Sometimes, being a sports fan feels incomplete without a collectible or two to boast about. An 11-year-old from California recently pulled one of the rarest cards in the Topps collection, his name making it to headlines among baseball fans. He pulled a Paul Skenes 1/1 Debut Patch card, which is worth millions. This was brought to the attention of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who Skenes plays for. They made a big offer to the kid in return for the card, but the answer was shocking.

You see when it was first announced that there is a 1/1 Paul Skenes card out there, Olivia Dunne, Paul Skenes’ girlfriend offered to invite the collector to the suite she will be sitting in. She had put out a saying, “Omg, someone found it! My offer still stands.” With this, the Pirates also offered the 11-year-old more enticing stuff on their X account, “An 11-year-old collector just pulled the Paul Skenes 1/1 Debut Patch card! Our offer still stands… you know where to find us.”

Below that they had a list of things that they would offer the 11-year-old, including two Pirates season tickets behind home plate for the next 30 years, a Meet & Greet with Paul Skenes, two Paul Skenes signed jerseys, a Pirates game with Livvy Dunne in her suite and so much more. But the shocking thing is, the kid rejected the offer from the Pirates. This did not come as a surprise to many people. After this rejection, they started to mock Livvy Dunne and the Pirates.

After Topps’s official handle on X posted about this many of the fans had things to say. One of the fans commented under this post saying, ” They included Livvy Dunne!? Lmfao that is so strange.” The fan’s comment highlights surprise at Olivia “Livvy” Dunne’s inclusion in the post. Her presence reflects her broad influence as a gymnast and social media personality. But as stated previously be her, she was the one who invited the finder of the card to her suite to watch the game.

Another fan said, “If he’s 3 years older he’s taking that offer to watch the game with Livvy Dunne.” This comment referenced Livvy Dunne’s widespread popularity, particularly among teens and youths, paying respects to her major accomplishments in gymnastics and her presence on social media.

There was also one comment which read, “Would I get to choose the outfit that Livvy Dunne wears also?” This light-hearted comment captures the attention and interest she commands as a public figure. The gymnast is one of the most popular college athletes there is!

Some comments mocked the Pirates for making such an offer to an 11-year-old. One of the fans said, “Why would someone in California trade this card for lifetime tickets in Pennsylvania lol.” As the kid who pulled the card is from California, it is safe to assume that he would have no interest in attending the games in Pittsburgh watching the Pirates.

Another fan said, “Yes. Who has time to go to baseball games for 30 years straight lol Take the money and run.” He made it clear that taking the money by auctioning the card would be a good deal than taking the offer. Not only because the kid stays away from Pittsburgh, but because he might not even be interested in baseball for 30 years.

After rejecting the offer, the 11-year-old decided to go with auctioning the card with Fanatics. After the auction, a part of the money collected by Fanatics will be donated to the charity that is helping victims of LA wildfires.

When baseball becomes life’s greatest stage

In the face of the devastating wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, Major League Baseball (MLB) and its players have risen to the challenge as true champions, not only on the field but in the community. The MLB organization has donated millions to relief efforts, while players like Clayton Kershaw and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers have personally contributed by raising awareness and providing essential supplies to those in need.

Players have also utilized their platforms to amplify relief campaigns. Mike Trout of the Angels organized fundraisers, and Justin Turner worked tirelessly to provide meals for displaced families. MLB teams have transformed stadiums into relief hubs, distributing food, clothing, and resources.

The spirit of teamwork in baseball has extended to rebuilding lives. After these wildfires, the collective efforts of the league become a beacon of unity, showing that even in times of hardship, the game of baseball is a stage for compassion and humanity.