PETAL, Miss. — As a young kid playing Little League baseball, Aaron Campbell’s teammates jokingly nicknamed him “Mike Trout.” He played center field, wore Trout’s signature Nike cleats, and was singularly obsessed with the Angels’ all-time slugger.
Aaron and his father, Michael Campbell, bonded over traveling to baseball games and getting autographs from their favorite players. They had signatures from Trea Turner, Manny Machado, and Austin Riley among a collection of 76 baseballs displayed on a shelf in their southern Mississippi home.
Two years ago, over the Fourth of July weekend, the pair traveled West hoping to land a signed baseball from Trout. They went to Angel Stadium, but to no avail. Trout got within 10 yards of them, signed a few items, but the then-12-year-old Aaron left empty-handed.
“He just said, ‘Dad, I thought it was gonna happen.’” Michael recalled, thinking back on how he tried to console his son.
They drove to San Diego the following day, where the Angels were starting a new series. A pregame stadium tour took them on the field, all for one more shot at Trout. Aaron, normally shy, broke character.
