A signed Mike Trout rookie card sold for a whopping $3.9 million, breaking the all-time record for any trading card sale

• A Mike Trout rookie card signed by the now-29-year-old Los Angeles Angels superstar sold for a whopping $3.93 million on Sunday.
• According to Beckett's grading services, both the three-time American League MVP's rookie card and his signature were deemed to be in mint condition.
• The pristine quality of the card and Trout's illustrious career helped Goldin Auctions break the record for the highest-priced trading card ever sold, which was previously $3.12 million.

Nearly a decade after he played his first Major League Baseball game, Mike Trout continues to make history.

This weekend, a rookie card signed by the now-29-year-old Los Angeles Angels superstar sold for a whopping $3.93 million. The collectible's seven-figure price tag makes it the most expensive trading card in history, not just in baseball but across the sports world.

According to Beckett's grading services, both the three-time American League MVP's rookie card and his signature were deemed to be in mint condition. Goldin Auctions — the sports memorabilia and sports collectibles auction company that completed the sale — wrote on its website that "such an abbreviated mintage, by itself, defines the concept of 'rarity' in terms of indisputable clarity."

The pristine quality of the card helped enable Goldin Auctions to break the record for the highest-priced trading card ever sold. CEO Ken Goldin told Beckett that Goldin Auctions owned the previous record for the most valuable trading card — a Honus Wagner card sold for $3.12 million four years ago.

Of course, Trout's illustrious list of accolades in the years since the card was released also didn't hurt.

Trout is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished and celebrated baseball players of his generation. He was drafted by the Angels with the 25th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, though he didn't play his first game in the majors until two years later.

Since then, the center fielder and power hitter has racked up AL Rookie of the Year honors, three MVP awards, seven Silver Slugger Awards, eight All-Star selections, and two Hank Aaron Awards. In 2019, Trout made history by signing a 12-year, $426 million contract to stay in Los Angeles, making him the highest-paid baseball player in MLB history.

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