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Last Updated On: June 7th, 2025
Angels superstar Mike Trout has been considered the darling of modern baseball card collecting for some time now, with his cards commanding top dollar and record-breaking sales. Since starting his career in the big Los Angeles market, the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year has accumulated a trophy case full of accolades and currently leads all active MLB players in career Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
However, the hobby is shifting, and so is Trout’s card market. The future first ballot Hall of Famer has been plagued with injuries, declining numbers, and slim chances for postseason appearances or success.
In this article, I’ll explore why Mike Trout cards are losing steam and why it’s time to dump his cards for more affordable alternatives.
Table of Contents
What Do You Value Most When Collecting a Given Player?
When it comes to a specific player in the hobby, what drives your passion to collect their cards?
Individual accolades such as All-Star appearances, MVP awards, and Hall of Fame induction are major factors when selecting players for long-term card collecting. As analytics have become more relevant in baseball and sports cards, advanced stats like WAR have further influenced how the hobby values collecting certain players. It’s obvious many collectors highly desired Trout’s cards for these reasons.
Another criteria includes the amount of team-oriented or postseason success they’ve accumulated throughout their career. Winning a championship is widely recognized as the ultimate prize in professional sports, and it consistently boosts demand for a player’s cards over time. This is where Trout misses the mark by a landslide, which we’ll get into shortly.
For me, as a St. Louis Cardinals and LA Rams fan, witnessing all-time greats like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Aaron Donald as key contributors to championship teams has massively influenced how I prefer collecting winning players with similar resumes.
On the other hand, collectors who primarily focus on flipping or investing are drawn to players based on their collectability and liquidity in the hobby. The popularity of a retired player’s cards can be fueled by childhood nostalgia, while increasing prices, sales volume, and overall media attention can influence current players.
Resellers of Trout cards during the pandemic boom saw big profits due to the hobby’s surge in popularity and his card prices consistently rising. Of course, Trout’s trajectory was still relatively on track five years ago. Fast forward to today, Trout’s track record consists of injury after injury, with hopes of postseason success diminishing by the day.
Mike Trout Injury History and Declining Stats
Staying healthy on a consistent basis is crucial to a player’s longevity and lasting impact on the game. As NFL Head Coach Bill Parcells famously said, “the best ability is availability”, and recurring injuries have limited Trout’s playing time in recent years. Not seeing his name in the starting lineup regularly has also negatively affected the 11-time All-Star’s card prices.
The 3-time MVP hasn’t been on the field for more than 140 games in a season since 2016; he’s missed almost 60 percent of the Angels’ games since May 2021. Here’s a list of Trout’s injury history in recent years:
- 2021: Calf Strain (missed 126 games)
- 2022: Back Inflammation (missed 43 games)
- 2023: Broken Hand (missed 89 games)
- 2024: Torn Meniscus (missed 133 games)
- 2025: Knee Bone Bruise (missed 26 games so far)
Trout’s limited time on the field over the last few seasons has translated into declining stats, averaging less than 20 HRs and 50 RBI per season during that span. He also hasn’t posted a WAR over 6 in four of the last five seasons due to his health issues. Trout and the Halos even met this past offseason to discuss those ongoing health issues, agreeing to play right field and DH in 2025 to reduce the wear and tear on his body. Even so, Trout has already missed 26 out of 61 games played this season.
Meanwhile, superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge have emerged as the faces of MLB and baseball card collecting. Unlike the reigning AL and NL MVPs, Trout has virtually no playoff experience throughout his career, recording only 12 career postseason at-bats in 2014. This has left a huge void of iconic postseason moments or clutch performances that often define a player’s legacy and long-term collectability.
Declining Mike Trout Card Prices
Mike Trout cards continue their downward spiral in value. According to Card Ladder’s player index, Trout’s index is down 47% over the last two years, while the baseball card index as a whole is only down 5% over that time.
Most notably, the price of Mike Trout’s 2011 Topps Update RC #US175 in PSA 10 graded copies has plummeted nearly 70% since 2022. It’s wild to think it was selling for as high as $7,500 in 2021 and is now worth less than $1,000. But based on the relatively large number of PSA 10s out there (around 7,000), I expect this downward trend on his Topps Update to continue.
Even Trout’s rare high-end cards like his 2009 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autos have seen values cut by more than half over the past three years.
So what do collectors do from here? It’s clear Trout is at the tail end of his career. His lack of playing time and diminishing spotlight make it a good time to consider exploring other players’ cards with more upside.
