This 11-Year-Old’s Baseball Card is Worth More Than Paul Skenes’ 2025 Salary
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Imagine opening a pack of baseball cards and pulling one so valuable that it’s worth more than the actual salary of the star athlete featured on it. That’s the reality for one lucky 11-year-old from Los Angeles, who just might cash in on Paul Skenes’ MLB Debut Patch card for more money than the Pittsburgh Pirates ace will make in 2025.
Bidding on the one-of-one, PSA 10 gem-mint card—which features an authentic patch from Skenes’ Major League debut jersey along with his signature—has already soared to $550,000 as of Wednesday night. Once you tack on the auction house’s buyer’s premium, that number jumps to $660,000.
For context, Skenes’ 2025 base salary sits at $800,000. Not too shabby for a guy throwing triple-digit heat, but even better for the kid holding what could be the hottest modern baseball card on the market.
A Record-Breaking Sale in the Making
Skenes’ Debut Patch card has already shattered previous sales records for his collectibles. Until now, his most expensive card was a 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect Superfractor, which brought in $123,200 last September. The current auction has quadrupled that figure, and there’s still plenty of time left before the bidding war closes on March 20.To put this into perspective, only six sports cards have sold for more than $550,000 in 2024, according to Card Ladder’s database:
- Babe Ruth’s 1916 rookie card – $1.37 million
- LeBron James’ 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite RPA – $1.2 million
- Roberto Clemente’s 1955 Topps PSA 9 – $1 million
- Victor Wembanyama’s 2023 Panini Prizm Nebula 1/1 – $860,100
- Allen Iverson’s 1997 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now – $701,500
- Kobe Bryant’s 1997 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now – $579,500
The Perfect Storm Driving Up the Price
It’s not just Skenes’ talent driving this sale—it’s a mix of scarcity, hype, and pop culture buzz.- Skenes’ Dominance – The young pitcher is already an All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, with a fastball that touches 103 MPH. His potential is through the roof.
- The Mystery Kid – The 11-year-old seller has remained anonymous, fueling even more intrigue around the card’s journey.
- The Livvy Dunne Factor – Skenes’ girlfriend, a social media superstar and NCAA NIL pioneer, has inadvertently turned this card into a viral sensation.
How High Can It Go?
Sports memorabilia insiders have wildly different predictions for where this auction will end:- Larry Holder bets on $1.1 million, citing major interest from collectors and casual buyers alike.
- Caleb Mezzy thinks it could hit $2 million, given the media buzz and Pirates’ failed attempts to buy it back.
- Dan Uthman sees $1.5 million as the ceiling, factoring in current economic trends.
- Craig Custance expects $1.7 million, but hesitates to push beyond that due to pitchers typically being less valuable in the card world.
- Brooks Peck estimates $1.4 million, acknowledging the hype but remaining cautious about long-term value.
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