An 11-year-old baseball card collector from California just turned down what might seem like the deal of a lifetime from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The young fan pulled an incredibly rare Paul Skenes card – the only one of its kind in existence. It features both an autograph and a patch from Skenes’ MLB debut uniform.
The Pirates went all out trying to get their hands on it. They offered a pretty amazing package: season tickets right behind home plate for the next 30 years, a chance to watch a game with social media star Livvy Dunne, and a personal meet-and-greet with Skenes himself.
But the kid wasn’t biting.
Instead, they’re putting the card up for auction through Fanatics Collect in March, where it could fetch some serious cash.
The Pirates’ offer faced some real-world challenges from the start. Those season tickets might sound great, but they’re not worth much to someone living clear across the country in California.
It’s easy to see why the team wanted this card so badly. Skenes has been absolutely crushing it since day one. In his rookie season, he put up numbers that most veterans dream about:
– 1.96 ERA across 23 starts
– 10 strikeouts per game
– An impressive 1.039 WHIP
The young pitcher didn’t just play well – he dominated. He made the All-Star team and took home the National League Rookie of the Year award.
That’s pretty incredible for a first-year player, and it’s exactly why this card keeps getting more valuable. As the former No. 1 draft pick continues to shine, collectors know this one-of-a-kind piece of baseball history will only become more precious.
Now the Pirates might have to break out their checkbook if they want to win the upcoming auction. Something tells me those season tickets might have been the cheaper option.
