Mark your calendars, baseball fans and collectors! The most talked-about trading card in recent memory will finally be available for public viewing. Starting Friday, May 9 at 9 a.m., the one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch rookie card will be showcased in a brand-new collectors’ space on the bottom floor of DICK’s House of Sport in Ross Park Mall, according to Patrick Damp of CBS Pittsburgh.
For card enthusiasts, the chance to see a million-dollar card in person is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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A Trading Card Treasure Hunt Like No Other
The saga of this extraordinary card reads like a Hollywood script. When Topps announced the existence of this one-of-one card in their 2024 Chrome Update series, featuring both an autograph and an actual patch from Skenes’ debut game jersey, it triggered “The Great Skenes Chase.”
What elevated this beyond a typical card-hunting frenzy was the Pirates’ unprecedented recovery campaign. The team assembled an offer that would make any baseball fan’s jaw drop: 30 years of prime season tickets, a private softball game at PNC Park coached by Pirates legends, spring training meet-and-greets, and autographed memorabilia.
Even Skenes’ girlfriend, Livvy Dunne (who boasts over 12 million social media followers), joined the effort, offering a game-day experience in her private suite. The hunt became a national storyline, capturing attention via mainstream news outlets and social media.
From Christmas Present to Wildfire Relief
The hunt ended unexpectedly around the holidays when an 11-year-old collector in Southern California opened a hobby box and discovered the redemption card in just his second pack. The story took an even more heartwarming turn when the young collector, rather than accepting the Pirates’ lavish offer or keeping the proceeds for himself, decided to auction the card to benefit victims of devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
The online auction saw 64 bids over two weeks, culminating in DICK’s Sporting Goods’ winning bid of $1.11 million (including the 20% buyer’s premium). Fanatics Collect, which handled the auction, announced all proceeds would go directly to the L.A. Fire Relief Fund.
DICK’s Executive Chairman Ed Stack explained the company’s motivation in bringing the card to Pittsburgh. “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,” Stack said.
The Fireballer Who Broke the Rookie Mold
What makes a rookie card worth $1.11 million? The answer lies in Skenes’ extraordinary MLB impact from the moment he took the mound. Last season, the 6’6″ right-hander delivered one of the most electrifying rookie pitching performances in recent memory, bulldozing through National League lineups with a fastball that consistently touched 101 mph and a devastating splitter that fell off the table.
Skenes finished his rookie campaign with numbers that seem plucked from a video game: an 11-3 record, 1.96 ERA, and 187 strikeouts in just 156 innings. His dominance earned him National League Rookie of the Year honors and a third-place finish in NL Cy Young Award voting.
What made his season even more remarkable was his ability to maintain his elite performance. Before being the named the NL starter in the All-Star Game, he twirled a 1.90 ERA while going 6-0 through his first 11 starts (66.1 innings). His numbers were just as good following the midsummer classic, as he posted a 5-3 record with a 2.03 over his final 12 starts (66.2 innings).
Paul Skenes Picking Up Where He Left Off in 2025
If there were concerns about a sophomore slump in 2025, Skenes has quickly erased them. Through his first seven starts this season, he’s evolved from an impressive rookie to a legitimate ace. He’s 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts through his first 42.2 innings this season, which has spanned seven starts.
His pitch arsenal has expanded too. While his triple-digit fastball remains his calling card, Skenes has incorporated a new cutter to go along with his slider, curveball, and changeup. He’s thrown that pitch 25.2% of the time, which is his second-most used offering at the moment.
What’s particularly encouraging for Pirates fans is how Skenes has handled pressure moments. In a nationally televised game against the Dodgers last month, he pitched into the seventh inning while keeping the defending champs off the board and racking up nine strikeouts.
For Pittsburgh fans who’ve watched Skenes’ meteoric rise, there’s something poetic about his most valuable trading card finding its permanent home in the Steel City. Starting May 9, they’ll be able to see this piece of baseball history up close at DICK’s Sporting Goods’ Ross Park House of Sport location – a perfect complement to watching the real-life phenom continue his ascent to baseball greatness.
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