Early Signed Mike Trout Home Run Baseball Sells for $15,600 at Auction
A baseball signed by Mike Trout when he was just 12 years old has been sold for $15,600 at auction.[0] The ball is believed to be the earliest signed home run baseball by Trout, who went on to become a three-time American League MVP and 10-time All-Star. The ball was signed by Trout after he hit a home run during a Little League game in 2004.[1] Along with the ball, a photo of Trout in his Little League uniform was also included in the auction lot. The photo is considered one of the earliest of Trout in a baseball uniform. The ball was authenticated by James Spence Authentication and included a notarized letter of provenance from Trout's uncle, who had held onto the ball for nearly two decades before deciding to sell it.
The auction house, Robert Edward Auctions, billed the ball as “like having one of Picasso's earliest sketches” and “a one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia for any Trout collector or superfan”. The bidding for the ball and photo started at $2,500 and slowly increased over the next few weeks.[2] Around one day prior to the auction's conclusion, 27 offers caused the cost to soar from $4,300 to $15,600.[3]
Trout's uncle, Kevin, had held onto the ball for over 19 years before deciding to sell it.[4] The ball is considered an incredible relic from the earliest days of Trout's legendary career. Trout is currently leading the American League with a .440 on-base percentage and is off to another strong start for the Los Angeles Angels this season.[1] He is hoping to lead the Angels back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.[5]
In addition to the ball, a photograph of Trout in his Little League uniform was also included in the auction lot. The photo is considered one of the earliest images of Trout as a ballplayer offered for sale. The Trout signature on the ball was authenticated by JSA/James Spence Authentication and included a notarized letter of provenance from Kevin Trout.
The sale of the ball shows just how valuable memorabilia from legendary athletes can be, even from their earliest days. The ball is considered a unique piece of Trout's origin story and is a must-have for any Trout collector or superfan. As Trout continues to make history on the field, his memorabilia will likely continue to be highly sought after by collectors and fans alike.
0. “Mike Trout baseball sells for more than $15K at NJ auction” CBS News, 25 Apr. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/mike-trout-ball-sold-15000-robert-edward-auctions/
1. “LOOK: Mike Trout autographed little league home run ball sells for $15,600 at auction” CBS Sports, 25 Apr. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/look-mike-trout-autographed-little-league-home-run-ball-sells-for-15600-at-auction
2. “Mike Trout's uncle sells Little League baseball signed by All-Star for thousands at auction” Fox Business, 26 Apr. 2023, https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/mike-trouts-uncle-sells-little-league-baseball-signed-all-star-thousands-at-auction
3. “Little League ball signed by 12-year-old Mike Trout sells for $15,600 at auction” Yahoo Sports, 25 Apr. 2023, https://sports.yahoo.com/little-league-ball-signed-by-12-year-old-mike-trout-sells-for-15600-at-auction-203526744.html
4. “Mike Trout Little League ball sold for $15,000” ESPN, 24 Apr. 2023, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36280710/mike-trout-ball-sold-15000
5. “Angels: Mike Trout signed baseball from little league sells for $15,600” ClutchPoints, 25 Apr. 2023, https://clutchpoints.com/angels-news-mike-trout-signed-baseball-little-league-15600
