Dan HajduckyESPN
On Sunday, a Slight League baseball strike and signed by way of a 12-year-old in a sport 19 years in the past in Fresh Jersey bought for $15,600 with Robert Edward Auctions.
That 12-year-old was once Mike Trout.
5 years earlier than Trout was once decided on within the first spherical of the 2009 MLB draft by way of the Los Angeles Angels — a compensatory select for Mark Teixeira signing with the New York Yankees in overdue 2008 — he was once a center schooler already incomes his nickname because the Millville Meteor.
In 2004, Trout slugged a four-bagger and due to this fact signed the ball, which has been held by way of its latest proprietor for the month twenty years: Trout’s uncle.
The Trout signature — years from its trendy refinement — is authenticated by way of JSA/James Spence Authentication and features a notarized letter of provenance from the uncle. Every other merchandise integrated within the public sale was once {a photograph} of Trout in his Slight League uniform, the earliest symbol of him as a ballplayer introduced on the market.
“This is an incredible relic from the earliest days of Mike Trout’s legendary career,” stated Brian Dwyer, president of Robert Edward Auctions. “It’s like having one of Picasso’s earliest sketches — this baseball is part of Trout’s origin story and is a one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia for any Trout collector or superfan.”
Thru 20 video games in 2023, Trout — a three-time MVP and 10-time All-Big name — is chief the American League with a .440 on-base share. His 83.3 wins above alternative are 58th in MLB historical past and 15.9 greater than any alternative lively participant.
