A 13-year-old from Poulsbo named Abby walked out of T-Mobile Park on August 5 holding the only gold card among 20,000 handed out that night, and it’s now drawing bids topping $15,000 on eBay. The card features Jimothy, the short-spined raccoon who became a Seattle folk hero this summer, and what started as a free giveaway item has turned into a potential windfall for Abby’s college fund or a future home purchase.
Abby’s family hadn’t been paying close attention to the promotion when they walked into the ballpark that night, according to her mother, Jessie Nino, who spoke with The Seattle Times. Fans received the special Jimothy playing cards simply for entering the August 5 game, part of a promotion the Seattle Mariners built around the raccoon’s viral fame. It wasn’t until an older couple nearby recognized what Abby was holding and told the family there was only one gold card among the full run of 20,000 that the moment’s significance sank in.
People in the stands started offering to buy the card from the family that same night, and a Mariners staff member even approached them about brokering a deal to get the card to pitcher George Kirby, per the same account. The family decided to hold onto it for the time being rather than sell on the spot. It wasn’t until television interviews and calls from friends afterward that Nino says she realized just how much the card might be worth.
From Ballpark Freebie to Five-Figure Bidding War
A family friend eventually connected Nino with the owner of JCL Sports Cards & Memorabilia, who offered knowledge of the card market and consulted with others in the industry, the outlet reports. The owner asked for nothing in return for the help. Nino then listed the card on eBay, where the auction has pulled in more than 90 bids and a top offer of $15,000, with bidding open until Sunday. Nino says people have rallied around the family since the listing went live, and she plans to put the proceeds toward Abby’s college fund or a future home…