History of Mike Trout in Timeline
Mike Trout is a highly decorated MLB outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, widely considered one of the greatest baseball players ever. He is an 11-time All-Star, a three-time AL MVP, and a nine-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Trout also captained the United States national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His consistent high performance and numerous accolades have solidified his reputation as the best player of his generation.
1909: Previous Record Trading Card Sale
A 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner baseball card previously held the record for most expensive sports card.
1911: Previous Record Trading Card Sale
A 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner baseball card previously held the record for most expensive sports card.
1913: WAR statistics since 1913
According to Fangraphs, Mike Trout had accumulated more WAR through his age-24 season (on August 12, 2016) than any other player since 1913.
1934: Tied Major League Rookie Record
In July 2012, Mike Trout's 34 runs scored tied the Major League rookie record with Cleveland Indians first baseman Hal Trosky in 1934.
1936: First Rookie Since Joe DiMaggio
In 2012, Mike Trout became the first rookie to drive in at least 55 runs and score 80 runs in 81 games since Joe DiMaggio in 1936.
1940: Ted Williams and Barney McCosky Accomplishment
In 1940, Ted Williams (225 games) and Barney McCosky (236 games) set a record for the fastest player to score 200 career runs, a milestone Trout later surpassed.
1952: Mickey Mantle Card Sold
In November 2020, Mike Trout's record trading card sale was surpassed by a 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps card which sold for $5.2 million
January 7, 1961: Father, Jeff Trout, Born
On January 7, 1961, Mike Trout's father, Jeff Trout, was born. He later played baseball at the University of Delaware and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins.
1961: Albie Pearson's Franchise Record
In 1961, Albie Pearson set a franchise record of 13 walks that was broken by Mike Trout in 2017.
1964: Fourth Rookie Since 1964 to Score 120 or More Runs
On September 21, 2012, Mike Trout became the first rookie to score 120 or more runs since Ichiro Suzuki and the fourth rookie to accomplish that feat since 1964.
1967: Carl Yastrzemski Wins Triple Crown
In 1967, Miguel Cabrera became the first player since Carl Yastrzemski to win the triple crown by leading the AL in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in.
1972: Youngest Player with 20 Home Runs and 40 Stolen Bases
In 2012, Mike Trout became the youngest player ever to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 40 bases in a season, surpassing César Cedeño's record from 1972.
1983: Father Drafted by Twins
In 1983, Mike Trout's father, Jeff Trout, was drafted as a second baseman by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round, marking the start of his minor league baseball career.
August 7, 1991: Michael Nelson Trout Born
On August 7, 1991, Michael Nelson Trout was born. He is now known as a professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels.
1992: Ken Griffey Jr. All-Star Game MVP
In 1992, Ken Griffey Jr. was the youngest All-Star Game MVP.
1993: Previous Rookie of the Year
In 1993, Tim Salmon won the Rookie of the Year Award. He was the previous winner before Mike Trout won in 2012.
1999: Alex Rodriguez Record
In 1999, Alex Rodriguez achieved 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases at the age of 23 years and 309 days.
2001: Tenth Time Scoring Three or More Runs
In 2012, Mike Trout had his tenth game of the season scoring three or more runs, the most since Sammy Sosa's 11 games in 2001.
2001: First Rookie Since Ichiro Suzuki
In August 2012, Mike Trout became the first American League rookie since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to win Rookie of the Month four times during a single season.
2004: Guerrero's AL MVP Award
In 2004, Vladimir Guerrero was an MVP, making Trout the third in Angels' franchise history.
2004: Highest WAR
In 2012, Mike Trout finished with a WAR value of 10.9, the first position player to have a WAR above 10.0 since Barry Bonds in 2004.
2005: Led League in Stolen Bases
In 2012, Mike Trout became the first Angels player to lead the league in stolen bases since Chone Figgins did so in 2005 with 49 stolen bases.
2007: Guerrero's All-Star Game
In 2007, Vladimir Guerrero started in the All-Star Game.
2008: Attended Phillies Parade
In 2008, Mike Trout, a die-hard Philadelphia Phillies fan, attended their World Series parade, celebrating the team's victory.
2009: Graduated High School
In 2009, Mike Trout graduated from Millville Senior High School.
