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.
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.
The final price announced by Fanatics Collect late Thursday night included a 20% buyer's premium. The buyer was not identified. Fanatics Collect plans to donate its proceeds from the sale to the LA Fire Relief Fund.
The 22-year-old Skenes is slated to make $875,000 while in the major leagues this year with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The card's journey over the last few months has generated the kind of buzz typically reserved for iconic collectibles featuring Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr.
The debut patch cards are featured in Topps Chrome Update. There were 91 in the first year in 2023 and 251 last year.
While the cards have attracted the attention of some young major leaguers and longtime collectors alike, most of the attention has been focused on Skenes' card in particular.
A combination of Skenes' burgeoning stardom, the considerable reach of his girlfriend, LSU gymnast/influencer Livvy Dunne and a head-turning offer the Pirates made in hopes of securing the card fueled the hype for the one-of-one collectible.
It was claimed by an 11-year-old in the Los Angeles area after he discovered the redemption code for the Skenes card in a pack he received as part of a Christmas present. He declined the Pirates' offer and instead turned over the card to Fanatics Collect, which has given it the 'white glove' service for the last two months.
Skenes was voted the National League Rookie of the Year after he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts for Pittsburgh last year. The right-hander is slated to start for the Pirates on opening day next week.
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Yankees Trade Idea Would Bring $70M Son of Pivotal World Series Champion to New York
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Last season, the Yankees needed a third baseman, so they acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Miami Marlins. This season, they could be in the market for another infielder. Chisholm started the year at second base, but an injury to Oswaldo Cabrera has placed him back in the hot corner. DJ LeMahieu has been manning second base. He is playing better than many expected, but still nothing great. He is slashing .258/.333/.371 in just 20 games. It's a small sample size, but his health is hardly reliable, and he may be better suited off the bench or in a utility role. If the Yankees do go out and look for infielders on the trade block, they should have plenty of options. Pinstripe Nation's Sara Molnick suggested the team trade for Ke'Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates. "His glove work and potential for offensive growth make him a desirable target, though the Pirates may be hesitant to part with him," wrote Molnick. 5 Apr 1997: Infielder Charlie Hayes of the New York Yankees throws the ball during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics won the game 3-0. 5 Apr 1997: Infielder Charlie Hayes of the New York Yankees throws the ball during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics won the game 3-0. Getty Images The Pirates are one of the teams that are almost guaranteed to be sellers. Hayes is in the fourth year of an eight-year, $70 million extension and could be dealt at the deadline, for the right price. He is having a down year offensively, but a change of scenery and playing on a contender could unlock his true potential. Chisholm also saw an offensive breakout after the Yankees acquired him. Hayes is the son of a former Yankee, Charlie Hayes. He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1996 after he was traded from Pittsburgh to New York. History could repeat itself if the Yankees made a swing for his son and brought him to the Bronx. Hayes already has concerns about his son's development in Pittsburgh, according to ESPN's Michael Kay, so a trade to the Yankees might make him happy. "Ke'Bryan Hayes is a defensive magician at third base," Yankees play-by-play announcer Kay said on Jan. 15. "His hitting is not what it should be, but he's obviously not happy in Pittsburgh. I talked to Charlie when the Yankees were in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, and he was like scratching his head about some of the things they do in Pittsburgh with the hitters. Whatever the case may be, if I'm the Yankees, I'm calling the Pirates and go, 'What do you want?'" Hayes is arguably the best defensive third baseman in baseball. Taking a gamble on his potential at the plate and moving Chisholm back to second base could be a great move for the Yankees. The move would make LeMahieu a bench player, thus upgrading the Yankees' bench at the same time. Even if Hayes is similar to LeMahieu at the plate, adding him would give the Yankees a third baseman for the next few years with elite defense. More MLB: Three Bold Trades Needed to Make Giants True NL West Contenders
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Bikini-clad Livvy Dunne gives intimate look at her ‘east coast summer' in new photos
Olivia 'Livvy' Dunne is living it up on the East Coast following her retirement from gymnastics this spring. The former LSU gymnast, who hails from New Jersey and owns an apartment in New York City, shared a carousel of Instagram photos Monday that showed her sunbathing in a blue and white bikini and partying with influencer Alix Earle at the Jersey Shore. 'East coast summer,' Dunne, 22, captioned the post with a cherry emoji. Advertisement 3 Olivia Dunne sunbathing with her dog Roux while enjoying her 'east coast summer' in June 2025. Instagram/Olivia Dunne A few snapshots showed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model lounging next to her English Cream Golden Retriever, Roux, whom she shares with boyfriend Paul Skenes. Dunne was photographed flipping through the pages of her cover spread in the 2025 edition of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Advertisement 3 Alix Earle and Olivia Dunne partying at Jenks Club in Point Pleasant, New Jersey on June 6, 2025. Instagram/Olivia Dunne The blonde beauty was one of four cover models for this year, along with Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, Academy Award nominee Salma Hayek and entrepreneur Lauren Chan. Other photos featured Dunne supporting star Pirates pitcher Skenes, 23, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. 3 Olivia Dunne supporting boyfriend Paul Skenes at a Pirates game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Instagram/Olivia Dunne Advertisement In May, Dunne revealed she completed her first semester of grad school and purchased an apartment in New York City in a video posted on TikTok. Dunne became one of the faces of the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era when the NCAA rules changed in 2021. She is the highest-earning female college athlete in history. Dunne made an estimated $9.5 million since the NIL rule change went into effect four years ago. She recently added Invisalign to her bolstering portfolio of brand deals. Advertisement Dunne previously told The Post she wanted to focus on her brand after leaving LSU. 'I feel like [Sports Illustrated] is something that can last beyond college,' said Dunne, who made her debut in the 2023 edition. 'I think that's important, creating a substantial brand that will last post-college. And [SI Swim] is one of those, I don't even want to call it a partnership, because they're like family to me. That's been amazing.'
9 hours ago
Bryan Reynolds' bases-loaded triple leads Pirates to season-high 4th straight win, 10-3 over Marlins
PITTSBURGH -- Bryan Reynolds hit a bases-loaded triple to cap a four-run third inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Miami Marlins 10-3 on Monday night for their season-high fourth straight win. Reynolds put the Pirates ahead 4-1 with a line drive to right-center field off Eury Pérez (0-1), who was making his first major league start since Sept. 20, 2023, after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Reynolds' hit came after Andrew McCutchen had an RBI infield single. All nine Pirates starters had hits, and McCutchen and Adam Frazier paced a 15-hit attack with three apiece. Brett Sullivan had two RBIs in his Pirates debut after being called up Saturday from Triple-A Indianapolis. Pérez lasted just three innings and gave up four runs and four hits. He had five strikeouts and two walks while throwing 70 pitches as the Marlins lost for the eighth time in nine games. Despite missing so much time, Pérez is still the youngest pitcher in the major leagues at 22 years, 55 days. The Pirates broke open the game with a four-run sixth that included two throwing errors by the Marlins on Ke'Bryan Hayes' bunt single. That put Pittsburgh ahead 8-2. The Marlins' Otto Lopez hit a leadoff home run in the second inning, his sixth, to open the scoring. Pirates rookie starter Mike Burrows allowed two runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Caleb Ferguson (2-0) pitched two perfect innings. The start was delayed 41 minutes because of the threat of inclement weather. Reynolds' triple gave the Pirates all the runs they would need. The Pirates are 20-8 against NL East teams at home since the start of last season. Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-7, 7.89 ERA) faces Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (1-8, 4.13) on Tuesday night in the middle game of the series. ___
