Investing in Skenes Rookie Cards

Skenes' Rookie Highlights

2024 Topps Update Series #US250

A staple of his MLB debut memorabilia, the 2024 Topps Update Series #US250 Paul Skenes rookie card captures the unadulterated excitement of his May 2024 big-league arrival just months after being the No. 1 overall draft pick. It features the Pirates ace in his iconic black-and-gold uniform against a dynamic action backdrop. Released in late September 2024 as part of the flagship Update set's hobby-only chrome and base variants, this RC quickly became a market mainstay for collectors on a tight budget. By October, PSA 10-graded examples were selling for $150–$250 amid Skenes' All-Star start and Rookie of the Year buzz, peaking at $325 on eBay amid holiday hype and his Cy Young runner-up finish. The #US250 has maintained its value into 2025 at about $200 for high-grade copies.

2024 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto

The 2024 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto #CPA-PS, which was released in late August of 2024 and immediately praised for its scarcity (base versions numbered to 999, with refractor parallels down to 1/1 Superfractors), is his flagship pre-rookie gem from the annual prospect showcase set. It features a shining on-card autograph of the Pirates star and a photo of his rookie moustache look, about to unleash hell on a batter. With raw base examples soaring from $200–$300 at release amid his MLB debut hype to a peak of $360 in October 2024 on the heels of his All-Star start and Rookie of the Year trajectory, this card quickly became a cornerstone chase item for investors.

2023 Bowman Draft - Chrome Prospect Autographs #CDA-PS

The cornerstone of Paul Skenes' pre-MLB collecting frenzy is the 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect Autographs #CDA-PS Paul Skenes rookie card, which features the No. 1 overall pick in a fresh Pirates uniform delivering a pitch. The base version is unnumbered, but parallels range from Refractor (/499) to the extremely rare Superfractor (1/1). With raw base examples trading for $200-$400 in January 2024, it was Skenes' first major Bowman auto. By June, on the eve of his MLB debut, it had skyrocketed to $600-$800, driven by over 300 tracked eBay and auction sales during his All-Star ascent and Rookie of the Year victory.

Valuation Trends

Paul Skenes Rookie Card Market Snapshot

• 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB Debut Patch Autograph 1/1
  Record sale: $1.11 million (Goldin Auctions, March 2025). Still the highest modern non-Trout baseball card sale; no public resale since.
• 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect Auto #CDA-PS (base, raw)
  Current: ~$585 (last eBay sale Nov 22) Up 17% in past 30 days; PSA 9 last sold $722 (Nov 15)
• 2024 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto #CPA-PS (base /999, raw)
  Current: ~$257 (last sale Nov 18). PSA 10: $850 (Nov 21 sale)
• 2024 Topps Update Series #US250 base rookie (PSA 10)
  Current: ~$85–$90. Down from $150+ peaks in October 2024; down ≈40% from high
• 2024 Topps Triple Threads Rookie Relics (various /18–/36)
  Raw examples: $300–$450, depending on parallel and swatch.
• General trend (Nov 2025).
  Base and common rookies down 20–40% from 2024 peaks. Graded high-end autos and low-numbered parallels holding +15–100% year-over-year. Volume remains strong (500+ tracked sales monthly across major platforms)

Data sourced from recent completed eBay, Goldin, Fanatics Collect, and Sports Card Investor sales as of late November 2025.

Risk Factors For Future Values

• Injury and Performance Volatility: Skenes, a high-velocity pitcher who frequently hits 100 mph or more, is at a higher risk of UCL tears and Tommy John surgery, which could keep him out of action for a year or longer. Experts say this is "inevitable" for prospects like him, potentially derailing his Cy Young trajectory and causing sharp value drops in a position already prone to attrition.
• Hype-Driven Overvaluation: Recent bias and marketing (e.g., corporate purchases like Dick's Sporting Goods) have inflated current prices, particularly for high-end vehicles like the $1.11M Debut Patch, surpassing even Hall of Famers like Kershaw ($66K max) or Verlander. This has led to warnings of an impending "crash", where values could drop if hype fades.
• Market Saturation and Speculation: With over 66 high-end sales already (compared to 18 for Kershaw), the deluge of Skenes cards from several sets runs the risk of diluting scarcity and transforming investments into "gambling" that depends more on long-term dominance than on a proven legacy.
• Broader Hobby Trends: Base cards are already down 40% from 2024 highs; diversification is advised over large Skenes bets for 2025. Economic cooling and a shift in collector focus (e.g., to international stars like Ohtani) could intensify downturns.