2009: Drafted by Angels and Started Professional Career
In 2009, Mike Trout was drafted 25th overall by the Angels and began his professional career playing for the Arizona Angels of the rookie-level Arizona League (AZL).
2009: Drafted by the Angels
In 2009, Mike Trout was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round of the MLB draft, beginning his professional baseball career.
2009: Pre MLB Draft
In 2009, before the MLB Draft, Mike Trout had committed to play baseball at East Carolina University.
2010: Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award
After the 2010 season, Mike Trout received the Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award, becoming the youngest player to win the award at 19 years and two months old.
2010: Played for Cedar Rapids and Selected for All-Star Futures Game
In 2010, Mike Trout played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, where he excelled, and was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game. He was later promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
July 8, 2011: Promoted to Los Angeles Angels
On July 8, 2011, Mike Trout was promoted to the Los Angeles Angels to replace the injured Peter Bourjos. He made his major league debut that night.
August 1, 2011: Sent Back to Double-A Arkansas
On August 1, 2011, Mike Trout was sent back to Double-A Arkansas after hitting .163 in 12 starts for the Angels.
August 19, 2011: Recalled by Angels
On August 19, 2011, Mike Trout was recalled by the Angels and hit a home run in his first game back at Angel Stadium.
2011: Brief Major League Appearance
In 2011, Mike Trout made a brief major league appearance for the Los Angeles Angels before becoming a regular player.
2011: Season with Arkansas Travelers
In 2011, Mike Trout started the season with the Arkansas Travelers of the Class AA Texas League, where he performed exceptionally well.
2011: Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year
In 2011, Mike Trout was named Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, recognizing his outstanding performance in the minor leagues. He hit .326/.414/.544 with 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, 82 runs scored, and 33 stolen bases in 91 games.
October 2012: SuperPretzel Endorsement
In October 2012, Mike Trout signed a multi-year contract with J & J Snack Foods to endorse SuperPretzel.
November 12, 2012: Won Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award
On November 12, 2012, Mike Trout won the BBWAA Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, receiving 28 of 28 first-place votes. He became the first Angels player to win the award since Tim Salmon won it in 1993.
2012: Valuable Baserunner
Between 2012 and 2016, Mike Trout stole 142 bases at a success rate of 83 percent.
2012: OPS leader
Between 2012 and 2019, Mike Trout led the league in on-base plus slugging.
2012: Began Season with Salt Lake Bees and Brought Up to Majors
In 2012, Mike Trout began the season with the Salt Lake Bees and was brought up to the majors on April 28 to replace Bobby Abreu. He had a .403 batting average in 20 games with Salt Lake.
2012: Finished Second for AL MVP
In 2012, Mike Trout finished second in the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting.
2012: Led American League in Runs
In 2012, Mike Trout led the American League in runs scored, showcasing his offensive prowess early in his career.
2012: AL Rookie of the Year Award
In 2012, Mike Trout unanimously won the AL Rookie of the Year Award, recognizing his outstanding performance in his first full season.
2012: 100th Run of the Season
On August 26, 2012, Mike Trout scored his 100th run of the season, becoming the second Angels rookie to score at least 100 runs in a season after Devon White.
2012: Trout's 2012 Season
Trout's play declined somewhat in September of 2012.
May 21, 2013: Trout hits for the Cycle
On May 21, 2013, Mike Trout became the youngest player to hit for the cycle in American League history and sixth youngest in Major League history, doing so at home against the Seattle Mariners.
2013: Trout's Stats for 2013
According to Baseball-Reference, Trout finished the 2013 season with 9.2 WAR, the highest in baseball.
2013: Trout's 2013 Season Start
In 2013, Mike Trout began the season as a left fielder, and had a slow start, hitting .261 with 2 home runs and 16 RBIs in April of 2013.
2013: Finished Second for AL MVP
In 2013, Mike Trout finished second in the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting.
2013: Led American League in Times on Base
In 2013, Mike Trout led the American League in times on base, highlighting his ability to get on base consistently.
2013: Trout Represents Angels in All-Star Game
In 2013, Trout represented the Angels in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, leading all AL outfielders in votes.
February 2014: Obama Analogy
In February 2014, President Barack Obama used Mike Trout as an analogy for the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill, emphasizing his versatility and utility.
