THE NEW YORK TIMES: A One-of-a-Kind Card Fuels a Treasure Hunt for the Ages

The hunt for rare sports trading cards can feel like a search for buried treasure. There are “chases” and “bounties” and card values that rise and fall like waves. So it makes perfect sense that, at the heart of one of the pastime’s most-hyped pursuits, is a lanky, towering and mustachioed (Pittsburgh) Pirate.

The card in question is singular in nature. Produced by Topps, it features Paul Skenes, a 22-year-old pitcher whose remarkable rise led him from being drafted out of Louisiana State University to being a major league superstar in a span of 10 months. The rookie card is autographed, but what makes it unique is that it includes the “MLB Debut” patch from the uniform he wore in his first major league game.

The card is the most sought-after type in collecting — a so-called one-of-one, with no possibility of being replicated — and it could fetch more than $1 million at auction.

But first, someone has to find it…