The card, featuring New York Yankees hall of fame player Mickey Mantle, is thought to be one of just a few remaining copies in near-mind condition. The former owner of the card, Anthony Giordano, 75, from , bought the card in 1991 for $50,000 (£47,000), but rejected countless multimillion-dollar offers for decades, ESPN reports.

It was Mr Giordano’s sons who managed to convince the New Jersey waste management entrepreneur to part with the his precious possession.