A photograph of Mickey Mantle that later became the basis for a 1952 Topps baseball card sells for a record-breaking $3 million. The sale marks a major milestone for sports memorabilia and for the market for original sports photographs, with the image described by outlets as one of Mantle’s most iconic.
Both outlets report that the $3 million price tops the prior record for sports photograph sales, surpassing earlier benchmarks for similar items. The reports emphasize that the photograph’s long cultural association with the 1952 Topps card contributes to its prominence among collectors and investors. The New York Post highlights the “eye-popping” nature of the figure, while The Athletic (via its sports and business framing) focuses more directly on how the sale sets a new ceiling for sports photography auctions.
While details beyond the headline price are limited in the provided excerpts, both sources agree on the core facts: the item is the Mantle photo tied to the 1952 Topps card and it sells for $3 million after breaking the previous record for sports photographs.
