A one-of-a-kind MLB Debut Patch card featuring rookie player Nick Kurtz has sold for an impressive $516,000, making it the second highest price for a card of its kind. The sale occurred during the January Premier auction hosted by Fanatics Collect early on January 6, 2026. This sale places Kurtz’s card just behind Paul Skenes, whose card sold for $1.11 million last year.
The 2025 Topps Chrome Update MLB Debut Patch card is a unique autographed piece, ungraded, and it surpassed the previous record held by Jackson Holliday, which stood at $198,000. Kurtz, who recently earned the title of American League Rookie of the Year, humorously underestimated the card’s value when he initially signed it, joking that it would be worth “a couple hundred bucks.”
The MLB Debut Patch cards were introduced in 2023, allowing players to wear the patch on their jerseys during their first MLB game. After the game, the patch is authenticated, removed, and incorporated into a one-of-a-kind card that is then signed by the player and included in a Topps release. The latest batch of these cards can be found in the 2025 Topps Chrome Update series.
Kurtz’s recent sale significantly exceeds his previous record of $86,620, which was set just weeks ago with the sale of his 2025 Topps Chrome Superfractor one-of-one autographed card through Goldin. The growing interest in his cards reflects not only his rising star in Major League Baseball but also the expanding market for collectible sports cards.
In addition to Kurtz’s record, other MLB Debut Patch cards have also seen significant sales recently. Cards for Marcelo Mayer of the Boston Red Sox and Luisangel Acuña, who was traded from the New York Mets to the Chicago White Sox, sold for $54,000 and $30,000 respectively, highlighting the ongoing demand for unique player memorabilia.
As the sports card market continues to thrive, Kurtz’s sale sets a new benchmark for collectors and fans alike. The strong performance of the MLB Debut Patch cards indicates a promising future for both new and seasoned players in the collectibles arena. The top ten public sales for Topps MLB Debut Patch cards, as recorded by online sales database Card Ladder, further illustrates this trend and showcases the enthusiasm surrounding this segment of the sports memorabilia market.
