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The chase is on for one of the most sought-after collectibles in recent memory: the one-of-a-kind Topps Paul Skenes Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card. What makes this card even more enticing? The Pittsburgh Pirates have offered to trade it for an extraordinary prize—30 years of season tickets behind home plate.
At Baseball Card Castle in Cranberry, the search intensifies with every new shipment of cards.
"This is day eight of an odyssey that's unlike any card journey we've experienced," said Jeff Patton, the store’s owner.
The excitement is palpable, and collectors are ready to take their chances. Customers like Joe Balcik of Monroeville have high hopes.
"I heard they're gonna offer big money if you get the right card," Balcik said. His strategy? "I just took some from the top, some from the middle, some from the bottom."
For Georgia Krastek of McCandless, the search is personal. A die-hard Pirates fan who attended 23 games this year, she’s been on a mission to get Skenes’ autograph all season.
"I tried all year to get Paul Skenes' autograph, but I never did," Krastek said.
Since the Pirates announced their incredible offer, interest in the card has exploded. What was once a niche hunt for seasoned collectors has drawn new participants from all walks of life.
"Now it’s not just the regular collectors," Patton explained. "Grandmas and grandpas are coming in, saying, 'I want to get my grandson or granddaughter in on this.'"
And with a reward as exciting as decades of prime seats at PNC Park, the buzz is understandable.
"I would go," said Krastek, imagining a win. "And I bet my grandsons would visit me more often too."
At Baseball Card Castle, Patton is working tirelessly to meet the demand.
"The list keeps on filling up," he said. "We’re already starting on tomorrow’s list. We promise product tomorrow, and we’ll get it somehow."
For now, the card remains elusive, but the dream is alive for every collector who opens a pack.
"It would be so nice," Krastek said, holding on to hope.
As the hunt continues, one thing is certain: this journey has brought fans, families, and collectors together in pursuit of something truly special.