Where might Skenes' values rise to? Here is a list of some of the highest-priced sports cards ever sold:

• The 10 Most Expensive Basketball Cards Ever Sold – And What Makes Them Priceless
• The Most Expensive Football Cards Ever Sold: 2025 Update on Million-Dollar NFL Treasures
• The 10 Most Expensive Baseball Cards Ever Sold—and Why They Fetch Millions

Investment for Beginners

Buying Channels

The safest and least expensive strategy for novices wishing to invest in Paul Skenes' rookie cards in late 2025 is to concentrate on graded, liquid cards in the $50–$300 range and purchase only from reliable channels:

• For his three most well-known rookies, stick to PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 copies: 2024 Topps Update #US250 ($85–$100), 2024 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto raw or PSA 10 ($250–$350), and 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Auto raw (~$500–$600). These are the easiest to resell later and have the largest buyer pools.
• Purchase only from reputable hobby stores like Dave & Adam's, Steel City Collectibles, Blowout Cards, or Giant Sports Cards on eBay; stay away from Facebook groups, Instagram direct messages, and small Discord deals when you see warning signs.
• For buyer protection, always check recent "sold" listings rather than asking prices, and use PayPal Goods & Services or credit card payments (never Venmo/Friends & Family or cryptocurrency).
• Establish a strict budget (many novices begin with $200 to $500) and treat it as recreational funds rather than retirement savings. If Skenes is injured or regresses, his cards may still drop by an additional 30-50%, so only invest what you feel comfortable setting on fire.

Grading Priority

1. Must-grade: Any autographed card. 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Auto, 2024 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto, and all Topps Chrome Update cards must be graded, provided they pass the eye test, free of defects, good centering, etc. The value driver is the auto; a raw copy of a PSA 10 or BGS 9.5/10 may be worth 2-4x.
2. Strongly recommended: The 2024 Topps Update #US250 base. PSA 10 population is still reasonable, and the PSA 10 premium is currently 4-5× over raw ($85-$90 vs. $15-$20).
3. Optional & Low ROI: Non-auto refractors (X-Fractor, Refractor, etc.) and most relic-only cards. Raw versions trade actively, and grading fees often eat most of the premium unless it’s a low-pop parallel (/25 or rarer).

Bottom line: send every auto to PSA or BGS, slab the Update base if it looks gem mint, and keep everything else raw unless you’re holding long-term or it’s a true high-end parallel.

The Wrap Up

One of the most exciting rookie seasons in contemporary baseball history has been produced by Paul Skenes, and his cards, particularly the flagship Bowman Draft and Topps Chrome Update autos, have already established themselves as essential pieces for a new generation of collectors. The combination of on-field dominance, on-card autographs, and relatively controlled print runs keeps his best rookies among the most alluring long-term holds outside of Shohei Ohtani, even though the market has cooled from its 2024 fever pitch and carries real risks (injury, Pirates market size, pitcher volatility). As we approach 2026 and beyond, Skenes continues to be the obvious "next big thing" on the pitching side of the hobby for patient buyers who focus on graded key cards, avoid overpaying for raw hype, and view the position as a multi-year play rather than a quick-flip gamble.

People Also Ask:

• Which Paul Skenes card sold for the most money?
  The 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB Debut Patch Autograph 1/1, pulled by an 11-year-old Dodgers fan on Christmas morning 2024. It fetched $1.11 million (including buyer's premium) via auction in March 2025 and remains the hobby's priciest modern pitcher card.
• Is the 2024 Topps Update #US250 a true Paul Skenes rookie card?
  The standard base design qualifies it as his flagship MLB rookie card from his debut year, even though it doesn't feature the "RC" logo typical of Update sets. PSA 10 copies are currently trading between $85 and $90, which is a good entry-level hold despite a decline from 2024 peaks.
• Do Paul Skenes' 2023 Bowman Draft prospect cards qualify as rookies?
  The Chrome Auto #CDA-PS (raw ~$585) is one example of a pre-rookie prospect card from his draft year. His 2024 MLB debut cards (such as Topps Update #US250) mark the beginning of actual rookie cards. Because of the autographs, prospect versions are highly valuable even though they aren't marked as "RC."