Sep 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images On Sunday, Topps announced a one-of-a-kind baseball card for rookie sensation Paul Skenes.
The rare card that features Skenes’ rookie debut patch was released in a pack on Wednesday. Now, the Pittsburgh Pirates are desperately trying to find that card.
The Pirates are offering the fan who finds the card two Pirates season tickets behind home plate for the next 30 years and a softball game for 30 people at PNC Park, plus coaching from former Pirates players.
The package also includes a unique spring training experience, including a private tour of Pirates City and LECOM Park. It also includes a meet and greet with Skenes, two autographed jerseys and the ability to take batting practice with the team.
Skenes also has the luxury of having a very famous girlfriend, LSU gymnast and social media sensation Livvy Dunne, who raised the offer. The person who finds the card can sit with her at a Pirates game in her suite.
An egotistical offer? Perhaps. She does have a ton of fans and obsessed followers online who would jump at the opportunity to meet her. But this has turned out to be quite the offer for a very rare card.
This card will be in demand. Skenes is going to be the NL Rookie of the Year and was named to the 2024 All-MLB First Team. It won’t just be Pirates fans searching for this thing. Collectors from around the country will be ripping packs in hopes of finding it.
Michael Rubin, the founder and CEO of Fanatics, has already hinted that he might have to outbid the Pirates on their offer. He has a net worth of $10.6 billion. If he really wants that card, he’s going to get that card.
If someone outside of Pittsburgh finds the card, the offer might not seem that great. Maybe they could give you the face value of those home plate season tickets for the next 30 years? That would at least start a conversation.
This is one of those crazy scenarios where it really depends on who finds the card. If it goes to some preteen in Pennsylvania, the Pirates will be able to proudly display that card in PNC Park how they want to.
But if some older, greedy sportswriter happened to get their hands on it, you better believe they would be calling Rubin and selling that thing to the highest bidder for cold, hard cash.
Good luck getting that card, Pirates.
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