Why Paul Skenes Is Reshaping the Baseball Card Collecting Hobby
Paul Skenes’ rise to superstardom in both baseball and The Hobby has been nothing short of extraordinary. Today, we celebrate the hard-throwing pitcher’s 23rd birthday by taking a look at his breakthrough year and the cards that tell the story.
The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, who also finished third in NL Cy Young voting, put up a historic debut campaign that became one of the stories of the 2024 MLB season. Let’s take a closer look.
A Debut for the Ages
Skenes made his MLB debut on May 11, 2024. While his four-inning start against the Chicago Cubs was hardly his best of the season, the moment was what mattered. Topps captured the occasion with an MLB Debut Rookie Patch Autograph card that quickly became one of the hottest chase cards in recent memory.
The mania began when Skenes’ Pittsburgh Pirates offered a unique bounty for the card: two season tickets behind home plate for the next 30 years, along with a Skenes meet-and-greet, two signed Skenes jerseys, a private tour of Pirates City, and a softball game for 30 at PNC Park. Skenes’ girlfriend Olivia Dunne then upped the ante, offering whoever pulled the card the chance to join her for a game in a suite. The offer went viral, sparking intense discussion in The Hobby and fueling the pursuit of this once-in-a-lifetime card.
The story only got crazier when the card was finally pulled by an 11-year-old in Los Angeles on Christmas Day. He and his family put the card up for auction with Fanatics Collect, where it went on to fetch $1,110,000.
The final act came when it was revealed that Dick’s Sporting Goods had won the auction. In May, the card was unveiled at Dick’s House of Sport in Pittsburgh, where fans and collectors can get a glimpse at one of the biggest cards in The Hobby.
Skenes & Bowman
As is often the case with baseball prospects, Skenes’ early Bowman cards are among the most sought-after offerings of the ace. Skenes’ 1st Bowman from 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball features a great action shot and is the most coveted 1st Bowman from the release.
The 1-of-1 Superfractor Auto sold for $123,220 in September 2024. This auto version of the card is currently listed on Fanatics Collect for $1,200.
One of the game’s biggest stars, Skenes seemed destined for greatness. Selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes put together a historic final season in college with LSU, setting a new SEC record for strikeouts in a season and taking home National Pitcher of the Year in the process.
Topps Captures a Brilliant Rookie Season
The hype around Paul Skenes was both incredible and warranted. His electric stuff was undeniable, and quickly, he became one of the sport’s must-watch players.
In addition to his famous Rookie Debut Patch Auto card, Topps NOW® released a card commemorating his debut in the big leagues. A print run of almost 25,000 showed that collectors were very excited by the talent on display.
It wasn’t long before Paul Skenes had become appointment viewing. On June 5, fans and collectors got their first chance to see the pitcher square off against one of the Kings of The Hobby, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.
At the time, Pat O’Sullivan, a brand manager at Topps, said, “The hype leading up to this matchup made it a can’t-miss event. Learning that Skenes attended Ohtani’s debut and was a fan of his added another level of intrigue.”
The showdown lived up to the hype, showing the best of both stars. In Ohtani’s first at-bat, the flame-throwing Skenes struck him out on three straight 100-MPH pitches. Next time around, Ohtani struck back, launching a home run to center field.
By the time the Midseason Classic rolled around, Skenes had established himself as one of the best pitchers in the sport. He became the first rookie in almost 30 years to start the All-Star Game, and the fifth ever to do so. Topps NOW released this card to mark the occasion.
By the time the season came to a close, Paul Skenes had delivered one of the greatest rookie seasons in the history of baseball. Striking out 170 batters in only 133 innings, Skenes went 11-3, with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. His ERA was the lowest by any rookie making at least 20 starts in the live-ball era.
Skenes’ Rookie of the Year Topps NOW release had a print run of almost 45,000. On May 4, an autographed parallel numbered to 5 sold for $1,750.
Skenes Rookie Cards All the Rage
Unsurprisingly, Skenes’ 2024 rookie cards have garnered major attention from collectors. His inclusion in 2024 Topps Update was inevitable, giving collectors myriad ways to collect rookie cards of the Pirates ace.
This 2024 Topps Chrome Baseball Update Series card, just like a Skenes fastball, simply explodes out of the hand. A festive and engaging design that captures at least a bit of the mania that swept across The Hobby during Skenes’ first year in The Show.
Skenes’ Radiating Rookies card is also as electric as his stuff. In April, a PSA 10 version of the card fetched $660. Another is currently listed at Fanatics Collect for $568.
Skenes Begins His Encore
This season, at the time of this writing, Skenes has 62 strikeouts in 62 innings, to go along with a 2.44 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. Unsurprisingly, he has been one of the most highly featured players across 2025 Topps releases, in which Skenes’ cards include the Topps All-Star Rookie Cup.
For Paul Skenes, it’s been a whirlwind start to what should be an incredible career in baseball. The pitcher has raced from top prospect to top ace in the time it takes for his fastball to blow by an opposing hitter. Drafted only two years ago, Skenes matched otherworldly expectations with an out-of-this-world debut.
Now, he’s already in rarified “must-watch” air as one of the superstars of The Hobby. Happy Birthday, Paul!
