Earlier this week, a young collector withdrew the coveted autographed MLB debut patch by Paul Skeres from the market.
An 11-year-old collects from southern California, who neighbored a one-of-kind baseball card with Pittsburgh Pirates Star Pitcher, decided to reject a trade offer from the MLB franchis.
The card was shown in 2024 Topps Chrome Update Set. On Friday, the trading card and the overall manufacturer confirmed that the collector had “chosen to send the card for auction with @fanaticscollect instead,” Tops wrote in an Instagram post.
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Paul Skenes from Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch against Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field 17 May 2024 in Chicago. (Nuccio Dinuzzo/Getty Images)
The pirates offered a package of perks in return for the card. A few Premium Pirates season tickets for three decades, an opportunity to play a softball game on the field, a meeting and greet with Skene’s and autographed jerseys were among the team offers.
Livvy Dunne explains the awkward moment with Paul Skenes after he won NL Rookie of the Year
LSU Gymnast Livvy Dunne, which is dating Skene, also offered an incentive to the owner of the card.
Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne on the set of ESPN “College Gameday” at LSU Quad 9 November 2024 in Baton Rouge. (LSU Athletics/University Pictures Via Getty Images)
“Let’s raise the effort … The person who finds this card can sit with me on a pirates game in my suite,” Dunne wrote In a post for her Instagram story.
While the collector wrote in a journal post shared by Topps that Nabbing the Card was a “dream come true”, it apparently was that dream did not include spending time over the next 30 years to participate In games at PNC Park.
The pirates admitted that they were “bummed” after learning from the collector’s decision, but offered to have a fan on a game sometime during the 2025 season.
A view of PNC Park such as Pittsburgh Pirates hosts Philadelphia Phillies June 21, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Charles Leclaire/USA Today Sports)
“Well … We’re Bummed that we don’t see you behind the home plate for 30 seasons. But we’ll still love to bring you to Pittsburgh for a special day at PNC Park this season,” the team posted on X.
Fanatics Collect, who will handle the auction of the map in March, said it will donate its revenue from the sale to Fire Aid Funds in the Los Angeles area.
SKENES delivered a season to remember in 2024 and ended 11-3 with a 1.96 era and 170 strikes. Before winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award, he was named the MLB All-Star team. Skenes was the top election in 2023 MLB Draft and debuted in the Big League in May 2024.
Rookies have worn MLB debut patches on their jerseys since 2023. Topps acquired patches and created the unique cards. The card could have a fairly high value considering the potentially bright future of the 22-year-old who ended up in third place in the NL CY Young Award vote.
Sagre said over the weekend that he has not thought that the potential of signing a long -term contract to stay with Pirates, saying instead that his focus is on helping the pirates take a step towards fighting 2025. He is eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.
