PITTSBURGH — It appears that Paul Skenes, the rookie pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has a special talent beyond just his pitching skills—his trading cards are generating a lot of excitement too.
A unique trading card from Topps, which features a patch from Skenes’ jersey alongside his autograph, has caught the attention of the Pirates, who are now offering an impressive deal to acquire the card through trade.
The Pirates have assembled an enticing package that includes 30 years of season tickets located behind home plate at PNC Park, an opportunity to play a softball game on the field, and a meet-and-greet with Skenes for the lucky individual who brings them this special card.
Adding to the buzz, Skenes’ girlfriend—LSU gymnast and social media influencer Livvy Dunne—has also announced that whoever trades the card to the team will be invited to enjoy a Pirates game from a luxury suite alongside her.
Given Skenes’ promising trajectory, the card could hold substantial value on the open market. This 22-year-old pitcher, who regularly throws fastballs exceeding 100 mph, was the first overall selection in the 2023 draft and has already made a notable impact in the major leagues since his debut in May. After making only 11 starts, he was named the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game and concluded the season with an impressive record of 11-3 and a 1.96 ERA across 23 outings.
Recently, Skenes was announced as a finalist for both the NL Cy Young Award and NL Rookie of the Year, with winners expected to be revealed next week.
A representative from Fanatics, the parent company of Topps, expressed surprise at the Pirates’ enthusiastic call for the card. According to public relations manager Ryan Stolz, this kind of treasure hunt related to jersey-patched rookie cards hasn’t been seen since their introduction earlier this year.
Cards featuring other stars like Elly De La Cruz, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Colton Cowser, and Jackson Holliday also remain uncaptured, creating a buzz within the trading card community.
The response to Pittsburgh’s offer, announced on Friday, led to significant excitement reminiscent of the golden tickets from the well-known children’s story “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.”
In light of the hype, Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward even expressed curiosity about where he could purchase the card, while a local television station in Pittsburgh considered opening several packs of cards live on air.