Mike Trout has established himself as one of the greatest baseball players of all time in his relatively short career so far. As a result, Trout’s rookie cards and some of his early career cards have become highly sought after by collectors. With Trout still in the prime of his career and continuing to put up amazing stats each season, his cards hold tremendous value and are some of the most desired on the modern baseball card market.

Some of the key Mike Trout baseball cards that are highly valued by collectors include his 2009 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects Refractor rookie card, his 2012 Topps Update Series rookie card, and several of his Topps flagship rookie cards from 2009-2011. Let’s take a deeper look at some of Trout’s best and most valuable baseball cards.

2009 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects Refractor (BDPP-MT): This is widely considered Trout’s true rookie card and the card that started his hype among collectors. It was issued shortly after he was drafted by the Angels in 2009 as a 17-year-old. The refractors are extremely rare pulls from packs and this remains one of Trout’s most coveted and valuable cards on the market. In a PSA 10 gem mint condition, recent sales of this Trout rookie refractor have exceeded $400,000, making it one of the most valuable modern baseball cards in existence. Even in lower grades, this Trout rookie commands thousands due to its scarcity and importance as his first issued card.

2012 Topps Update Series #US-252: Known as Trout’s “rookie debut” card since it was issued during his first full MLB season, the 2012 Topps Update Series card exploded in popularity and demand from collectors. This served as many collectors’ first Trout card since it was released during his breakout season. High-grade versions regularly sell for $10,000-$15,000 today. Even in a PSA 8 condition, this Trout rookie debut card still fetches over $1,000. It’s arguable that this is the single most important Trout card for collectors who missed out on his ultra-rare 2009 Bowman Chrome issues.

2009 Topps Chrome Draft Picks #DP-MT: As one of Trout’s earliest “main” set cards released after he was drafted, the 2009 Topps Chrome Draft Picks parallel is a key rookie to many collectors. It features the same photo as his common base draft card but with the added allure of the color refractors. High-grade examples in PSA 10 condition have sold for over $30,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can bring in $5,000-$10,000. This serves as a more attainable flagship rookie card alternative for collectors compared to his exponentially rarer 2009 Bowman Chrome.

2011 Topps #181: Considered one of Trout’s true “rookie cards” since it was issued during his initial full season in 2011, the 2011 Topps base card remains a popular and important piece for any Trout PC. PSA 10 gems have sold for $8,000+, with most PSA 9s bringing $2,000-4,000. Even in lower grades, this iconic card holds value as a key early issue during his ascent to stardom. The 2011 Topps Update and Allen & Ginter parallels from that year have also gained popularity.

2009 Topps Draft #DT-MT: As Trout’s first true “base” card issued after being drafted in 2009, the 2009 Topps Draft base is another essential rookie for collectors. Examples in PSA 10 condition have sold for $4,000+, with most PSA 9s bringing $1,000-2,000. While not quite as flashy as some of his more colorful parallel cards, this serves as a more affordable option for collectors seeking a flagship Trout rookie.

2010 Topps #373: Although not technically a “rookie” since it was issued after his MLB debut, Trout’s 2010 Topps base card marked his first inclusion in the standard Topps flagship set. High-grade versions remain relatively affordable compared to some of his earlier issues, with PSA 10 examples selling in the $1,000-2,000 range in recent years. This serves as an important early career card showing his continued progression.

2016 Topps #150: As one of Trout’s most recent base cards, the 2016 Topps issue remains a popular modern pickup. It captures him in an Angels uniform during his peak years. PSA 10 “black label” ultra-gem copies have exceeded $1,000. Even raw near-mint copies are attainable for under $50. This provides a great full-career Trout card at a reasonable price-point.

While Trout’s earliest 2009-2012 rookie cards understandably demand the highest prices, savvy collectors can still acquire many important early issues like his 2010-2016 Topps flagship cards for affordable sums. With Trout still dominating at age 30, his entire collection holds tremendous potential to further increase in value as he solidifies his amazing career legacy. No baseball card collection is truly complete without examples highlighting each stage of Trout’s amazing career.