Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes’ 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB debut patch autograph card sold for a stunning $1.11 million, including buyer’s premium, on Thursday.
It’s a record paid for a Skenes card — whose 2025 base salary is $875,000 — and the most expensive modern, non-Mike Trout baseball card. (A 1-of-1 Trout rookie card sold for $3.9 million in August 2020, then the most expensive sports card of all time.)
The buyer’s identity is currently unknown. The card was sold via Fanatics Collect.
The 1-of-1 numbered card with an on-card autograph includes a patch Skenes wore on his Pirates uniform during his MLB debut, a conceit that MLB exclusive trading card licensee Topps developed and introduced for the 2023 season.
