Paul Skenes' 1-of-1 baseball card sells for $1.11M at auction

A baseball card featuring Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes sold for $1.1 million on Thursday.

The sale price includes a buyer's premium, as there were 64 bids on the card via the Fanatics Collect auction. The proceeds from the auction are going to the LA Fire Relief Fund to help those who were impacted by the wildfires that devastated Southern California earlier this year.

Topps says that only five baseball cards have sold for more than Skenes' card, including a 2022 sale of a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps card for $12.6 million.

The buyer of the 1-of-1 card, which features Skenes' autograph and a patch the NL Rookie of the Year wore on his uniform when he made his major league debut on May 11, 2024, was not identified.

Skenes' card drew so much attention that the Pirates offered the person who eventually retrieved the card a bounty for it, including seats behind home plate at PNC Park for the next 30 years, an exclusive meet-and-greet with Skenes and two autographed jerseys and a chance to host a softball game at the ballpark.

𝙎𝙊𝙇𝘿 𝙁𝙊𝙍: $1,110,000

2024 Topps Chrome Update Paul Skenes RC MLB DEBUT PATCH AUTO DNA 10 1/1 PSA 10#FanaticsCollect #PremierAuction #PaulSkenes #DebutPatch pic.twitter.com/OE2cDfaKoy
— Fanatics Collect (@FanaticsCollect) March 21, 2025

Skenes’ girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, also said the winner would get a chance to sit with her in a suite.

An 11-year-old from Los Angeles pulled the Skenes redemption card, and the family turned down the Pirates' offer and gave the card to Fanatics Collect so it could be auctioned off.

Skenes, who is scheduled to make $875,000 this year, went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts last season and will be Pittsburgh's 2025 opening day starter when the Pirates take on the Marlins in Miami on March 27.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paul Skenes baseball card sells for $1.11 million at auction

1d 11:04 AM ET ago

Topics

One-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card sells for $1.11 million at auction

A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card has been sold for $1.11 million after a two-week auction
ABC News - 1d
Skenes' 1-of-1 rookie card fetches record $1.11M

Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes' 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB debut patch autograph card sold for a stunning $1.11 million, including buyer's premium.
ESPN - 1d
A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card sells for $1.11 million via auction

A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card has been sold for $1.11 million after a two-week auction.
NBC News - 1d
Paul Skenes rare card sells for more than the pitcher will earn this season

An 11-year-old child who found a rare baseball card for Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has officially sold the extremely valuable memorabilia.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card sells for $1.11 million via auction

There was a total of 64 bids on Skenes' debut patch card, which is autographed and contains a patch that was on the pitcher's jersey for his heralded major league debut in May.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Rare Paul Skenes rookie card sells at auction for more than the star pitcher earns in salary from the Pirates

The card was one of the most sought after when it was released last year
CBS Sports - 1d
Why an M.L.B. Star Probably Can’t Afford His Own Baseball Card

The Paul Skenes M.L.B. debut patch card will likely sell for more money than the pitcher will earn in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The New York Times - Mar. 12
Bidding for Paul Skenes' debut patch climbs to $960k

Coveted grail already has set record for any Skenes card; auction closes Thursday night
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Pirates announce ace Paul Skenes will start on opening day at Miami

Paul Skenes is going to start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening day
ABC News - Mar. 15