A young collector from Southern California has landed a highly sought-after piece of baseball memorabilia: the unique, autographed MLB debut patch card of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes. The card, part of the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set, generated significant buzz upon its release in November.

The Pirates, eager to acquire the one-of-a-kind card, had publicly extended a generous offer to the card's owner. The proposed package included three decades of premium season tickets, a personal meeting with Skenes, and autographed jerseys. Despite the card now being in the hands of the young collector, the team has confirmed that their offer remains on the table.

Adding to the excitement, LSU gymnast and Skenes' girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, sweetened the pot by offering a seat in her private suite at a Pirates game to the cardholder.

Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, had a stellar debut season, boasting an 11-3 record, a 1.96 ERA, and 170 strikeouts. His achievements earned him not only the Rookie of the Year title but also a spot on the MLB All-Star team.

The card's significance stems from the MLB debut patch worn by rookies since 2023. Topps has been acquiring these patches to create these unique collectibles. In November, Sports Collectors Digest predicted a potential six-figure value for this particular Skenes card.