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NFL1981RC

16#

ROOKIE CARD

JOE MONTANA

1981 TOPPS

TOPPS·#216

Stylized illustration — actual card image varies by edition

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🏈 footballRookie Card

1981 Topps Joe Montana #216

Name: 1981 Topps Joe Montana #216
Brand: 1981 Topps
Availability: InStock

Joe Cool's rookie card. Montana won four Super Bowls, threw for the iconic "The Catch" to Dwight Clark, and never threw an interception in Super Bowl play. His calm under pressure — 31 fourth-quarter comebacks — is the gold standard for QB play.

Player

Joe Montana

Year

1981

Set

1981 Topps

Card #

216

Sport

Football

Type

Rookie Card

Market Value (Based on Sold Data)

Based on public auction records

Source: eBay sold comps, Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC — April 2026

Recent Sales (Mid Grade)PSA 7–8 · Based on eBay sold listings

$200–$1,000 (PSA 6)Verify on eBay ↗

Recent Sales (Gem Mint)PSA 9–10 · Based on eBay sold listings

$30,000+ (PSA 10)Verify on eBay ↗

Values compiled from public eBay sold listings, Heritage Auctions, and Goldin results. For real-time pricing, click “Verify on eBay” above.

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PSA vs BGS vs SGC

PSA

Professional Sports Authenticators

+Most liquid — highest resale demand
+Largest population database
+Vintage specialists
+Most recognized globally
−Slowest turnaround at economy tier
−No subgrades on base service

Best for: Vintage, high-value singles, resale liquidity

BGS

Beckett Grading Services

+Subgrades reveal exact condition
+BGS 9.5 Black Label = highest premium
+Preferred for modern parallels
+Slab design seen as premium
−Less liquid than PSA for vintage
−Stricter centering = harder to get 10

Best for: Modern parallels, autographs, centering-first cards

SGC

Sportscard Guaranty Corporation

+Faster turnaround than PSA/BGS
+Lower cost at economy tier
+Growing collector base
+Good for tobacco/pre-war
−Lower premium than PSA on most cards
−Smaller population database

Best for: Pre-war, tobacco cards, budget-conscious grading

Full grading guide with cost comparison →

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More Joe Montana Cards

NFL1981RC

JOE MONTANA

1981 TOPPS

#216