Last week, the Pittsburgh Pirates tried and failed to strike a deal with an 11-year-old boy who owns one of the rarest baseball cards in circulation: the Paul Skenes Debut Patch card. Their pitch? A 30-year season ticket, a meet-and-greet with the pitcher himself, and a few other enticing perks (including one offered by the superstar pitcher’s superstar influencer girlfriend).
While this might sound like every young baseball fan’s dream, the Pirates’ offer raises two glaring issues: first, a Major League Baseball team cannot legally enter into a contract with a minor. And second, even if such an agreement were legally enforceable on its face (through the parents being the contracting party), it would be profoundly unfair to the young cardholder.
Let’s start with the legal basics. Minors cannot enter into binding contracts in the United States. That’s not just a technicality; it’s a fundamental principle designed to protect children from exploitation and to ensure that agreements made in their name serve their best interests. Any contract entered into by a minor is considered voidable, meaning the minor—or their guardian—can legally cancel it at any time. The law exists because children often lack the life experience and financial understanding needed to make decisions that could have long-term consequences.
The Pirates’ offer, which seems generous at face value, is a perfect example of why these protections are so important. Season tickets, even for 30 years, are nowhere near the potential monetary value of this card. Paul Skenes is one of the most exciting prospects in baseball, and his debut patch card is already making waves in the sports memorabilia world. By auctioning the card, the young collector could potentially earn a life-changing amount of money—likely in the six-figure range, if not higher.
Jason Matzus, a Pittsburgh attorney, weighed in on the situation, expressing concern over the offer’s fairness. “This young man has something extraordinarily valuable, and the Pirates’ proposal simply doesn’t reflect that value. I am happy that the boy and his family decided to auction the card and I hope they get as much money as the market will bear,” Matzus said. His point is spot on: the Pirates’ offer, while flashy, is more about the team’s public relations win than about genuinely respecting the value of this collectible.
The Pirates undoubtedly understand the card’s worth; they wouldn’t be trying to secure it if they didn’t. What they’re banking on is the emotional appeal of their proposal—a pitch tailored to a young fan’s love of the game and admiration for a local sports hero. It’s a clever tactic, but one that sought to exploit the kid’s enthusiasm rather than giving him a truly fair deal.
The value discrepancy becomes even starker when you consider the resale market for sports memorabilia. Rare cards like the Skenes Debut Patch have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years. For example, a 2022 Shohei Ohtani card fetched over $100,000, and cards for lesser-known players have brought in similarly staggering sums. If this card follows that trend, the Pirates’ offer of season tickets falls woefully short of what the card could fetch at auction.
What’s particularly troubling is how this scenario plays into a broader pattern of organizations leveraging their power and influence to take advantage of individuals with less bargaining power. In this case, it’s a child, but similar dynamics play out in other industries all the time, from unfair NIL contracts with college athletes to predatory sponsorship deals with amateur athletes. The imbalance in knowledge, resources, and experience creates opportunities for exploitation, and the law exists to act as a safeguard against it.
Let’s also examine the emotional leverage at play here. For an 11-year-old boy, the idea of meeting Paul Skenes and becoming a lifelong VIP at Pirates games must feel like a dream come true. It’s easy to see why a child might be tempted to jump at such an offer without fully understanding the financial implications. That’s exactly why it’s the responsibility of adults—whether it’s the boy’s guardians or the Pirates organization—to act with fairness and transparency. Offering a deal that grossly undervalues the card while dangling shiny perks is, at best, ethically questionable.
One could argue that the Pirates had good intentions, but good intentions don’t pay for college tuition, help a young man start a business, or fund a down payment on a house. Auctioning the card, on the other hand, could provide all of those opportunities and more. This isn’t just about money; it’s about ensuring that the boy’s rare opportunity translates into lasting value for his future.
At the end of the day, the Pirates had an opportunity to do the right thing. They could have facilitated an auction for the card, even providing guidance and support to help the boy maximize its value. That would have been a win-win: the boy would receive the financial reward he deserves, and the Pirates could have still purchased the card—fairly. Instead, they chose to offer an inherently unequal deal, relying on the appeal of perks rather than a proper valuation of the card’s worth.
As Matzus pointed out, the boy’s best move was, absolutely, to take the card to auction, as is the current plan. Not only will this ensure that he gets the optimal market value, but it will also set an important precedent: even when dealing with beloved organizations like professional sports teams, fairness and respect for value must come first.
Ultimately, the Pirates’ attempt to buy the Paul Skenes Debut Patch card from a child is a reminder of why legal protections for minors exist. It also highlights the need for greater accountability when powerful organizations engage with individuals who lack the resources or experience to advocate for themselves. Let’s hope this young fan—and his family—choose the route that ensures he gets what he deserves. After all, baseball is a game, but fairness and justice are not.
A Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer, Aron Solomon, JD, is the Chief Strategy Officer for AMPLIFY. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Fastcase 50, recognizing the top 50 legal innovators in the world. Aron has been featured in Newsweek, The Hill, Fast Company, Fortune, Forbes, CBS News, CNBC, USA Today, ESPN, TechCrunch, BuzzFeed, Venture Beat, The Independent, Fortune China, Abogados, Today’s Esquire, Yahoo!, ABA Journal, Law.com, The Boston Globe, and many other leading publications across the globe.
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