February 2014: Contract Extension Rumors
In February 2014, rumors of a contract extension surfaced, with reports suggesting the Angels were considering offering Trout a six-year, $150 million contract.
March 28, 2014: Trout Signs Contract Extension
On March 28, 2014, the Angels announced they had signed Trout to a six-year, $144.5 million extension.
April 19, 2014: Trout's First Golden Sombrero
On April 19, 2014, Mike Trout had his first golden sombrero after playing in 353 games.
October 2014: Exclusive Deal with Topps
In October 2014, Mike Trout signed a deal with Topps, granting them the exclusive right to sell his autographed baseball cards.
November 13, 2014: Trout Wins AL MVP Award
On November 13, 2014, Mike Trout was unanimously selected as the AL MVP, becoming the sixth player in MLB history to win both the regular-season MVP and the All-Star Game MVP in the same season.
2014: Trout's Season Performance in 2014
In 2014, Mike Trout played in 157 games and batted .287 with 36 home runs, leading the AL with 111 RBIs and MLB with 115 runs scored.
2014: Most Strikeouts in MVP Season
In 2014, Mike Trout recorded the most strikeouts ever during an MVP season and expressed a wish to reduce his strikeout rate.
2014: AL MVP Award
In 2014, Mike Trout won his first American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, marking a significant milestone in his career.
2014: Trout's First Postseason Home Run
In Game 3 of the 2014 American League Division Series, Mike Trout hit his first career postseason home run.
April 17, 2015: Trout Reaches 100 Home Runs and 100 Stolen Bases
On April 17, 2015, Mike Trout became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases.
2015: Vulnerability Acknowledged
In 2015, Mike Trout acknowledged a vulnerability against high pitches, but later greatly improved his contact rate and slugging percentage against high fastballs.
2015: Pit Bull Campaign
In 2015, Mike Trout appeared in promotional materials for a campaign to spay and neuter pit bulls conducted by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Cumberland County, New Jersey.
2015: Finished Second for AL MVP
In 2015, Mike Trout finished second in the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting.
2015: Strikeout Rate Improvement
In 2015, Mike Trout improved his strikeout rate, ranking 26th in MLB after having the 14th highest rate in 2014.
2015: Led American League in Times on Base
In 2015, Mike Trout led the American League in times on base, showcasing his continued success in getting on base.
June 2016: Sporting News Names Trout
In June 2016, Sporting News named Mike Trout "baseball's best [active] player".
August 12, 2016: Trout's WAR
According to Fangraphs, Mike Trout had accumulated more WAR through his age-24 season on August 12, 2016, than any other player since 1913, with 45.
2016: Valuable Baserunner
Between 2012 and 2016, Mike Trout stole 142 bases at a success rate of 83 percent.
2016: Led American League in Runs
In 2016, Mike Trout again led the American League in runs scored, demonstrating his consistent performance.
2016: Strikeout Rate Continues to Improve
In 2016, Mike Trout continued to improve his strikeout rate, ranking 59th in MLB.
2016: Second AL MVP Award
In 2016, Mike Trout won his second American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, further solidifying his status as a top player.
2016: Topps Deal Renewal
In 2016, Mike Trout's deal with Topps giving them the exclusive right to sell his autographed baseball cards was renewed.
May 28, 2017: Trout Sprains Thumb
On May 28, 2017, Mike Trout left the game after spraining his left thumb, leading to his first disabled list stint.
September 6, 2017: Trout Sets Franchise Record
On September 6, 2017, Mike Trout drew a walk in his 14th consecutive contest, breaking Albie Pearson's franchise record of 13 set in 1961.
September 29, 2017: Trout Hits 200th Career Home Run
On September 29, 2017, Mike Trout hit his 200th career home run off of Marco Gonzales of the Seattle Mariners.
December 9, 2017: Marriage to Jessica Cox
On December 9, 2017, Mike Trout married his longtime girlfriend Jessica Cox.
August 10, 2018: Trout Placed on Disabled List
On August 10, 2018, Mike Trout was placed on the disabled list due to right wrist inflammation.
2018: Trout's Stats for 2018 Season
During the 2018 season, Mike Trout batted .312, leading the league with a .460 on-base percentage and a .628 slugging percentage.
