The young collector who acquired a unique baseball card featuring National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes has declined a trade offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 11-year-old from the Los Angeles area decided to put the card, which includes Skenes' autograph and a patch from a game-worn jersey, up for auction instead of accepting the Pirates' proposal.
The Pirates' offer included 30 years' worth of season tickets behind home plate at PNC Park and the opportunity to play a softball game on the field in exchange for the prized card. Additionally, Skenes' girlfriend, LSU gymnast and influencer Livvy Dunne, extended an invitation for the card's owner to enjoy a game with her in a luxury suite at the ballpark during one of Skenes' starts.
Although the collector expressed in a journal entry shared by Topps that obtaining the card was a 'dream come true,' the prospect of spending the next three decades attending games at PNC Park did not align with their aspirations.
Following the collector's decision, the Pirates expressed disappointment but offered to host the fan at a game during the 2025 season. Fanatics Collect will oversee the auction of the card in March and has pledged to donate the proceeds from the sale to fire relief funds in the Los Angeles area.
The card holds significant value due to the promising future of 22-year-old Skenes, who garnered attention by finishing third in NL Cy Young Award voting after an impressive rookie season. The first overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft made his major league debut in May and delivered a standout performance, earning a spot as the NL's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game and concluding the season with an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA in 23 games.
Skenes, looking ahead, has not contemplated signing a long-term contract to stay in Pittsburgh. Instead, he emphasized his focus on aiding the Pirates in their quest to contend in the 2025 season, with his free agency eligibility set for after the 2029 season.
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