The 1981 Topps football card set was a staple of ’80s sports card collecting and still holds immense value for football enthusiasts today. However, there is one card in the set that stands above the rest: the #216 Joe Montana rookie card.
Though Montana started his NFL career in 1979, the card marked his first NFLPA-licensed release in 1981. This coincided with his inaugural season as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback.
Learn more about the card and Montana below.
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Joe Montana Rookie Card #216
The card, numbered #216, has an action shot of Montana throwing a pass during one of many games. Its design, similar to others in that era, features a white border with vibrant banners at the bottom highlighting his name and team.
Interestingly, the card lacks the NFL or 49ers logo, since at that time, Topps only had the NFL Players Association license. They could only print cards with player images, but without team marks.
Montana in the NFL
Montana’s history in the NFL helps bolster his card’s value and significance in the collecting world.
Before Tom Brady came in and became the NFL’s greatest quarterback, Montana was widely referred to as the GOAT, known for his exceptional accuracy, composure under pressure, and a legacy that includes leading the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles during the 1980s.
Montana earned three Super Bowl MVP awards and committed no turnovers in any of the championship games. His nickname, “Joe Cool,” reflected the amount of poise and precision Montana had while on the field throughout his career.
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Value of Montana Rookie Cards
The Joe Montana rookie card continues to be highly sought after in the collecting world, particularly when the card is graded for condition (defining the card’s rarity and value). For instance, of nearly 35,000 Montana 1981 Topps rookie cards graded by PSA, under one percent have earned the highest Gem Mint 10 rating.
This means just around 115 copies have reached this status. The rarity is partially due to print imperfections and poor centering issues that commonly affect this card, making prime specimens few and far between.
Market data also supports Montana’s enduring appeal. The most common grade is PSA 8 for the cards, and nearly 10,000 copies have reached this stage, selling on secondary markets like eBay for $350 to $400 ungraded. PSA 9 cards, noted around 2,200 copies, have risen in value, often earning over $2,000.
The pinnacle Gem Mint 10 cards, though, due to their scarcity, see far fewer sales, but often command prices between $75,000-$80,000.
The card’s presence in Montana’s graded card population further shows its collector appeal. The #216 card is the most widely graded Montana card by a significant amount, exceeding the next most common card by over 25,000 graded copies.
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A Piece of a Legacy
The 1981 Joe Montana rookie card is not only a view into the past with its design and licensing intricacies in the early days of NFL card production, but it also underscores the enduring legacy of one of football’s GOATs.
The blend of history, rarity, and increasing market value cements Joe Montana’s card among the holy grails of football collectibles, no matter what team you root for.
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