A 1951 photograph of 19‑year‑old Mickey Mantle fetched a record $3 million in a private treaty sale, eclipsing the $843,750 record set by a Bowman rookie card photo in 2024.
The image, taken on March 5, 1951, in Phoenix during Yankees spring training, was the original source for Mantle’s iconic 1952 Topps card No. 311, making it a rare link between a physical photograph and a legendary sports card.
Classified as a PSA Type I print—meaning the first generation copy from the original negative—the photo carries the highest pedigree in sports photography, a fact highlighted by PSA’s Henry Yee.
Sports memorabilia collector Ron Firman, who previously acquired a high‑grade 1952 Topps card for $12.6 million, secured the photograph through Hunt Auctions, underscoring his focus on Mantle’s legacy.
The $3 million price tag, roughly 3.56 times the 2024 record, signals a steep climb in the market for original sports images and may prompt other collectors to seek out similar Type I treasures.
The next big headline may come from the forthcoming auction of a 1947 Babe Ruth film reel.