STILL SOARING

Like one of Mike Trout’s colossal home runs, his 2011 Topps Update Rookie Card continues to rise.

- DAVID LEE

Mike Trout squared himself in the box, measured up, torqued his body and obliterated the ball. It screamed an estimated 300 yards.

No one is sure how far the shot actually traveled. Golf balls are hard to track at night. Plus, it seemed to clear the TopGolf safety net.

The viral video of Trout destroying a golf ball last spring further exalted his herculean reputation like something out of a comic book. Even during an abbreviated season, the center fielder’s dominance of the game and in the card hobby has never been more obvious. The best measuring stick continues to be his 2011 Topps Update #US175 Rookie Card. It has blown the roof off industry expectations, and in many ways, current industry standards.

Just three years ago after Trout’s second MVP season, the card topped out at around $250. Today, raw copies can sell for as much as $1,200. Prices have risen so quickly, that by the time you read this, it might sell for even more. There’s no autograph and no memorabilia swatch. Heck, it’s not even serial-numbered or short-printed. In fact, it’s as plain of a card as you’ll find in an industry inundated with shiny bells and whistles. Still, it’s a beautiful card with a classic design released during Topps’ 60th Anniversary year. It looks even better in a graded slab.

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