Paul Skenes’ highly coveted MLB Debut Patch autographed card recently made headlines after selling for an astonishing $1.11 million at auction. The card, which features a patch from his first Major League start and a pristine PSA 10 grade, has become one of the most valuable modern baseball cards ever sold. The winning bid came from Dick’s Sporting Goods, which plans to publicly display the card in its Pittsburgh store.
An Unbelievable Christmas Surprise
The story behind the card is just as remarkable as the sale itself. An 11-year-old boy from Los Angeles pulled the rare Skenes card from a pack of 2024 Topps Chrome Update baseball cards on Christmas morning. In an unexpected twist, he ended up making more money from the card’s sale than Skenes will earn in his 2025 MLB salary.
While the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star pitcher and reigning National League Rookie of the Year is set to make $875,000 this season, the young collector secured $925,000 from the sale. Meanwhile, Fanatics Collect, which hosted the auction, pledged to donate their portion of the proceeds to the Los Angeles Fire Department and Red Cross to aid wildfire recovery efforts in Southern California.
A Historic Sale in the World of Sports Memorabilia
The Skenes MLB Debut Patch card now holds a record price nearly 10 times higher than the most expensive sale of any of his previous cards. Prior to this, the highest sale was his 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect autographed Superfractor card, which fetched $123,200 in September 2024. However, that card lacked the game-worn patch that made the Debut Patch card so special.
According to Card Ladder’s database, which tracks trading card sales, only two cards have sold for more than the Skenes card in 2025:
- $1.37 million – 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Babe Ruth rookie (PSA 7)
- $1.2 million – 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James rookie patch autograph (Beckett 8.5)
Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Vision for the Card
Ed Stack, Executive Chairman of Dick’s Sporting Goods, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating:
“Acquiring the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card enables us to celebrate his incredible talent while giving fans a unique opportunity to experience a piece of baseball history up close.”
Dick’s plans to display the card in Ross Park House of Sport in Pittsburgh, within a new collectors’ space dedicated to trading cards and memorabilia. The company aims to expand these specialty shops to select stores nationwide by Spring 2025.
The Rise of Paul Skenes in Collecting Circles
Despite being a pitcher, traditionally less valued in trading card markets, Skenes has become one of the most sought-after names in sports memorabilia. In late 2024, he was among the most searched athletes on eBay, and his cards were the second most graded by PSA, trailing only Shohei Ohtani.
A Bidding War That Even the Pirates Wanted In
The Pittsburgh Pirates themselves made a strong push to acquire the card. They offered:
- Two season tickets behind home plate for 30 years
- Exclusive team experiences and memorabilia
- A VIP game experience with Skenes’ girlfriend, Livvy Dunne (social media influencer & LSU gymnast)
However, the young collector and his family opted to auction the card through Fanatics Collect instead.
The sale of Paul Skenes’ MLB Debut Patch card has set a new benchmark in sports memorabilia, proving that modern-era baseball cards can command seven-figure prices. With the card now in the hands of Dick’s Sporting Goods, it will serve as a symbol of both sports history and the growing impact of collectibles in mainstream culture.
