The Millville Meteor Mike Trout Is A First Ballot MLB Hall of Famer

A HARRY HURLEY OPINION EDITIORIAL

How many times in life is a huge national story also a legitimate local news story?

It’s very rare indeed.

But, such is the case with Mike Trout, a Millville, New Jersey High School graduate, who just happens to be the greatest Major League Baseball player for the past decade.

Trout is the absolute total package, both on and off the field. His play on the field is stellar and there has not been one case under the blaring spotlight that Trout’s personal/public conduct has ever been brought into question.

Joe Maddon, Manager of the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim has come the closest yet to saying that Trout will be shut down for the remainder of the season.

Trout injured his right calf while running the bases on May 17 and had a setback last month. Trout had produced MVP numbers prior to the injury.

Calf injuries can be stubborn and persistent.

Trout would like to play before this season is over. He’s a warrior, so even though there are only 17 games left, he wants to play.

Get our free mobile app

Trout is this era’s Mickey Mantle, without the bad behavior.

In his first 11 years, Trout has produced some of the most prolific statistics ever recorded in the history of the game.

Despite time missed in 2020 and 2021, Trout is a lock for first-ballot induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Trout has amassed a 9-year stretch of brilliance that places him in the pantheon of the sport’s entire recorded history.

Here is Trout’s Hall of Fame resume to date:

Cooperstown Credibility - The Case for Mike Trout (CF)

• Los Angeles Angels (2011-21)
• Career: .305 BA, .419 OBP, .583 SLG
• Career: 310 HR, 816 RBI, 1,419 Hits
• Career: 175 OPS+, 75.9 WAR (Wins Above Replacement)
• Has led the American League in OPS+ 6 times (led all MLB 4 times)
• Leads all active MLB players in OBP and SLG (minimum 3,000 PA)
• Career WAR (75.9) is 6th best all-time for MLB position players prior to 30th birthday
• Career OPS+ (175) is tied for 5th best all-time in MLB history (min. 5,000 PA)
• 3-time A.L. MVP (2014, 2016, 2019), A.L. Rookie of the Year in 2012
• A.L. MVP runner-up 4 times (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018)
• 9-time All-Star, 8-time Silver Slugger Award Winner

Incredibly, Trout is a 3 time American League Most Valuable Player and a 4-time runner-up.

Because of injuries the past two seasons, some mistakenly believe that Trout has had an injury-prone career. Truth be told, Trout has only been on the injured reserve list 3 times during his entire career.

Here are some more Trout fun facts:

Only once in eight seasons did Trout fail to finish either 1st or 2nd in the MVP balloting. It’s unprecedented in the history of the game.

In a so-called “down” year (2017), Trout played in only 114 games due to injury and still finished 4th in the MVP voting.

In last year’s COVID-shortened 2020 season, Trout finished 5th in the MVP vote.

With Trout, we’re currently living history and many don’t even know it.

A local boy, who is now 30 years old, Trout is an international caliber superstar and the face of Major League Baseball.

Just as important, Trout never says or does the wrong thing.

We are living in very troubling times. Our country is bitterly divided. There are very few role models left in society.

Mike Trout is a true role model.

In Mike Trout’s case, good guys finish first.

Enjoy this ride while it lasts. It’s special and something like this never comes along more than once in a generation.