Hottest Mike Trout Sports Cards on eBay: Live Auctions
Affordable Alternatives to Mike Trout
Here are a few players who have the championship pedigree and clutch playoff moments that Trout’s career is missing, while still having comparable stats. The recommended cards offer collectors a more budget-friendly option and have a strong potential for price growth based on their winning legacies.
Freddie Freeman
Freeman’s rookie card values have generally been overlooked compared to Trout’s, but many of his popular cards have seen a rise in sales and value since capturing his second championship ring with the Dodgers in 2024.
Freeman was a key player in LA’s victory over the Yankees during the World Series, taking home MVP honors and setting a record for consecutive World Series games with a home run. His ultimate postseason moment set the tone for the rest of the series, blasting a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Yankees in game one.
This wasn’t Freeman’s first taste of postseason success either, anchoring the Atlanta Braves to their first World Series victory since 1995 and hitting .304 with 5 HRs during their 2021 postseason run. Freeman’s consistency and ability to perform on the biggest stage are what set his legacy apart from Trout’s.
A practical alternative to Trout’s 2011 Topps Update is ironically from the same year, except I’d recommend grabbing Freeman’s 2011 Topps Diamond Anniversary parallel rookie card. With there being much less of them out there compared to the base version, it has the potential to be a more valuable option than Trout’s in the future.
Hottest Freddie Freeman Sports Cards on eBay: Live Auctions
Mookie Betts
Similar to Trout, Mookie Betts is a dynamic five-tool player who excels in nearly every facet of the game. Trout still outshines Betts in most individual accolades, such as All-Star appearances, Silver Slugger Awards, and MVP honors. And when comparing their career wins above replacement (WAR), Trout is approximately 14 points higher than Betts’ current total.
That said, the main difference between the two future Hall of Famers’ legacies is postseason success and World Series rings. Betts has played in nearly 75 career postseason games and was an integral part of the Red Sox and Dodgers’ postseason runs to the title. The 2018 AL MVP is also a much better fielder than Trout, winning six Gold Glove awards for his stellar defense in the outfield.
Despite their comparable careers, Betts’ most popular PSA 10 rookie cards are significantly more affordable than Trout’s 2011 Topps Update PSA 10, often selling for nearly half the price. Betts’ 2014 Topps Chrome Update and Topps Update are both great alternatives and have significantly fewer PSA 10 graded copies than Trout’s most recognized rookie card.
Hottest Mookie Betts Sports Cards on eBay: Live Auctions
Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter is widely known for his postseason success and regarded as one of the greatest leaders in baseball history. A five-time World Series Champion, Jeter played in 158 career playoff games, hitting .308 with 20 HRs and 61 RBIs.
Trout may have outshone Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter statistically, but Jeter’s durability, postseason heroics, and championships give his legacy the edge over the Angels’ superstar.
While both players’ rookie cards are highly coveted in the hobby, prices currently suggest that collectors value Trout’s individual accolades over Jeter’s clutch performances and team success. The Yankee Shortstop’s 1993 Topps rookie card is among his most well-known and can be purchased at around a 50% discount to Trout’s top rookie card. Not to mention, Jeter’s Topps rookie card has substantially fewer PSA 10 graded copies than Trout’s.
Hottest Derek Jeter Sports Cards on eBay: Live Auctions
Final Thoughts
Despite Trout’s generational talent, persistent injuries and the Angels’ continued struggles suggest his best days are behind him. However, his career is still yet to be over, and a deep postseason run or securing a World Series title could reshape his legacy and long-term card prices. But with how things look, collectors who bought Mike Trout cards in the last five years should consider selling now and putting their money to better use.
Some Trout defenders will argue that he should be ranked alongside players like Mantle, Mays, and Pujols — I have to disagree. While I understand that fans of WAR or MVP awards might hold Trout’s legacy in the same regard as those legends, I’d liken Trout more to Ken Griffey Jr.: similar stats, shared hobby popularity, injury woes, and the lack of a playoff resume.
Hottest Ken Griffey Jr. Sports Cards on eBay: Live Auctions
Even so, if Mike Trout’s career ends up resembling Griffey’s in the end, that’s nothing to sneeze at given Griffey’s huge collectibility and sustaining card values. Still, I personally place greater emphasis on championship rings and clutch postseason performance versus individual player stats or accolades alone. Ideally, a player with a combination of both is the sweet spot for card collecting — guys like Albert Pujols, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts deserve a closer look over Mike Trout.