Mike Trout’s rookie card is from 2011. The most expensive Mike Trout rookie card sold for $3.93 million in 2020. The black refractor version of Trout’s 2009 Bowman Sterling card is the second most valuable. Trout’s 2011 Topps Update rookie card is more affordable for collectors.
Rarity and Value
The 2011 Bowman Sterling Mike Trout rookie card is not only very tough to find, but it’s also his most sought-after and desired official rookie card. While the high-end base card holds good value, even more value can be found in the Refractor parallels, for collectors with a bigger budget.
Trout also has a Rookie Autographs card from the set, but there’s no base version, only signed Refractor parallels, so they make for a hard and expensive chase.
Affordability and Popularity
2011 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout #175 is more affordable for collectors and has added appeal due to the popularity of the Bowman Chrome brand with rookie card collectors in baseball.
Scarcity and Demand
The “easy” reason why the Mike Trout rookie card is so expensive is because he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game. Moreover, Trout’s rookie card is relatively scarce, which is a primary reason why any card can be expensive—it all comes down to supply and demand.