Mickey Mantle Photo Used for Iconic 1952 Topps Card Sells for $3 Million
A rare Type 1 photograph of the legendary baseball player, which later became the image for his famous 1952 Topps card, has been sold in a private transaction.
A significant piece of baseball memorabilia, a Type 1 photograph of Mickey Mantle that served as the image for his iconic 1952 Topps card, has sold for $3 million in a private sale. The buyer, Ron Firman of Rye, New York, acquired the photograph through a transaction brokered by Hunt Auctions.
This particular photograph is classified as a PSA Type 1, indicating it is a first-generation print developed from the original negative during the period it was taken, approximately within two years of the original capture. The image was taken by an unidentified International News Service photographer on March 5, 1951, during Yankees spring training in Phoenix.
Experts note a surging demand for high-end, original Type 1 photographs from new collectors and investors. "The supply, however, for this material is extremely scarce," stated PSA photo authenticator Henry Yee. "When an item of this caliber is offered for sale, often it is sold privately and does not even make it to public auction — such as in this case."
While this photograph has achieved a significant sale price, highly graded copies of Mantle's 1952 Topps card itself have commanded even higher prices. The most valuable known copy sold for a record $12.6 million in August 2022. It is important to note that Mantle's actual rookie card was issued in the 1951 Bowman set, which has sold for as much as $843,750, although that card features a painted image rather than a photograph.
Mantle, who played for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1966, is one of baseball's most celebrated figures. He amassed 536 home runs during his career. His 1952 Topps card, featuring the image from this recently sold photograph, remains one of the most recognizable and sought-after items in sports memorabilia.