Paul Skenes 1-of-1 MLB Rookie Card Sells for $1.1M at Auction; 6th-Most Expensive Ever

The 1-of-1 Topps Chrome rookie debut patch autograph card of Pittsburgh Pirates superstar ace Paul Skenes has sold for $1.11 million at auction.

Fanatics Collect ran the auction, which also included an extended bidding process. All Fanatics Collect proceeds from the card will be donated to LA Fire Relief funds.

The card was pulled by an 11-year-old collector from Los Angeles on Christmas Day. Per Larry Holder of The Athletic, the collector asked his parents for one gift: a 24-pack hobby box of the 2024 Topps Chrome Update Series.

At the time, the race was on to find the valuable card. Sure enough, the 11-year-old found it. One month later, the decision was made to go to auction.

The Pirates selected Skenes, a former LSU star and 2023 NCAA champion, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

He didn't have to wait long for a call-up after posting a 0.99 ERA in seven starts (45 strikeouts in 27.1 innings) for Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024.

Skenes made his debut on May 11 and proceeded to dominate MLB, going 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA (0.95 WHIP) in 23 starts. He struck out 170 batters in 133 innings.

The right-hander started the All-Star Game and finished third in the National League Cy Young vote while earning Rookie of the Year honors as well. Unsurprisingly, he'll be starting Opening Day for the Pirates on March 27 against the Miami Marlins.

Skenes looks like he could be the game's top superstar pitcher for some time, in the vein of Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. So it's no surprise that this 1-of-1 rookie card went for such a high price.