Angels superstar Mike Trout's signed Little League ball from 2004 sold for huge amount: "It's like having one of Picasso's earliest sketches"

Recently a Mike Trout signed baseball was sold for $15,600 with Robert Edward Auctions. The speciality of the ball is that it was from nineteen years back when the slugger was still in middle school, was just 12 years of age, and signed the ball as he hit it out of the ballpark.

Mike Trout's journey began with the Los Angeles Angels and the MLB in 2009. But much before his introduction to the majors, Trout was already making it big in the Little League. He even had a nickname: 'the Millville Meteor', in reference to his hometown of Millville where he played for Lakeside Middle School and Millville Senior High School.

To this day, the 2004 homer by Trout was kept safely by his uncle, the original possessor of the ball. Robert Edward Auctions were thoroughly thrilled to have such a priceless possession amongst their midst to be auctioned. Mike Trout’s signature was authenticated by James Spence Authentication and also contained an official letter from his uncle. Also auctioned at the event, was a very early picture of Trout in his Little League uniform.

"This is an incredible relic from the earliest days of Mike Trout's legendary career," said 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."

Mike Trout draws criticism from MLB Analyst

MLB analyst Jared Carrabis took to social media to take a dig at Mike Trout for failing to convert a clutch play against the Oakland Athletics. The game went right down to the wire with a tenth innings finish that saw the Athletics win 11-10. In the bottom of the tenth with two bases loaded, Trout failed to convert a walk-off hit.

Trout needs to up his game a bit as major questions have been raised about his performances when his team has needed him the most. Jared Carrabis' jab is one of plenty of other criticisms that he has faced since the final of the World Baseball Classic when he struck out swinging in the final at-bat against Shohei Ohtani.