Imagine a childhood dream coming true in your childhood.
That happened late Thursday night when an 11-year-old's hobby made him an instant millionaire.
A baseball card featuring Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and last year's National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes sold for a whopping $1.1 million, which includes a buyer's premium.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: The Paul Skenes 1/1 Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card has sold at auction for $1,110,000.
— Topps (@Topps) March 21, 2025
Of all active MLB players, only Mike Trout has ever had a card sell for more. pic.twitter.com/TG69RsisIe
The 1-of-1 card features Skenes' autograph and a patch the NL Rookie of the Year wore on his uniform when he made his major league debut on May 11, 2024.
Skenes will make a base salary this season of $875,000.
The card, which is the most expensive modern, non-Mike Trout baseball card, was sold via Fanatics Collect as there were a total of 64 bids on the card. The buyer's identity is currently unknown.
The proceeds from the auction will be going to the Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund to help those who were impacted by the wildfires that devastated Southern California earlier this year.
A 1-of-1 Trout rookie card sold for an astonishing $3.9 million in August 2020.
The 11-year-old from Los Angeles pulled the Skenes redemption card, and the family turned down a lucrative Pirates' package offer and gave the card to Fanatics Collect so it could be auctioned off.
Last February, the Pirates offered seats behind home plate at PNC Park for the next 30 years, an exclusive meet-and-greet with Skenes, two autographed jerseys, and a chance to host a softball game at the ballpark. Skenes' girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, also said the winner would get a chance to sit with her in a suite.
Topps have said that only five baseball cards have sold for more than Skenes' card, including a 2022 sale of a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps card for a mind-numbing $12.6 million.
Skenes' record-setting rookie season
Last season, the 22-year-old compiled an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA in 23 games started. He pitched 133 innings and recorded a team rookie record of 170 strikeouts to capture the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Skenes became the first rookie pitcher to record at least 170 strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA since earned runs became official in 1913. He also joined late Florida Marlins star José Fernández as the only rookies in the past 35 seasons with double-digit wins, at least 150 strikeouts and a sub-2.50 ERA.
He also became the second Pirate to claim Rookie of the Year honors, joining outfielder Jason Bay (2004). He's just the fifth No. 1 overall pick to win the award, joining Carlos Correa (2015), Bryce Harper (2012), Darryl Strawberry (1983) and Bob Horner (1978).
Oh yeah, he also started for the National League in last season's All-Star Game and was a Cy Young Award finalist.
Dating back to last season, Skenes has won two straight and four of his last five starts as he will take the mound for the team's season opener at the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
