Baseball card collectors and Pittsburgh Pirates fans across the nation are racing to find what might be the most valuable baseball card of 2024—the unique Paul Skenes rookie debut patch autograph card. The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned heads with an unprecedented offer that has set the collecting world ablaze.
The lucky finder of this exclusive card, hidden within Topps’ Chrome Update product, will receive a treasure trove of rewards that would make any baseball fan’s dreams come true: two season tickets behind home plate for the next 30 years, a private softball game for 30 people at PNC Park, and an exclusive spring training experience including a meet-and-greet with Skenes himself.
The bounty didn’t stop there. Livvy Dunne, Skenes’s girlfriend and LSU gymnast, added her own sweetener to the deal—offering the fortunate finder a chance to join her in her private suite for a game. Even television personality Seth Meyers entered the fray, offering VIP tickets to Late Night With Seth Meyers in exchange for a glimpse of the card.
The rookie sensation himself attempted to locate the card. The Pirates posted a video on social media featuring Skenes opening boxes of Chrome Update, but even he failed to find the card. “I was really upset I didn’t find the card,” Skenes joked during his SportsCenter appearance. “It’s a cool opportunity, and hopefully it’ll unite a lot of people around pulling cards.”
The hunt has created a frenzy at local card shops, with some stores struggling to keep up with demand. Jeff Patton, owner of Baseball Card Castle in Cranberry Township, reports his phone hasn’t stopped ringing. “If I had another 200 boxes today, I could get rid of them with no problem,” Patton revealed. His store has resorted to creating waiting lists, with new shipments selling out within hours of arrival.
What makes this card particularly special is its timing. Skenes’ official announcement as the National League Rookie of the Year, after a remarkable season that saw him become a finalist for the prestigious Cy Young Award, gave the chase even more momentum.
The mystery of the card’s location has only added to its allure. As Patton explains, “There’s no guarantee the card is even in this area. It could be anywhere in the country or the world.” However, Pittsburgh’s connection to Skenes has local collectors particularly motivated. “He’s our guy. So, I think our patrons are buying them at a more precipitous pace than anywhere else in the country,” Patton noted.
The hunt has brought together collectors of all ages, with parents and grandparents buying packs as Christmas gifts, hoping to unwrap the ultimate holiday surprise. The secretive nature of the production adds another layer of intrigue. “Everybody asks, ‘Well, how many boxes are there? How many packs are there?’ That information’s never released,” Patton explained. “There are more than 200 rookies who have similar patches.” But there’s only one Paul Skenes.”
When asked if he wanted to add anything to the already impressive bounty, Skenes simply replied, “I think it’s pretty sweet already.” One thing is certain as the search continues: a piece of Pirates history, hidden in an unopened pack of baseball cards, could transform someone’s life forever.
As collectors across the country tear into fresh packs with trembling hands, the question remains: Who will be the lucky finder of this modern-day golden ticket? Only time will tell, but the hunt for the Skenes rookie card has already become a legendary chapter in baseball card collecting history.