Paul Skenes' Pirates rookie patch card set for auction in March

Andrew Destin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan 24, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Just three days after it was uncovered, the fate of one of the game's most prized baseball cards has been determined. Fanatics Collect announced Friday that a special print card featuring Skenes' autograph and a jersey patch from the right-hander's MLB debut will go to auction.

An 11-year-old collector hailing from Los Angeles uncovered the card on Tuesday, and he and his family have since decided to sell Skenes' card at auction.

Per Fanatics Collect, the card will be available at an auction in March, and all proceeds will be directly donated to Los Angeles fire relief funds. Skenes, 22, hails from Southern California and grew up roughly 60 miles to the southeast of the fires afflicting both the Pacific Palisades and Altadena regions.

In November, the Pirates publicly shared the details of a theoretical trade with whichever collector acquired Skenes' card. That package would have included 30 years of Pirates season tickets for two people behind home plate, a private tour of Pirate City and LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., and a meet-and-greet event with Skenes among other experiences and memorabilia in exchange for the card.

In 2024, Skenes went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA across 23 starts. He was named to the All-Star Game and started in it for the National League.

A card that will forever be linked to the right-hander's MLB debut will now go to auction and benefit an area close to his hometown.