Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Center Fielder Mike Trout on Cover of ESPN The Magazine’s Age Issue; on Newsstands September 21

 You want to play with the big boys. Then you are one. Before long, you can’t keep up. Who says sports don’t imitate life? ESPN The Magazine’s “Age Issue” – on newsstands Friday, September 21 – highlights the evolution of the circle of life, documenting the MLB seasons of four athletes of different ages chasing perfection and racing against time: Los Angeles Angels’ center fielder Mike Trout (21), Arizona Diamondbacks’ right fielder Justin Upton (25), Minnesota Twins’ catcher/first baseman/DH Joe Mauer (29), and Philadelphia Phillies’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins (33). In addition to their profiles The Mag also features these major leaguers in photos: MLB Age Gallery: A Look at Four Major Leaguers at Various Stages of Their Careers. For more imagery check out behind-the-scenes photos and time lapse video of Mike Trout’s cover shoot.

Also available to fans is the ESPN The Magazine Podcast , where Editor in Chief Chad Millman talks with Sam Miller, author of the magazine cover story on Mike Trout and bestselling author Jim Dent, also featured in The Mag, about a $60 million high school football stadium in Allen, Texas.

The Age Issue Features:

The Phenom

At the dawn of adulthood, Mike Trout is playing like a vet. Like an MVP. Like a legend. But career arcs are tricky things, and no one knows if this is his floor — or his ceiling. By Sam Miller

The Tweener

Entering his fifth season, Justin Upton was on the cusp of reaching his superstar potential. But things haven’t gone according to plan. What happens when the can’t-miss kid starts missing? By Robert Sanchez

The Master

At his peak, Joe Mauer is mature enough to ignore his critics and smart enough to extend these sweet years. By Tim Keown

The Mainstay

Closing out his 13th year as Philly’s anchor, Jimmy Rollins is building his legacy — and staving off father time.  By Steve Wulf

The real age of the rubber arm of Robert Allen Dickey

Nearing his 38th birthday, R.A. Dickey is having the best season of his career. That’s because his arm is actually six years younger. A look at how the knuckle ball preserves a pitcher.  By Shaun Assael

Additional Age Issue Highlights:

• NASCAR: NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon isn’t about to let bad luck — or his age — keep him from a shot at his fifth cup title. By Ryan McGee
• Golf: Every two years, U.S. and Euro golfers gather in the name of pettiness, jingoism and wounded pride. Behold our couch-caddy guide to the Ryder Cup. By Scott T. Miller
• NFL: Whether you call them bonuses or bounties, the rewards that teams offer for player performance can rarely be called effective. By Peter Keating
• CFB: After a humbling week 2 loss to LSU, Washington is just where Pac-12 coaches don’t want them — underestimated and on their schedule. By Ryan McGee
• The Fix columnist Chris Jones says if we truly care about making football safer, let’s go beyond tweaking the kickoff rules and just eliminate the most dangerous play in the game.
• Best-selling author Jim Dent sheds light on Allen High School’s $60 million, 18,000-seat Eagle Stadium. It might look like too much of a good thing, but to folks in this Dallas suburb, there’s no other way to treat their football team.  

– 30 –

Media Contact: Carrie Kreiswirth at (860) 766-6042 or carrie.b.kreiswirth@espn.com