Mike Trout
Date of Birth: 8/7/1991
Rookie Card Year: 2011
Investment Rating: 9.5
Overview
The first Mike Trout baseball cards came out not long after he was old enough to drive and collectors have been watching them ever since. Selected by the Angels with the 25th pick in the 2009 draft, he quickly became a superstar in the league, and the hobby, putting Mike Trout rookie cards on the map.
Trout got his earliest taste of the majors as a teenager in 2011. Although his initial stints with the Angels weren't very memorable, Trout remained one of baseball's top prospects. Within a year, he was showing why scouts were so big on his abilities and he has reinforced that with many MVP-level seasons since then.
Kicking things off, some of the most popular Mike Trout cards debuted in 2009 products. Although they are not official rookie cards, both 2009 Bowman Chrome and 2009 Bowman Sterling feature him in an Angels jersey with an added signature. Meanwhile, with a print run of 495 and an autograph, 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition also has one of the best Mike Trout cards available.
Coming a few years later, Mike Trout rookie cards are inserted in a handful of 2011 sets. None are autographed, but 2011 Topps Finest Baseball does have a signed parallel. While all of his official rookie cards have seen strong increases in price, his 2011 Bowman Sterling rookie is easily the most valuable of the first-year Mike Trout cards.
See Also: Real-Time Mike Trout Card Hot List.
See all the RC choices with the full Mike Trout rookie card checklist and gallery. Below that is a list of his notable prospect cards.
If you are looking for more info on his early baseball cards, we highlight many of the most popular Mike Trout cards in our detailed top list. There is also a complete checklist of Mike Trout autograph cards from 2009 to 2012.
Mike Trout Rookie Card Checklist
Shop on eBay or track prices using the linked images or card listings below.
2011 Bowman Chrome Baseball Mike Trout RC #175
Featuring the traditional black-bordered Bowman design, this card doesn't stand out very much. Still, the brand is always popular with rookie card collectors, which give it more appeal than the basic Bowman Draft card. The 2011 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout rookie card also has several Refractor parallels, most of which are serial numbered.
2011 Bowman Draft Mike Trout RC #101
With his eyes obscured and little action happening in the card, the 2011 Bowman Draft Mike Trout rookie card is easy to overlook. However, for those on a budget, it's one of his cheapest rookies. There are also multiple Chrome versions.
2011 Bowman Sterling Baseball Mike Trout RC #22
Very tough to find, the 2011 Bowman Sterling Mike Trout is the outfielder's most desirable official rookie card. It comes with a slick, modern design and features a photo that actually looks good.
2011 Finest Baseball Mike Trout RC #94
It's unfortunate Trout is pictured with such an awkward face as 2011 Finest Baseball has a fantastic design. In addition to the Refractor rainbow, the 2011 Finest Baseball Mike Trout rookie card also has autograph parallels to track down.
2011 Playoff Contenders Mike Trout RC #17
Although not MLB licensed, the MLBA rookie card for Trout in Contenders gives collectors another choice in their search. Merging the Season Ticket and Rated Rookie concepts into one, strong values follow the limited parallels.
2011 Playoff Prime Cuts Mike Trout RC #37 #/99
The rarest of the bunch at just 99 copies, if you can even locate one of the Mike Trout rookie cards from Prime Cuts, expect to pay heavily.
2011 Topps Update Series Baseball Mike Trout RC #US175
A solid choice for collectors, 2011 Topps Update has a very clean design. The card also benefits from being a part of the base Topps canon, which is one of the most collected and lasting sets each year.
Key Mike Trout Prospect Cards
2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Mike Trout #BDPP89 Autograph
Although an insert and not an official rookie card, the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Mike Trout autograph will likely always be the key card of the outfielder. The card pictures Trout in an Angels uniform and comes with an on-card signature. The many Refractor parallels also rank among the most popular Mike Trout cards.
2009 Bowman Sterling Baseball Mike Trout #MT Autograph
While the Bowman Sterling brand has been around for several years, it doesn't have quite the same appeal as Bowman Chrome. The 2009 Bowman Sterling Mike Trout comes signed, but using a foil sticker autograph. Thankfully, the design does take the sticker into account so it blends in decently.
2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Mike Trout #57 Autograph #/495
As far as non-MLB cards go, 2009 Elite Extra Edition has held up well, due in large part to a deep checklist of highly regarded signers. Clearly Mike Trout is one of them. Numbered to 495, it remains one of his key prospect cards.
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Autograph Guide
Mike Trout Autographed Memorabilia Buying Guide
Below you will find an example of what Mike Trout's authentic signature looks like. This can be used as a first point of reference for determining the legitimacy of autograph memorabilia, but is not a substitute for having your items authenticated by a well-respected professional autograph authentication company. Some of the trusted sources within the sports memorabilia market include the following companies: PSA, JSA, and Mounted Memories.
Mike Trout Cut Signature Exemplar:
Mike Trout Key Signature Attributes: An authentic Mike Trout signature autograph will exhibit several distinguishing characteristics. Regardless of the type of item or when it was signed, look for the following signature features:
- The signature is rushed and consists of his initials written on a slight upward angle leaning to the right at about a 70-degree angle.
- The letter "M" is wide and includes rounded humps and a small elongated narrow loop on the left side.
- The letter "T" is only half crossed, resembling the number "7" allowing the pen to not have to lift.
- His jersey number "27" is often inscribed.
Mike Trout Signed Baseball Pricing:
Active Listings for Mike Trout Signed Baseballs
Mike Trout Signed Jersey Pricing:
Active Listings for Mike Trout Signed Jerseys
Mike Trout Signed Bat Pricing:
Active Listings for Mike Trout Signed Bats
Mike Trout Signed Photograph Pricing:
Active Listings for Mike Trout Signed Photographs
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More Info
Be sure to check out our other collecting guides and articles on Mike Trout:
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