Mike Trout launches new business venture after 16 Angels seasons

Mike Trout is adding another role to his résumé, this time away from the baseball field. The Los Angeles Angels star has introduced Gen One Collect, a new sports collectibles company built around his longtime passion for trading cards.

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According to Sports Illustrated Collectibles, the company will initially focus on live card breaks, with plans to expand into original content and experiences connecting athletes with collectors. The venture gives Trout an opportunity to become more involved in an industry he has enjoyed for years.

Trout is launching the company alongside Eric Mandelkern, a fellow card collector who will serve as co-founder and CEO. Discussions about entering the collectibles business began in 2024, according to the report, meaning the project has been in the works for some time.

Mike Trout Wants to Bring More Fans Into the Hobby

Trout’s interest in collecting dates back to his childhood, when he visited flea markets with his parents and collected everything from Pokémon cards to baseball cards. He returned to the hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed a particular interest in Bowman prospects.

Now, he wants to help create those same memorable experiences for other collectors. Trout told Sports Illustrated that he hopes to participate in live breaks and interact directly with fans in online chats.

The company is also looking to introduce younger fans to collecting. Its launch plans include an event called “The First Rip,” organized alongside Trout’s youth baseball camp, where children will have the opportunity to open packs of Topps baseball cards. 

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) looks on during the first inning against the New York Mets at Angel Stadium. Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

The move comes as Trout enters another offseason with the Angels, but the company’s origins stretch back well before the announcement. Rather than simply putting his name on a product, he is stepping into a business tied to an interest he has pursued as a collector.

Gen One Collect will now look to turn that enthusiasm into a lasting business. Trout’s name gives the venture an immediate connection to baseball fans, while its focus on live breaks and younger collectors offers a way to reach beyond the diamond.

For Trout, the next chapter will involve more than preparing for another season. He is also taking a swing at the sports collectibles industry.

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