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Pete Crow-Armstrong reaches another level of stardom with staggering $1 million card sale

A PCA baseball card just broke the bank
ByRich Eberwein
Sep 25, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;  Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) at bat against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park.  Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Sep 25, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) at bat against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Pete Crow-Armstrong added another milestone to his baseball superstardom this week. The Cubs' center fielder became just the 37th professional athlete in history to have their trading card sell for seven figures. Last Tuesday, Crow-Armstrong's Topps Rookie Debut Patch autographed card fetched $1.098 million at a Goldin auction.

Introduced in 2023, Topps' Rookie Debut Patch cards feature a jersey patch worn by a player during their MLB debut, paired with the player's autograph. Because each patch is a unique piece of game-worn memorabilia, the series has quickly become one of the most coveted collectibles in sports. To date, only Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes ($1.11 million) has seen a Rookie Debut Patch card sell for more in an open auction.

The seven-figure price tag reflects an astronomical return on investment. According to The Athletic's Larry Holder, Crow-Armstrong's card originally sold for $19,000 in a private sale in 2024. The card's value skyrocketed thanks to Crow-Armstrong's MVP campaign this year, where he became the 7th player in MLB history to record more than 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.

Cubs fans get another sign of Pete Crow-Armstrong's stardom with jaw dropping $1 million sale

Regardless of what happens in the playoffs or for the rest of his career, Crow-Armstrong's 2026 campaign is cemented among the greatest we've ever seen on the North Side of Chicago. Although he hasn't officially won yet, he will almost certainly become just the fifth Cub in the last 60 years to take home the National League MVP award.

Kudos to the seller for their timing on this auction. I'd like to think that Crow-Armstrong has a few more MVP-caliber seasons in his future since he's only 24-years-old. But there are no guarantees in the sports universe, and this person cashed in while Crow-Armstrong is at the top of the baseball world.

The rookie patch cards for MLB's 2026 rookies are expected to release this November in the Topps Chrome Update Series. Pedro Ramirez, BJ Murray, James Triantos, and Riley Martin should have cards in the set. Although I don't see any of them fetching millions of dollars, even the lower-tiered Rookie Debut patches typically go for over a thousand dollars given their rarity.

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