Paul Skenes Makes MLB All-Star History Starting Two Seasons

Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace and former LSU All-American, made MLB history by becoming the first pitcher to start the All-Star Game in each of his first two seasons, a feat unprecedented in the league's history. In the 2025 All-Star Game, Skenes dominated the opening inning by striking out Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene and retiring Aaron Judge on a groundout. His historic achievement has been commemorated with a special edition Topps NOW card featuring him in All-Star Game gear, with rare parallels and a highly sought-after 1-of-1 Superfractor Autograph available to collectors. Skenes joins an elite group of Major Leaguers who started the All-Star Game in their first two seasons, including Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Rod Carew, Frank Robinson, and 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Ichiro Suzuki. In 2025, Skenes has continued his dominant performance with a 2.01 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 121 innings, following his 2024 Rookie of the Year season where he posted a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. Additionally, Aroldis Chapman made history at the same All-Star Game by sending it to a swing-off for the first time in 93 years, highlighting the game’s memorable moments.