In an extraordinarily serendipitous twist of holiday fate, an 11-year-old Dodgers enthusiast from Los Angeles received a Christmas gift last December that would incite a fever of excitement across the sports-collecting universe. Nestled in that innocent wrapper was a redemption card that has since fetched a jaw-dropping $1.11 million at auction. This unassuming present was none other than Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes’ 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB debut patch autograph card, setting a new benchmark for modern baseball card sales—second only to the likes of Mike Trout.
With a halo of collector’s delight surrounding it, this one-of-a-kind card differentiates itself with an authentic on-card autograph and a piece of Skenes’ Pirates uniform patch donned during his major league debut. Conceived under Major League Baseball’s exclusive trading card agreement for 2023, this gem was curated by Topps, rapidly escalating Skenes’ memorabilia to stratospheric acclaim. Previously, comparably high sales were a distant feat, with Anthony Volpe’s card maxing out at $150,000 in a hushed private transaction and Jackson Holiday’s debut fetching a noticeable $198,000.
Skenes, who boasts a résumé holding the titles of National League All-Star Game starting pitcher, Cy Young finalist, and the 2024 Rookie of the Year, now finds his celebrated rookie card triggering an echo of allure rarely observed in modern sports card chronicles. While his official 2025 base salary anchors at $875,000, the sales figure of his memorabilia has strummed a cord that rattles the very expectations of seasoned collectors.
The tale of generosity from the Pirates organization when they attempted to lure the youthful cardholder into redemption offers could itself be a storyline worthy of the big screen. With tempting offers that included 30 years of season tickets, a personal encounter with Skenes, signed jerseys, and privileged tours of PNC Park and training facilities being placed on the table, the stakes could not have been higher. Even Livvy Dunne, Skenes’ girlfriend, stepped into the narrative with a generous invitation for a game suite experience, while TV host Seth Meyers couldn’t resist chiming in with an exclusive card viewing offer.
However, the family deftly turned their backs on these tantalizing bounties, opting instead for discussions with auction houses by the onset of the New Year. They settled their sights on Fanatics Collect, a decision that would orchestrate the symphony leading to a record-breaking sale. In this harmonious transaction, Kevin Lenane, the adept vice president for Fanatics Marketplace, embarked on a modern quest; collecting the card from Topps in Texas, processing it through PSA grading, undertaking a transcontinental journey back to New York, all while contemplating the precious nature of his cargo during inflight exchanges with a curious pilot.
In February, the fabled card made its grand public debut under dazzling lights at the Fanatics’ Super Bowl LIX party. Encased protectively, it was mounted with an air of reverence akin to a museum masterpiece, commanding fervent attention from attendees enthralled by its intrinsic value. CEO of Fanatics Collect, Nick Bell, reminisced about the surge of enthusiasm and inquiries that enveloped the auction’s declaration as the card continued to captivate admirers globally.
With predictions and tangible hope intertwining, the young fan’s bounty will nourish future aspirations, enabling him and his brother through the upcoming phases of their education. As Kevin Lenane outlined, the principal portion of the sale’s proceeds will contribute to their college funds, while a sliver of it might indulge potential collectible interests that echo today’s triumphs.
Notably, Fanatics plans to orchestrate a dream meeting between this intrigued young supporter and the idolized Skenes, forming yet another chapter in the enduring story of a holiday gift’s transformative power. As collectors worldwide muse over the saga of Skenes’ card, it is a testament to the resurgence and continuing allure of baseball card collecting—a pastime buoyed by nostalgia and the ever-present quest for discovering bits of immortality in mere cardboard.
