered up a chance to watch a game with her in her personal suite at PNC Park.
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
β Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) November 15, 2024
Altogether, it’s going to be pretty hard to turn down the deal from the organization and Dunne.Β
Who found the Paul Skenes rookie card?
On Jan. 21, 2025, Topps announced that the Skenes rookie card had been found. It was uncovered in Los Angeles, Calif. by an 11-year-old card collector.
ππππππππ: The Paul Skenes 1/1 Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card has been pulled by an 11-year-old collector from Los Angeles, CA. pic.twitter.com/tYZe5KuqM2
β Topps (@Topps) January 21, 2025
As of now, there isn’t much information on the youngster who found the card or what they’ll do with it, but this will almost certainly be the biggest decision he or she will have made in their young life.
The collector will be able to hold onto the card, return it to the Pirates for a myriad of rewards or send it to auction, where the card is rumored to be valued upwards of one million dollars.
