Perrotto: Would You Take The Pirates’ Offer?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a humorless bunch.

Few in the organization seem exceptionally happy. Not the players, not the front office, not the people on the business side of the operation.

The one exception is Joe Klimchak, the in-game entertainment host at PNC Park. Joe never has bad days, and whatever the Pirates pay him is not enough.

Of course, the tone is set at the top. Owner Bob Nutting is not a people person and those who work for the Pirates fear running afoul of him.

With that in mind, the Pirates deserve a lot of credit for an idea they hatched over the weekend involving Paul Skenes and a baseball card of the rookie pitching sensation that could be worth seven figures.

The card features a patch worn on the sleeve of Skenes’s jersey from his major league debut, taken off at the end of the game on May 11 — and inserted into this one-of-a-kind card, then autographed by Skenes himself. It’s part of the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set that launched this past week, considered the most anticipated baseball card release in a decade, thanks to the rookies and second-year players with MLB debut patch cards.

For a point of reference, the most valuable card in the 2023 Topps Chrome Update set was that of New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe and his MLB debut patch. That card was auctioned for $150,000.

Skenes’ card is more valuable following his outstanding rookie season which included starting for the National League in the All-Star Game. He had an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts while striking out 170 in 133 innings. Skenes is a finalist for the NL Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards.

There is talk in the collecting industry that the Skenes’ card could fetch $1 million.

The Pirates are willing to trade with the person who finds the Skenes’ card in one of the Topps’ packs. And it is a very impressive offer.

The biggest enticement is a pair of season tickets behind home plate at PNC Park for the next 30 seasons. The Pirates are also offering the use of their home field for a softball game featuring up to 30 people as well as a meet and greet with Skenes, two autographed Skenes’ jerseys, the chance to work out with the Pirates before a game and a behind-the-scenes tour of the teams’ operations both in Pittsburgh and their spring training facilities in Bradenton.

Livvy Dunne, Skenes’ girlfriend and NCAA champion gymnast, has added to the package by offering the fan to sit with her in a private box at PNC Park during a game.

It is fascinating to ponder what the person who winds up with the card will do. The Pirates’ offer would be very enticing to any baseball fan, even though the franchise hasn’t won a division title since 1992 or a postseason series since 1979.

There is some once-in-a-lifetime kind of stuff there.

Me? I would keep the card and sell it to the highest bidder.

Then again, I’m 60 years old and spoiled beyond belief after spending the past 37 years getting an inside look at the game as a baseball writer.

However, the decision will be difficult for the fan who must make it. The Pirates have certainly added a fun twist to the whole idea.