A 1951 Mickey Mantle photograph used to create his famous 1952 Topps card has sold privately for $3 million, more than tripling the previous record for an unsigned sports photograph

• The photograph was purchased by sports memorabilia collector Ron Firman in a private treaty transaction facilitated by Hunt Auctions.
• The image, classified as a PSA Type I photograph, was taken just weeks before Mantle made his major-league debut with the New York Y