13-Year-Old Mariners Fan’s Free Jimothy Raccoon Card Sparks Bidding War Near $17,000
A free giveaway at a Seattle Mariners game has turned into an unexpected five-figure windfall for a 13-year-old fan.
The Mariners handed out baseball cards featuring Jimothy, a popular raccoon from Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, to the first 20,000 fans who entered T-Mobile Park for the team’s August 5 game against the Detroit Tigers.
Among those fans was a 13-year-old named Abby, who happened to receive the rarest card in the entire promotion — a one-of-one gold Jimothy rookie card.
She later listed the card on eBay, and the bidding quickly became extraordinary.
According to the report, the auction had climbed to nearly $17,000 by Saturday, with bidding scheduled to continue through Sunday.
What makes the situation even more unusual is that Abby received the card for free simply by attending the Mariners game.
A One-of-One Card
While most fans received the standard Jimothy card, the Mariners created several rare versions for collectors.
The promotion included cards with different levels of scarcity, including editions limited to 2,000 copies, blue versions limited to 500 and silver versions limited to 100.
But only one gold card was produced.
Abby ended up with that one-of-one card.
The value skyrocketed almost immediately. On Tuesday, 68 bids had pushed the price to approximately $5,400. Just a day later, another 13 bids more than doubled the price to $12,300.
By Saturday, the bidding had climbed to around $17,000.
How Jimothy Became a Mariners Sensation
Jimothy is no ordinary baseball-card subject.
The raccoon became a viral sensation in Seattle thanks to his unusual appearance, short and rounded body, and distinctive walk. The Mariners eventually embraced him as an unofficial mascot.
Jimothy even made an appearance in the team’s in-game salmon race, where he emerged victorious. His popularity grew further when Mariners players began wearing Jimothy-themed shirts during batting practice.
That popularity eventually led to the creation of his own baseball card.
The card even includes a tongue-in-cheek scouting report. His throwing arm is described as “all fours,” while his ability to hit is essentially listed as nonexistent — a fitting evaluation for a raccoon.
From Free Giveaway to Five-Figure Collectible
The Jimothy promotion became a major hit with Mariners fans, with Jimothy-themed ticket events selling out quickly. The team eventually added a second event after the first one sold out.
The cards also developed a surprising secondary market, with regular giveaway cards attracting buyers and the one-of-one gold version becoming the ultimate prize.
Now, a 13-year-old Mariners fan is at the center of an unexpected bidding war that has already reached five figures.
It is an extraordinary reminder of how quickly sports collectibles can explode in value — especially when a beloved local internet celebrity, a major-league team and a one-of-one card are involved.
Jimothy may have never recorded an MLB hit, but his rookie card is proving to be one of the hottest collectibles in Seattle.
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