Here’s the full, play-by-play story of the Paul Skenes 1/1 MLB Debut Patch Autograph card—from the thrill of pulling to the jaw-dropping auction.
@theballersbank 
An 11 year old pulled the 1/1 Paul Skenes Debut Patch card… The Pirates have a really special offer to get the card from him… Does he take it or find a way to get money for it instead? 🤔 💰 #mlb
♬ original sound – The Ballers Bank
🎯 The Card & Its Rarity
- “1-of-1 Rookie Debut Patch Autograph”—this is a one‑of‑a‑kind card featuring a game-worn patch from Skenes’ major-league debut (May 11, 2024) and an on-card autograph.
- In 2023 Topps launched its “Debut Patch” program; the 2024 Chrome Update edition included 251 different patches, each a unique chase in hobby boxes.
📦 Christmas Morning Miracle
- On Christmas Day 2024, an 11-year-old collector from Los Angeles opened a holiday hobby box at around 6 a.m.—and bingo, the redemption card for Skenes’ 1/1 patch appeared in the fifth pack
- The youth’s family chose to remain anonymous during the process
💌 The Pirates’ Bounty
- Eager to bring the card home, the Pittsburgh Pirates offered the young collector a massive bounty:
- 30 years of season tickets behind home plate
- A softball game for 30 friends at PNC Park with alumni coaching
- A meet-and-greet with Skenes, two autographed jerseys
- Private tours of spring training facilities and more
- Livvy Dunne, Skenes’ girlfriend, also sweetened the deal: “Whoever finds the card can sit with me in her suite” at a Pirates game
- But the collector said “no thanks” and instead consigned the card to Fanatics Collect for auction
📈 Auction & Record-Breaking Sale
- March 6–20, 2025, the 1/1 Skenes card was featured in Fanatics Collect’s March Premier Auction. Starting around $340,000 after 51 bids on day one, it steadily climbed and closed above $1 million
- The final hammer price? $1,110,000, with buyer’s fees included
- Proceeds from the charity-hosted auction were donated to Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts
🏬 Corporate Acquisition & Display
- The winning bidder: Dick’s Sporting Goods, marking its entry into the high-end sports card market
- Dick’s CEO Ed Stack said the purchase “enables us to celebrate [Skenes’] incredible talent… giving our athletes a unique opportunity to experience a piece of baseball history up close”
- The card was unveiled at Dick’s “House of Sport” flagship in Ross Park, Pittsburgh, in early May 2025
📊 Market Context & Legacy
- At $1.11 million, it’s one of the top five highest sales ever for a baseball card, and the most expensive modern-day card sold publicly, behind only Mike Trout’s $3.9 million rookie card
- Notably, prior to Skenes’ sale, debut patch cards rarely cracked six figures—Jackson Holliday’s card sold for $198K in the same auction
- Skenes’ rookie year stats—11–3, 1.96 ERA, 170 K over 133 innings—fueled the card’s value, complementing his Rookie of the Year recognition
🧩 Summary Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 11, 2024 | Skenes debuts in MLB wearing patch featured on the card |
| Nov 13, 2024 | 2024 Topps Chrome Update set released, including the 1/1 patch card |
| Dec 25, 2024 | 11‑year‑old pulls the 1/1 patch card on Christmas morning |
| Jan 2025 | Pirates & Livvy Dunne offer bounty; family declines |
| Mar 6–20, 2025 | Card auctions via Fanatics Collect, selling for $1.11M |
| May 6–10, 2025 | Dick’s House of Sport in Pittsburgh unveils the card |
🎤 Final Take
The story of this Skenes card is a perfect storm: a generational talent, a breakthrough rookie performance, a holiday-time happy accident by a lucky kid, major league franchise interest, record-setting auction drama, and a corporate collector stepping into the hobby spotlight. It’s not just a card—it’s a cultural moment in the trading-card world, and Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to showcase it as a symbol of sports and fandom converging in the digital age.
For the Record
Most of you know, I am a huge Elly De La Cruz fan.
The Elly De La Cruz 1/1 MLB Debut Patch Autograph card is owned by Hobby Legends, The card was pulled from a pack by Hobby Legends, according to a post on Reddit.
