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If you’ve never thought your life could be anything but a catastrophe, the Pittsburgh Pirates are offering up a chance at a golden ticket.
The Pirates have put a hefty bounty on a one-of-one autographed Paul Skenes rookie card from Topps, offering the lucky fan who finds it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to break the glass ceiling should they turn in the card.
The massive prize includes two Pirates season tickets behind home plate for 30 years, a softball game for 30 people at PNC Park and some up-close and personal experiences with the team at spring training.
Before hitting the MLB ranks, Skenes was the most promising pitching prospect in years. He then lived up to the hype and more. In his MLB debut, the then-21-year-old struck out seven and gave up three runs in four innings of work against the Chicago Cubs.
What makes the rookie card so special, other than it being a one-of-one, is that it includes an “MLB Debut” patch worn by the righty on that first outing from May 11. In short, it’s the rookie card to rule all rookie cards.
The legendary status of the card has caught the eye of collectors and the baseball world as a whole. However, rather than simply letting one fan hold on to the card, the Pirates want to display it at PNC Park so that all fans can get a chance to take it in, ultimately offering up the mega-prize to the lucky pack-ripper.
Skenes’ girlfriend, LSU gymnast and famous influencer Livvy Dunne, upped the ante and offered the fan who finds the card a chance to sit with her in her suite at PNC Park.
To add to the prize pool even more, late night talk show host Seth Meyers put up four VIP tickets to a taping of his show just for a chance to look at the card for a second.
Skenes was a force to be reckoned with in his first season in MLB, finishing with an 11-3 record in 23 starts while putting up a 1.96 ERA with 170 strikeouts in 133.0 innings pitched.
He was named an All-Star and is a finalist for both the rookie of the year and Cy Young awards in the NL, which will be announced next week.
Though there’s no such thing as a sure thing, Skenes’ hype has hit an all-time high and the Pirates see a future Cooperstown staple in the hurler. That pedigree has turned the hunt for his rookie card into a frenzy for a chance at history. Its rarity will also likely create a bidding war, should they wish to put it up for auction.
The choice is theirs should they wish to turn it in, but the Pirates have named their price — a prize Charlie Bucket could only dream of.
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