Mike Trout

The Best Player of His Generation

Mike Trout debuted with the Angels in July 2011 at age 19. From 2012 through 2019, he put together the most consistent MVP-level resume baseball has seen in a generation: three MVPs, nine All-Star selections, eight Silver Sluggers, and sabermetric value numbers that rival any position player since Barry Bonds. Injuries have slowed the second half of his career, but his peak alone put him on a Hall of Fame trajectory before he turned 28.

For collectors, Trout is a category of one in the post-2000 hobby. A Trout card set the sports card sale record at the time when it moved at auction in August 2020, and a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle passed it that November.

Key Cards to Own

Trout has a lot of cards, but three issues define his market.

2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects #BDPP89 — the benchmark card

Issued in 2009, before his 2011 MLB debut, this is Trout’s Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects card, #BDPP89.

2011 Topps Update #US175 — the anchor card

Trout’s Topps Update card from his 2011 call-up. Raw copies and PSA 10s both trade actively. This is the anchor card for most Trout PCs because it’s widely available and has the clearest story. Check current eBay sold listings for today’s pricing.

2011 Bowman Chrome — the Chrome card

Trout’s 2011 Bowman Chrome card is the Chrome entry from his 2011 debut season. Raw copies and PSA 10s both trade actively, and the Refractor and numbered parallels scale from there as the print run shrinks.

How to Buy Trout Cards

The smartest entry for most collectors is a PSA 10 of the 2011 Topps Update #US175 or a raw 2011 Bowman Chrome card with strong centering. These cards are abundant enough to grade, and the market is deep enough that you can find fair comparables quickly.

If you’re aiming for the Bowman Chrome side of his catalog, 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects cards are a serious commitment — we recommend buying graded cards only from major auction houses or established dealers. Trout is the single most counterfeited modern baseball player, and the difference between an authentic card and a forgery is often invisible to the untrained eye.

Parallels & Variations to Know

The Trout parallel hierarchy is the model for every modern star that followed him. In rough order of scarcity:

• Refractor: baseline chase
• Numbered color Refractors: the serious step up in PSA 10 Bowman Chrome, scaling as the print run shrinks

Collecting Outlook

Trout’s graded population on the major issues keeps growing as PSA 10s move into high-grade collections, so availability on the key cards shifts over time. Check current eBay listings before buying.

Where to Buy Trout Cards Today

Graded Trout cards are primarily traded on eBay and through major auction houses. Amazon carries select PSA-graded examples through approved resellers alongside current-year Topps product. Sealed Topps Chrome and Topps Series 1 hobby boxes continue to feature Trout heavily. Our shortlist is below.