Alright folks, so today I wanted to figure out if buying one of those crazy expensive Paul Skenes rookie cards, specifically a 1/1, was actually smart or just me being a sucker for hype. Here’s how that whole adventure went down.
The Spark That Lit This Dumpster Fire
Scrolling through the feed this morning, seeing Skenes’ name plastered everywhere after that killer start. Boom, the thought hits me: “Should I buy a piece of history? What if he’s the next big thing?” My brain went straight to those shiny 1/1 auction listings flashing dollar signs. Got that collector itch bad.
Digging Into The Mud
First thing, I cracked open the laptop. Didn’t just google like a normie, no – I dove deep:
- Checked what people were actually paying right now for his lower-end cards. Crazy numbers, man.
- Dug around forums where old-timers talk. They kept muttering about “sticker autos” and “modern overproduction.” Sounded grumpy, but maybe they had a point?
- Tried finding other pitchers labeled “can’t miss” whose 1/1 cards sold years back. Like, what happened to Stephen Strasburg’s ultra-rare stuff now? Oof. Tough to even find recent sales data. Radio silence.
Kept stumbling over horror stories. Tales of guys sinking stacks into the “sure thing” rookie pitcher, only to watch that card’s value plummet faster than a sinker after the dude got hurt or just… sucked. Felt a cold sweat starting.
The Auction Site Fever Dream (And The Crash)
Feeling stubborn, I logged onto one of those big auction sites. Found a Skenes 1/1. My heart did that thumpy thing. Picture looked sick. Starting bid already made my wallet whimper. Clicked the bid button… finger hovering…
Then I sat back. Didn’t click. Thought about Strasburg again. Thought about how many pitching “phenoms” fizzle. Thought about how literally zero guarantees exist in baseball. Especially for arms. Imagined dropping that cash and then Skenes needing Tommy John next month. My gut churned like bad stadium food. Couldn’t pull the trigger.
So What’s The “Smart” Play? Spoiler: Not This
After breathing into a paper bag (figuratively), here’s where I landed:
- It’s Pure Gambling: Buying that 1/1? Same rush as dropping cash on a single roulette number. Might hit, probably won’t.
- Pitchers Are Fragile: Arms blow out. It’s not if, it’s when. Card drops with the snap of a ligament.
- The “Investment” Trap: People saying it’s a solid investment? Nah. An investment you can actually track and measure? Stocks, maybe some real estate. A piece of cardboard? Too messy, too tied to hype that vanishes overnight.
- Flipping For Profit? Ha! Way too late. The mega profits go to dudes who pulled it themselves or snagged it before the hype train left the station. Now? Insane price just to maybe break even later.
Final Reality Check
Walked away from the computer feeling like I dodged a bullet. If you got stupid money burning a hole and just want the thrill, the status? Yeah, maybe. But calling it a “smart pick”? Fooling yourself. Feels less like an investment strategy and more like buying a really expensive lottery ticket where the numbers haven’t even been drawn yet. Sticking to cheaper cards for fun – and keeping the big bets for stuff that doesn’t depend on a 21-year-old’s elbow holding together.
