MLB: Mickey Mantle Rookie Card Auctioned for $2.8 Million

A 1952 rookie card from Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle was auctioned on Thursday for $2.88 million. This is the second highest price for a baseball collection card.

The card was rated by Professional Sports Authenticator as 9 on a scale to 10 and the seller is Evan Mathis, a former offensive lineman in the NFL. The auction was conducted by Heritage Auctions.

The only card that came under the hammer for more money was one by Honus Wagner from 1909, which changed hands in October 2016 for $3.12 million.

As ESPN reports, the increase in value of the Mantle card has been enormous. In 1988 one was sold for 3300 dollars, in 1998 it was 121,000 dollars and in 2007 one was sold for 240,000 dollars.

“It’s a remarkable prize,” said Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage Auctions. “It’s been ten years since we had a Mantle card in this condition, but this card now went for ten times that amount.”

This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.