Latest news with #MLBDebutPatch
CBS News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
DICK's House of Sport will put the one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes rookie card on display next week
After months of searching, an offer from the Pirates that included 30 years of season tickets, a million-dollar auction, and a local company snatching up a one-of-one Paul Skenes card, a date has officially been set for the public to come see the Skenes MLB Debut Patch card. DICK's Sporting Goods announced this past week that the card will be on display starting on Friday, May 9 at the DICK's House of Sport Store at Ross Park Mall. The card contains a patch that was on Skenes's jersey the first time he took the mound in an MLB game last May. The card, as previously stated, is a one-of-one and was sent to auction, where DICK's purchased the card for the price of $1.1 million in March. The hunt for a one-of-one Paul Skenes rookie card Late in 2024, the Pirates and Topps announced that there was a one-of-a-kind Skenes rookie card. Known as the "MLB Debut Patch" card, the autographed card featured the patch that was on Skenes's uniform in his big league debut. From the time the card was sent out for the purchasing public, the hunt was on, and the offers from the Pirates, as well as Skenes's girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, were astronomical. The Pirates stated on social media that if the person who found the card was willing to return it to the club, they would get: Two Pirates season tickets behind home plate for 30 years A softball game at PNC Park for 30 with coaching from Pirates alumni A spring training experience that would include a meet-and-greet with Skenes, two Skenes autographed jerseys, and the chance to take batting practice and warmups with the team. Dunne upped the stakes, saying that whoever found the card and returned it to the team could watch a game in her suite with her at PNC Park. California collector declines the Pirates' offer In January, the hunt officially came to an end after an 11-year-old card collector in California pulled the card, becoming the lucky winner. "I started begging my mom for it [Topps 2024 chrome update]...since they are awesome, they got the box," he wrote in his journal that his parents shared with the Topps' social media team. "The first present we opened was the hobby the second pack, I got the Paul Skenes redemption card!" Despite the Pirates' massive offer, the 11-year-old declined the offer, opting to send the card to auction, but not for personal gain. At the time of his decision, Los Angeles was being devastated by a massive wildfire, and instead of auctioning the card off for money, the child decided to donate the proceeds to fire relief funding. Even after declining the offer, the Pirates did share a message with him saying "Well, we're bummed that we won't be seeing you behind home plate for 30 seasons, but we'd still love to bring you to Pittsburgh for a special day at PNC Park this season." Card nets $1.1 million at auction, comes home to Pittsburgh Then, in March, the card officially headed to auction, where bidding took place in a frenzy with prices rising quickly. It would ultimately sell for $1.11 million to, at the time, an anonymous bidder. Just hours after its sale was finalized, DICK's Sporting Goods announced they were the ones to pony up the more than $1 million. "DICK'S is passionate about bringing fans closer to the game," said Ed Stack, Executive Chairman, DICK'S. "Acquiring the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card enables us to celebrate his incredible talent while giving our athletes a unique opportunity to experience a piece of baseball history up close. We're thrilled to bring this special card home and display it in our Pittsburgh House of Sport store, where it can inspire the next generation of athletes and collectors." On May 9, the card will officially be displayed in the new collectors' space on the bottom floor of the store, and the public will be able to view it beginning at 9 a.m. Fans who wish to go see the card will need a wristband that weekend. There will be 500 available each da,y and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
CBS News
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
DICK's Sporting Goods announces purchase of one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes rookie card
Just hours after it became known that the one-of-a-kind, MLB Debut Patch Paul Skenes rookie card sold at auction for $1.11 million , we now know who the winner is. DICK's Sporting Goods announced that it had purchased the card at auction and it will be put on display at the DICK's House of Sport store. "DICK'S is passionate about bringing fans closer to the game," said Ed Stack, Executive Chairman, DICK'S. "Acquiring the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card enables us to celebrate his incredible talent while giving our athletes a unique opportunity to experience a piece of baseball history up close. We're thrilled to bring this special card home and display it in our Pittsburgh House of Sport store where it can inspire the next generation of athletes and collectors." The card will be housed in a new space at the Ross Park location that will be known as the collector's space. DICK's said that will new space will feature trading cards and memorabilia. Those spaces will be at DICK's House of Sport locations across the country, including here in Pittsburgh, in Spring 2025. More details on when the Skenes card will go on display will be announced by DICK's at a later date. The card, which contains the MLB Debut patch from Skenes' uniform and his autograph, was in a pack of 2024 Topps Chrome Update, which dropped on Nov. 13. Fans and collectors began frantically searching for the ultra-rare item, so much so that Pittsburgh-area trading card stores said they could hardly keep up with the demand . An 11-year-old collector from California found the one-of-a-kind card earlier this year after the Pirates announced they'd trade the finder of the card season tickets, a meet and greet with Skenes and autographed jerseys. Paul Skenes' girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, also offered a seat in her suite during a game . The boy ultimately decided to sell the card.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DICK'S Sporting Goods Purchases Paul Skenes Topps MLB Debut Patch Card
