Kindergartner finds ‘one of one’ Paul Skenes baseball card — and the MLB star responds
While everyone is hunting for Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes’ extremely rare rookie card in exchange for 30 years worth of season tickets, one lucky Texas child managed to stumble upon another, different card of Skenes.
Six-year-old Champ Stutts in Texas was lucky enough to stumble upon the “one of one” Skenes Onyx card. While it’s not the card so many are coveting, it’s a rare find of its own since there’s only one, as the boy himself points out in a now-viral TikTok posted by his mother, Kristi.
“I can’t breathe!” the kindergartner said.
After reaching almost 3 million views, someone unexpected saw and commented on the video — Skenes’ girlfriend, LSU star gymnast, Olivia Dunne.
“Brb showing Paul this immediately,” she wrote.
Another video was posted the following day with Dunne’s comment, along with a follow-up. “Paul said he would love to invite Champ to a Pirates game this year.”
According to WTAE in Pittsburgh, the Pirates reached out to offer Champ a Skenes jersey while his mom and Dunne are planning a meet-up.
The signed Skenes 1/1 Rookie Debut Patch card has yet to be found. In addition to two season tickets until 2055, the lucky winner gets a softball game for 30 at PNC Park and a spring training experience of a lifetime that includes batting practice with the team.
Skenes was the overall first pick by Pittsburgh in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his debut in May 2024. The Louisiana State alumnus went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 170 strikeouts as a starter during his rookie year. The Pirates went 76-86 and ended fifth in the National League Central.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Kindergartner finds ‘one of one’ Paul Skenes baseball card — and the MLB star responds."