Mickey Mantle photograph sells for record $3 million

A rare 1951 Mickey Mantle photograph, which served as the image for his iconic 1952 Topps baseball card, has sold for a record-breaking $3 million in a private sale. The transaction was brokered by Hunt Auctions.

The image is classified as a PSA Type I photograph, meaning it is a first-generation photo developed from the original negative within approximately two years of the photo being taken. Such photographs are considered highly desirable due to their vintage and originality. The photo was reportedly taken on March 5, 1951, in Phoenix, and was originally issued regionally by the International News Service.

This sale more than doubles the previous record for an autographed sports photo, which was held by a signed Shoeless Joe Jackson image that sold for $1.47 million in 2021. The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card remains one of the most recognizable items in American sports culture, with high-graded versions previously fetching millions at auction.