DICK'S will make the one-of-one card available to the Pittsburgh community by displaying it at the DICK'S House of Sport store in Ross Park PITTSBURGH, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DICK'S Sporting Goods today announced its purchase of the one-of-one Paul Skenes Topps MLB Debut Patch card after winning the multi-week auction conducted by Fanatics Collect March Premier Auction. The card, featuring the patch Skenes wore on his jersey sleeve during his Major League debut and Skenes' autograph, will be proudly displayed for the community to see at the DICK'S House of Sport store in the company's and the Pirates' shared hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Details about when the card will be on display will be announced at a later date. "DICK'S is passionate about bringing fans closer to the game," said Ed Stack, Executive Chairman, DICK'S. "Acquiring the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card enables us to celebrate his incredible talent while giving our athletes a unique opportunity to experience a piece of baseball history up close. We're thrilled to bring this special card home and display it in our Pittsburgh House of Sport store where it can inspire the next generation of athletes and collectors." The card will be displayed in a new collectors' space at the Ross Park House of Sport, which will feature a trading cards and memorabilia experience. These specialty shops will be rolled out to select House of Sport stores nationwide, including Pittsburgh, in Spring 2025. All Fanatics Collect proceeds from the sale of the card will be directly donated to LA Fire Relief funds. About DICK'S Sporting Goods DICK'S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, the leading omnichannel retailer serves athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in more than 850 DICK'S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone! stores, online, and through the DICK'S mobile app. DICK'S also owns and operates DICK'S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center, as well as GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping. Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, DICK'S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK'S business, corporate giving and employment opportunities can be found on and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Media Relations:press@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Times
21-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card sells for $1.11 million at auction
The famed Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch autographed card sold for $1.11 million early Friday morning, ending with 64 bids in Fanatics Collect's March Premier auction. The 11-year-old boy from Los Angeles who originally landed the one-of-a-kind Skenes card from a pack of 2024 Topps Chrome Update baseball cards on Christmas morning secured more money off the sale of the card than Skenes will make from his 2025 base salary. The boy will get $925,000 from the sale of the card. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star pitcher and 2024 National League Rookie of Year will only make $875,000 this season, via Spotrac. Advertisement Fanatics Collect pledged to donate their portion received from the final sale to the Los Angeles Fire Department and Red Cross to aid in the recovery from the forest fires from earlier this year in the southern California area. The Skenes MLB Debut Patch card with a gem mint 10 grade for both card and autograph quality from PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) carries a price tag of nearly 10 times higher than the most expensive sale of one of his other cards. The previous high mark was set by the pitcher's one-of-a-kind 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect autographed Superfractor card (PSA 7 card grade, 10 auto grade), which sold for $123,200 through Goldin Auctions last September. But that card did not include the patch Skenes wore on his jersey sleeve during his first Major League start on May 11, 2024. Since the beginning of 2024, there have been 10 sales of individual cards for at least $1 million documented by Card Ladder's database, which tracks trading card sales across multiple platforms. Only two cards since the beginning of this year have sold publicly for more than where the auction for the Skenes card ended Thursday night: Featured in the same auction as the Skenes MLB Debut Patch, was highly-touted Baltimore Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday's MLB Debut Patch card, which is now the second highest selling card in the two years of the series. The ungraded Holliday card sold for $198,000, which passed the $150,000 bounty issued by card vendor Dave and Adam's for the 2023 Anthony Volpe MLB Debut Patch card, the previous high sale for a Debut Patch card. Skenes is one of the collecting hobby's darlings heading into the 2025 MLB season — an unusual distinction for a pitcher in a space that usually places greater value on hitters. He was one of the most searched athletes across all sports on eBay toward the end of 2024 and he had the second most cards graded by PSA during the offseason, behind only Shohei Ohtani. Advertisement Skenes' employer and girlfriend may have aided in driving up interest for this particular card, though. The Pirates made the most public pitch of them all for the Skenes card at the onset of the release of 2024 Topps Chrome Update, offering two season tickets behind home plate at PNC Park for 30 years and a host of other unique experiences and items. Livvy Dunne, Skenes' girlfriend, social media influencer and LSU gymnast, offered the card holder a chance to sit with her in a suite at the stadium during a game if the person took the Pirates' deal. The boy who landed the card and his family, who are from the Los Angeles area but chose not to make their identities public given all the scrutiny the card has drawn, opted to sell it through Fanatics Collect instead. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Photos: Fanatics)
