DALLAS – Long before bidding ended early on the morning of August 28, this 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card was already the world’s most valuable sports card sold at auction. Weeks ago, in fact, it raced past the previous highwater mark set by the T206 Honus Wagner that sold for $6.6 million last year. But at 12:28 a.m. Central time on that date, it became official when Heritage Auctions sold the 1952 Mantle, graded a Mint+ 9.5 by Sportscard Guaranty Corporation, for $12.6 million.