2018: Finished Second for AL MVP
In 2018, Mike Trout finished second in the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting.
2018: Led American League in Times on Base
In 2018, Mike Trout led the American League in times on base, marking his consistency in reaching base throughout his career.
2018: Trout Rated #1 Player in Baseball
Prior to the 2018 season, Sports Illustrated rated Mike Trout the #1 player in baseball.
March 2019: Estimated Endorsement Deals
As of March 2019, Mike Trout had an estimated $2.5 million in endorsement deals.
March 20, 2019: Trout Signs Massive Contract
On March 20, 2019, Mike Trout signed a 12-year, $426 million contract with the Angels, the richest in North American sports at the time.
October 24, 2019: Trout Wins Third AL MVP Award
On October 24, 2019, Mike Trout won the AL Hank Aaron Award and was named the AL MVP for the third time in his career.
2019: Most Productive Batter
Between 2012 and 2019, Mike Trout was MLB's most productive batter per plate appearance when adjusted for park factors.
2019: Signed a 12-Year Contract
In 2019, Mike Trout signed a 12-year, $426 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, which was the third-richest contract in North American sports history at the time.
2019: Trout's Season-Ending Surgery
In 2019, Mike Trout underwent season-ending surgery to remove a neuroma in his right foot.
2019: Third AL MVP Award
In 2019, Mike Trout won his third American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, cementing his legacy as one of the greats.
July 6, 2020: Mahomes' Contract Surpasses Trout's
On July 6, 2020, Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year $503 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, surpassing Mike Trout's contract as the richest in North American sports.
July 30, 2020: Birth of Son
On July 30, 2020, Mike Trout and his wife Jessica Cox welcomed the birth of their son.
August 23, 2020: Record Trading Card Sale
On August 23, 2020, a Mike Trout trading card sold for $3.93 million at auction, breaking the record for the most expensive sports card sale.
September 5, 2020: Trout Hits 300th Career Home Run
On September 5, 2020, Mike Trout hit his 300th career home run, breaking the Angels' all-time home run record.
November 2020: Trading Card Record Broken
In November 2020, the Mike Trout trading card record was surpassed by a 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps trading card.
March 2021: Largest Contract with Topps
In March 2021, Mike Trout signed the largest and longest contract Topps had ever signed with an individual athlete.
May 17, 2021: Strained Right Calf
On May 17, 2021, Mike Trout strained his right calf while jogging the bases during a game against the Cleveland Indians.
2021: Injured List Stint
During Mike Trout's injured list stint in 2021, former top prospect Brandon Marsh patrolled center field.
March 13, 2022: Potential Position Change
On March 13, 2022, Angels manager Joe Maddon considered moving Mike Trout out of center field to prevent injuries, but ultimately decided against it after Trout expressed his preference to remain in center field.
July 19, 2022: World Baseball Classic Captain
On July 19, 2022, Mike Trout was announced as the captain of the United States national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
2022: Season Performance and Injury
In 2022, Mike Trout battled back spasms, a rare back disorder, and had a final season batting average of .283, 40 home runs and 80 RBIs in 119 games.
March 2023: Active Leader in Slugging and On-Base Percentage
As of March 2023, Mike Trout leads all active major league players in career slugging percentage (.587), on-base percentage (.415), and OPS (1.002).
April 15, 2023: 300th Career Double
On April 15, 2023, Mike Trout hit his 300th career double in a game against the Red Sox, joining an elite group of players with at least 300 doubles, 300 home runs, and 200 stolen bases by his age-31 season.
2023: World Baseball Classic Final
In 2023, Mike Trout captained the United States national baseball team to the World Baseball Classic final, where they lost to Japan 3-2.
2023: Captained US National Team
In 2023, Mike Trout captained the United States national team during the World Baseball Classic, marking his leadership in international competition.
April 9, 2024: Fastest to Six Home Runs
On April 9, 2024, Mike Trout became the fastest player in Angels franchise history to reach six home runs, achieving the feat in eleven games.
2024: Trout's Last Postseason Appearance
As of 2024, Trout's 2014 postseason appearance remains his only one.
2025: Position Change Announcement
During spring training before the 2025 season, Mike Trout announced that he would play as a right fielder in an effort to stay healthy.
