Fri Jan 24 23:40:00 UTC 2025: ## 11-Year-Old Rejects Pirates’ Generous Offer for Rare Skenes Baseball Card

**PITTSBURGH, PA** – An 11-year-old Los Angeles collector has turned down a substantial offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a unique Paul Skenes rookie card, opting instead to auction the prized item. The card, featuring Skenes’ autograph and a game-worn jersey patch, was offered a trade that included 30 years of prime PNC Park season tickets and an on-field softball game. Even an offer from Skenes’ girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, to attend a game in a luxury suite, couldn’t sway the young collector.

Topps, the card manufacturer, announced the decision Friday. While the collector expressed that obtaining the card was a “dream come true,” the allure of decades of Pirates games apparently didn’t match the potential value of the card itself, which is expected to fetch a high price at auction in March. Proceeds from the Fanatics Collect auction will benefit fire relief efforts in Los Angeles.

The Pirates, while “bummed” by the rejection, have extended an invitation to the young fan to attend a game in 2025. The team’s disappointment is understandable, considering Skenes’ impressive rookie season, which saw him finish third in NL Cy Young voting and become an All-Star. Despite his stellar performance, Skenes himself has stated his focus is on the Pirates’ future success, with free agency not on his mind until 2029.

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