Mickey Mantle Photo Sells for Record $3M, Was Used for Iconic 1952 Topps Yankees Card

The Mickey Mantle photo that was used for the iconic 1952 Topps baseball card has been sold at auction.

According to Darren Rovell, the picture was sold for a record $3 million at a private auction.

Rovell noted the image has been graded as a Type 1 photo by Professional Sports Authenticator.

Per the PSA grading scale, a Type 1 photo is classified as a first "generation photograph, developed from the original negative, during the period" within approximately two years from when the picture was taken.

Type 1 photographs are described as the "most desirable and valuable of the four photograph types because of their vintage and originality."

The 1952 Topps card featuring Mantle is arguably the most valuable collectible card on the market. A 9.5-graded version was sold at auction for $12.6 million in 2022, shattering the previous record for a trading card of $7.25 million that belonged to the famous T206 Honus Wagner card.

That record has since been broken by a Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Auto that was sold for $12.9 million in 2025.

The 1952 season was Mantle's second year in the big leagues and his breakout campaign. He hit .311/.394/.530 with 23 homers in 142 games, finished third in AL MVP voting, made his first of 20 All-Star appearance and helped the Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.