1951 Mickey Mantle photo used for 1952 Topps card sells privately for record $3 million in 2026

The image, classified as a PSA Type I photograph, was taken just weeks before Mantle made his major-league debut with the New York Yankees (Image Credit: Heritage Auctions) A rare 1951 photograph of baseball legend Mickey Mantle, which later became the basis for his iconic 1952 Topps card, has sold privately for a record $3 million. The photograph was purchased by sports memorabilia collector Ron Firman in a private treaty transaction facilitated by Hunt Auctions. The image, classified as a PSA Type I photograph, was taken just weeks before Mantle made his major-league debut with the New York Yankees. Hunt Auctions announced the sale and described the photograph as one of only a small number of known PSA Type I examples. The record transaction has drawn attention to the value of original photographs connected to historically significant sports collectibles.A photograph taken before Mantle became a starThe photograph dates to March 5, 1951, when the Yankees were holding spring training in Phoenix, Arizona. Mantle was just 19 years old and had not yet played his first major-league game. At that point, he was a highly regarded young prospect rather than the baseball icon he would even...