What's the difference between the parallels?

Each parallel has a different colored chrome finish and print run. Refractor /500, Gold /50, Orange /25, Red /5, Superfractor 1/1. Rarer = more valuable.

Is the Trout Superfractor still the most expensive card ever?

No. The T206 Wagner surpassed it in 2022 at $7.25 million. But the Trout Superfractor held the record from 2020-2022 at $3.93 million.

2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout #BDPP89 Value Guide (2026)

Sports Cards

In 2009, a 17-year-old outfielder from Millville, New Jersey was drafted 25th overall by the Los Angeles Angels. He hadn't played a single professional game. Bowman put him on card #BDPP89 in their Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects set - one of dozens of anonymous prospect cards that year. Eleven years later, the Superfractor 1/1 autographed version of that card sold for $3,936,000, briefly making it the most expensive sports card ever sold. Mike Trout turned out to be a generational talent, and his first Bowman Chrome became the defining card of the modern era.

Quick Value Summary


Item	2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout #BDPP89 Auto
Year	2009
Category	Sports Cards - Baseball
Set	2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects
Card Number	#BDPP89
Feature	On-card autograph, chrome finish, multiple parallels
Condition Range (Base Auto)
Raw	$1,000 – $3,000
BGS 9.5 / Auto 10	$5,000 – $10,000
BGS 10 / Auto 10 (Pristine)	$7,281+
Parallels
Refractor /500	$5,000 – $20,000
Gold /50	$20,000 – $50,000
Orange /25 (BGS 9.5)	$72,000 (Oct 2025)
Superfractor 1/1	$3,936,000 (2020)
Record Sale	$3,936,000 (Superfractor 1/1, 2020)

The Story

Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects is where modern baseball card collecting begins. Every year, the set features newly drafted players before they've reached the majors. Most of these prospects never make it. Their cards end up in dollar bins. But occasionally - rarely - one of those prospects turns into something extraordinary.

Mike Trout was the 25th pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, selected by the Angels out of Millville Senior High School. His Bowman Chrome card was produced when he was still a teenager, long before his first major league at-bat.

By 2012, Trout was the best player in baseball. He won the AL Rookie of the Year. Then he won three AL MVP awards (2014, 2016, 2019). Through injuries and all, he's been recognized as one of the most talented players of his generation - a rare combination of power hitting, speed, and defensive excellence.

The card's value tracked his career arc. Early on, base autos sold for modest amounts. As Trout dominated, the parallels - especially the numbered refractors - exploded in value. The pinnacle came in August 2020, when the Superfractor 1/1 (the only copy with the distinctive gold border, numbered 1 of 1) sold for $3,936,000 at Goldin Auctions. At the time, it was the most expensive sports card ever sold, though the T206 Wagner later surpassed it.

How to Identify It

Key Visual Markers

Chrome finish - The distinctive shiny, reflective surface of Bowman Chrome cards
Card #BDPP89 on the back
"Mike Trout" with Angels prospect designation
On-card autograph in blue ink (for autographed versions)
Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects branding

Parallels - What to Look For

This is where the real value lives. The base auto is the most common. Parallels have different colored borders and are serial-numbered on the back:

Parallel	Print Run	How to Identify
Base Auto	Moderate (unnumbered)	Standard chrome finish
Refractor /500	500 copies	Rainbow shimmer effect
X-Fractor /225	225 copies	X-pattern shimmer
Blue Refractor /150	150 copies	Blue-tinted chrome
Gold Refractor /50	50 copies	Gold-tinted chrome
Orange Refractor /25	25 copies	Orange-tinted chrome
Red Refractor /5	5 copies	Red-tinted chrome
Superfractor /1	1 copy	Gold border, numbered 1/1

Check the back of the card for serial numbering. If there's a number (e.g., "17/25"), you have a parallel. If there's no number, it's the base version.

Auto vs. Non-Auto

Both autographed and non-autographed versions of this card exist. The auto versions are worth dramatically more. Look for a blue ink signature on the card front. The non-auto base card is worth a fraction of the auto version.

Value by Version

Base Auto (Unnumbered)

Condition/Grade	Value
Raw	$1,000 – $3,000
BGS 9 / Auto 10	$3,000 – $5,000
BGS 9.5 / Auto 10	$5,000 – $10,000
BGS 10 / Auto 10	$7,281+

A raw base auto sold for $1,000 in February 2025. A BGS 10/Auto 10 has sold for $7,281.

Refractor /500

Grade	Value
BGS 9.5 / Auto 10	$10,000 – $20,000

Orange Refractor /25

The orange refractor has become a blue-chip collectible:

October 2025: BGS 9.5/Auto 10 sold for $72,000
Estimated market cap for all 25 copies: ~$1,210,000

Superfractor 1/1

The crown jewel:

2020: Sold for $3,936,000 at Goldin Auctions
Current value: Unknown (privately held), but likely in the $2–4 million range given the broader market

Authentication & Fakes

Chrome Cards and Counterfeiting

The chrome finish actually makes authentication easier in some ways - it's difficult to replicate exactly. But high-value parallels attract fraud attempts.

What to Watch For

Fake refractors: Some counterfeiters attempt to add refractor effects to base cards. Under proper lighting, genuine refractors have a specific, consistent rainbow shimmer that's hard to fake.
Autograph verification: Compare the signature to known Trout exemplars from 2009. His signature has changed over the years - the rookie-era auto has specific characteristics.
Serial number tampering: On parallels, check that the serial number appears genuine and matches the card's print characteristics.
Re-holdered fakes: Counterfeit grading cases with fake labels. Always verify the certification number on the grading company's website.

Professional Grading

BGS (Beckett) is the preferred grading service for modern chrome cards, though PSA is also widely accepted. For any Trout Bowman Chrome worth more than $1,000, professional grading is essential.

Where to Sell

Base Autos ($1,000–$10,000)

eBay - Largest marketplace for modern sports cards
PWCC Marketplace - Specializes in graded cards
COMC - Good for consignment

Numbered Parallels ($10,000+)

Goldin Auctions - Handled the record Superfractor sale
Heritage Auctions - Strong platform for high-end sports cards
PWCC - Active market for premium modern cards

Superfractor or Red Refractor ($100,000+)

Goldin Auctions - The obvious choice given the 2020 record sale

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is a 2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout auto worth?

The base auto ranges from $1,000 raw to about $7,281 for a BGS 10. Numbered parallels are worth significantly more - an Orange Refractor /25 recently sold for $72,000. The Superfractor 1/1 sold for $3,936,000 in 2020.

What's the difference between all the parallels?

Each parallel has a different colored chrome finish and a different print run. The rarer the parallel (smaller number), the more valuable. Base autos are the most common. Refractors (/500) add a rainbow shimmer. It scales up through Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Red (/5), and the unique Superfractor (1/1).

Is the Trout Bowman Chrome a good investment?

It's been one of the best-performing modern cards. The base auto has strong liquidity - you can buy and sell quickly. Higher parallels are harder to trade but have shown strong appreciation. Trout's three MVP awards and generational talent support long-term demand, but injuries in recent years add uncertainty.

What about the non-auto base card?

The non-autographed 2009 Bowman Chrome Trout base card is collectible but worth significantly less than the auto version - typically $50 to $500 depending on grade. The auto is the marquee card.

Is the Superfractor still the most expensive card ever?

No. The T206 Honus Wagner surpassed it in 2022 at $7,250,000. But the Trout Superfractor held the record from 2020 to 2022 and remains one of the most expensive modern sports cards ever sold.