AuctionCards AutographsTicketsGame WornNews

Paul Skenes 1/1 card goes to auction: What comes next for coveted Rookie Debut Patch?

What is card worth? How was it delivered? When will it sell? cllct answers all the questions

Cover Image for Paul Skenes 1/1 card goes to auction: What comes next for coveted Rookie Debut Patch?
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes wore the MLB Rookie Debut Patch in his first big-league start May 11, 2024. (Credit: Getty Images)

The Paul Skenes Rookie Debut Patch Autograph 1/1 was the most coveted baseball card of 2024.

News broke Tuesday the card had been found by an 11-year-old collector in the Los Angeles area, and the boy and his family wished to remain anonymous.

On Friday, Fanatics Collect announced the card had been consigned for auction, and the collector had turned down a number of hefty bounties, including the Pittsburgh Pirates' offer of 30 years of season tickets behind home plate.

The news set social media ablaze, with debate, questions and even conspiracy theories emerging.

Let's fill out all the details:

What do we know about the card?

Among the most coveted and important cards to release in 2024, the Skenes 1/1 is part of Topps’ Rookie Debut Patch Autographs set.

Featuring one-of-a-kind patches created for and worn only during a player’s major-league debut, the cards were meant to become the most important rookie card for every player included.

And they certainly have done that. Topps' program is one of the most memorable in cards in the last 20 years.

The RDPA program first launched as part of 2023 Topps Chrome Update Baseball and featured 91 players in the first set.

Skenes’ 1/1 card, which was released as part of 2024 Topps Chrome Update on Nov. 13, is one of the 251 patches included in the program’s second year.

RELATED STORIES:

What do we know about the person who pulled it?

Fanatics said the family is resolute in protecting the boy's identity. Not everyone records themselves opening a box, and not everyone posts what they pulled on social media. Fanatics did share his journal entry, which says he pulled the card on Christmas Day.

If it was pulled on Christmas, why did it take nearly a month to announce its discovery?

Some collectors have questioned whether Topps could have drawn out the chase for the card, with the assumption interest in the product would significantly drop once the set’s main chase was gone.

But Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan told cllct Fanatics first learned of the redemption being pulled Jan. 3. By the time the company started working on facilitating the delivery of the card, the Los Angeles wildfires had ravaged the region. Mahan said the family had to evacuate twice, so the delivery of the card was delayed until Jan. 23.

What do we know about the delivery?

Fanatics Collect vice president Kevin Lenane flew to Dallas on Thursday to get the card from Topps and bring it to the family.

By the time that happened, Fanatics Collect had won the rights for the consignment. Lenane then drove the card to PSA, where it got a 10/10 grade.

PSA confirmed to cllct the card was submitted for same-day turnaround grading at an expedited service level.

Lenane then took the card so Fanatics could market it. The next day, Fanatics/Topps revealed in a social media post the redemption had been pulled, and Fanatics had won the rights to auction the card.

Fanatics Collect knew the redeemer because Fanatics owns Topps. Is that fair to other auction houses?

It’s certainly an advantage, which was pointed out by Ken Goldin, whose Goldin Auctions was not contacted.

“Nobody except Topps, the manufacturer, knew that this kid had this card and the manufacturer of the card gave it to the auction house they own," Goldin told cllct. "We were never given an opportunity."

Goldin added in jest, "The whole thing was a fix. It was like the 1919 World Series.”

Was it unfair? Not exactly. Why? Because the person who owns the redemption could technically make any decision about the fate of the card before Topps/Fanatics took possession.

Auction houses and breakers can put bounties on chase cards, as many have done, letting collectors know their offers ahead of time.

That’s what the Pirates did, offering the pair of season tickets, a meet-and-greet with Skenes, two signed Skenes jerseys and the chance to attend a game with Skenes’ girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, in her suite.

Cllct has learned that before Fanatics Collect's announcement, a man called Robert Edward Auctions and represented he held a very valuable modern redemption card, according to a source with knowledge of the timeline.

The man said the owner was considering REA, Goldin and Heritage to auction off the card.

After asking several questions, including whether a reserve was possible, the man said he would get back to the auction house.

Messages to Heritage from cllct went unreturned.

Shortly before Topps announced the Skenes card had been pulled, REA was told the family went in another direction, finding out along with the rest of the hobby Friday that Fanatics Collect was the card’s destination.

Which auction house has been the best for sales of high-end cards?

For that, we should look at sales of high end cards by auction house.

Looking at the auction houses neutrally, it shouldn’t be shocking to see the card consigned with Fanatics Collect, formerly known as PWCC.

Prior to PWCC’s acquisition by Fanatics in 2023, the auction house was known for a number of high-end sales, including the $3.12 million paid for a 2018-19 Panini National Treasures Luka Doncic RPA Logoman 1/1 in 2022.

PWCC also helped broker a private deal for a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James RPA numbered to 23, which fetched $5.2 million in 2021.

According to data tool Card Ladder, Fanatics Collect sold 50 modern (1980-present) sports cards for $100,000 or more in 2024. Goldin sold 105, while Heritage sold 29 and REA sold 5.

Does the card really have to be a redemption?

There is a real reason for the card to be a redemption.

Putting aside the fact it’s a potential $1 million card, Mahan said it’s important to deliver valuable cards in as good of condition as possible. So putting thick cards in a multi-pack box in general is a concern.

The public shouldn’t worry, Fanatics has drastically cut down on Topps redemptions under its power and has been very diligent in fulfilling them.

What happens now?

Fanatics Collect announced on Jan. 24 that the card will appear in the upcoming March Premier Auction, with all Fanatics Collect proceeds donated to Los Angeles fire relief funds.

Fanatics Collect has not committed to a date for the auction, but it will be beneficial for the sale to happen sooner rather than later.

Given Skenes' incredible rookie season and future potential, a million dollar price tag isn’t out of the question.

Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct.com and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectibles market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.

Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.