New York Times
12-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bidding on Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card nears his 2025 salary
An 11-year-old boy from Los Angeles who pulled the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card will likely sell it for more money than Skenes will make from his 2025 base salary with the Pittsburgh Pirates. With 56 bids as of Wednesday night, the gem-mint PSA 10 graded autographed one-of-one rookie card bearing the patch Skenes wore on his jersey sleeve during his Major League debut has a high bid of $550,000 as of this writing. That would mean with the auction house's buyer's premium (to be donated to the Los Angeles Fire Department and Red Cross), the new owner of the card would have to pony up $660,000 for one of the most hyped cards in the hobby. Advertisement And there's still ample time for more bids, as the auction for the card on Fanatics Collect ends March 20. At some point, Skenes could make $44 million per season if he continues his current trajectory. For now, though, the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star pitcher will make a base salary of $800,000 this season. The Skenes MLB Debut Patch card already carries a price tag more than four times higher than the most expensive sale of one of his other cards. The previously high mark was set by the pitcher's one-of-a-kind 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect autographed Superfractor card (PSA 7 card grade, 10 auto grade), which sold for $123,200 through Goldin Auctions last September. Since the beginning of 2024, there have been 29 sales of individual cards for at least $500,000 documented by Card Ladder's database. Only six cards in that period have sold publicly for more than where the Skenes card stands as of Wednesday morning: (Shohei Ohtani's record card sale came in November, when his 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor numbered to 25 in a Pristine BGS 10 grade sold for $533,140.) The Skenes MLB Debut Patch card will push the $500,000 card tally one tick higher when the auction ends next week. But how high will this card ultimately go? Here are some guesses from The Athletic's staff: Larry Holder I've been on record saying this card could reach the $1 million price tag. Is that too low given we're more than halfway there already? What makes me believe this could be the case is what Nick Bell, CEO of Fanatics Collect and Fanatics Live, told me just before the auction for the card opened: 'I can tell you obviously we get a lot of inbound from this, and the inbound that we've received for this card is not only from big collectors who typically kind of circle this sort of card, but also from a bunch of non-collectors who are really interested in this card for their first kind of major acquisition in the space.' Advertisement The interest from the non-traditional crowd could make this card more unique than the top dollar Honus Wagner or Mickey Mantle cards. Those cards may sell for more, but there's only one Skenes Debut Patch card and the hype surrounding it may be unmatched for a modern card. So I'm still bullish on a seven-figure sale. I'll guess $1.1 million will be the final bid. Caleb Mezzy When the Skenes MLB Debut Patch landed in the hands of an 11-year-old kid who declined the offers from everyone from the Pirates and Livvy Dunne to Ken Goldin, I predicted a wholesome $2 million. Here's why: First, there has been a chase spurred by the Pirates' bounty offer that Willy Wonka would applaud. Then there's Skenes himself, who is arguably the most generational pitching talent since Stephen Strasburg, when the sports card industry was much smaller. His talent and timing are the next ingredient. Skenes also had an interesting path coming from a college baseball powerhouse in LSU, where he transferred in as a catcher with the Air Force. His story, 100-plus MPH fastball, NL Rookie of the Year season, and All-Star game start, are another element. Then there's the story of the 11-year old kid who pulled the card and was kept anonymous by Topps to protect his privacy. But possibly the biggest element in this is Paul Skenes' famous girlfriend. If he's the face of Debut Patches, she's the face of NIL for the NCAA. Her celebrity status has brought attention to their relationship and this card, helping to draw in eyeballs and likely bids. Dan Uthman Skenes has the look of a generational pitcher, and he could get even better than he's shown in his professional career. But we're talking about a lot of money at a time when some financial portfolios have taken a hit. I see the ceiling as $1.5 million. Craig Custance Advertisement There's just so much buzz about this card that I think it blows well past $1 million and ends at $1.7 million. But we're still talking about a pitcher, which generally isn't a premium position in collecting so I'm not ready to push it over $2 million. Brooks Peck I have to admit that I didn't think that bidding on the card would be this high already, but it's become clear that the interest in this card has transcended the usual collector circles thanks to all those factors Caleb laid out above. But how high can those elements push the bidding? Narrative aside, it's hard to justify a seven-figure value on the card. Pitchers generally aren't as valued as hitters in the hobby and they also carry a significant risk for long-term injury. While the MLB Debut Patch cards are incredibly unique items that are just starting to find their footing in the space, no other Debut Patch card has sold anywhere close to where the Skenes card is already at. But with all that said, you can no longer divorce the narrative from the card. It has probably become the most widely recognized and pop-culture relevant baseball card of the last 25-30 years. For that reason, I now think it'll go over $1 million, but $2 million still seems like a bridge too far. So I'll say it lands around $1.4 million. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
