Not since Joe DiMaggio fifteen years earlier had there been as much anticipation for a rookie’s debut as when Mickey Mantle arrived in 1951. This famous shot taken before the Opening Day game against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium features the 19-year-old Mantle flanked by DiMaggio (in his final season) and Ted Williams. Not only did Mickey Mantle live up to the high expectations placed on him, but he would one day join DiMaggio and Williams in the Hall of Fame. On that April 17th afternoon in the Bronx, the Yanks prevailed 5-0 over their rivals as the kid from Oklahoma went 1-for-4 with his first big-league hit and RBI.

This classic original photo of the immortal trio, posing with bats on their shoulders looking off left against the backdrop of Yankee Stadium, is one of the most recognizable baseball images, having been reproduced and printed hundreds of thousands of times for PR, media and memorabilia purposes. The photo has been trimmed at a slight angle on the top edge, but this does not detract from its overall aesthetic quality. Clean and crease-free, the 5" by 7-7/8" photo comes in outstanding NM-MT condition. The reverse has the United Press Associations stamp and some toning. Encapsulated Type 1 by PSA/DNA. According to photo authenticator Henry Yee, only three other Type 1s of this shot exist.