Joe Montana Football Card Analysis
Football Reference: Joe Montana
Career Overview: Joe Montana, often nicknamed “Joe Cool” and “The Comeback Kid”, is undoubtedly one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Over his career, Montana played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. He led the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles and was named Super Bowl MVP three times.
Performance Analysis:
- Pass Completion: Over his career, Montana maintained an impressive 63.2% completion rate, throwing 273 touchdowns and 139 interceptions. His years with the 49ers were particularly stellar, with a 63.7% completion rate.
- Passing Yards: Joe Montana threw for 40,551 yards over his career, with an average of 7.5 yards per attempt. His peak performance in passing yards came in 1990 with 3,944 yards.
- Awards: Montana was frequently recognized for his outstanding performances. He was a 5-time All-Pro and 8-time Pro Bowler. Notably, he secured multiple MVP titles in 1989, 1990, and 1987.
- Playoff Performance: In the postseason, Montana elevated his game even further. Over 23 games, he completed 62.7% of his passes for 5,772 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. His playoff performances are legendary, especially his clutch plays in high-pressure situations.
Investment Perspective:
Given Montana’s iconic status in the NFL, his football cards are considered valuable. Here’s a breakdown:
- Legacy: Montana’s legacy as a clutch performer and his multiple Super Bowl wins ensure that his memorabilia maintains a high value. He’s frequently mentioned alongside the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre as one of the all-time great quarterbacks.
- Card Value: Historically, Joe Montana’s rookie cards and special edition cards have fetched high prices in the market, especially well-maintained ones.
- Market Demand: There’s a consistent demand for Montana’s cards among collectors, especially given his undeniable influence on the sport. His iconic plays, such as “The Catch”, only boost the demand for his memorabilia.
Without any further ado, let’s jump into the most valuable Joe Montana football card list!
1985 Topps Football Joe Montana #157 PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Card Description:
- 1983 Topps Football Joe Montana #169
- Card Grading: PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $552
- Sale Date: 8/28/2023
1985 Topps Football Joe Montana #157 PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Card Description:
- 1984 Topps Football Joe Montana #358
- Card Grading: PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $588
- Sale Date: 7/09/2023
1982 Topps Football Joe Montana #488 PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Card Description:
- 1982 Topps Football Joe Montana ALL-PRO #488
- Card Grading: PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $660
- Sale Date: 8/07/2023
1985 Topps Football Joe Montana #157 PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Card Description:
- 1985 Topps Football Joe Montana #157
- Card Grading: PSA 10 GEM MINT
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $1,530
- Sale Date: 7/23/2023
2018 Panini Immaculate Collection Immaculate Moments Autographs Personal Edition Joe Montana Inscribed Card
- Card Description:
- 2018 Panini Immaculate Collection
- Immaculate Moments Autographs Personal Edition #IM-JM2
- Joe Montana Signed, Inscribed Card
- Autograph Grading: Beckett Authentic Autograph
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Sale Price: $2,160
- Number of Bids: 37 bids
- Sale Date: 5/11/23
2005 Donruss Zenith Autumn Warriors Silver #AW-10 Joe Montana/Tom Brady Dual-Signed Card
- Card Description:
- 2005 Donruss Zenith Autumn Warriors Silver #AW-10
- Joe Montana/Tom Brady Dual-Signed Card
- Autograph Grading: Beckett 10 Autograph
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Sale Price: $2,490
- Number of Bids: 32 bids
- Sale Date: 5/10/23
2019 Immaculate Collection Eye Black Gold Joe Montana Jerry Rice AUTO /5 PSA 10
- Card Description:
- 2019 Immaculate Collection Eye Black Gold
- Joe Montana Jerry Rice AUTO
- Card Limitation: /5
- Grading: PSA 10
- PSA Population: 1 of 1
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $3,000
- Sale Date: 5/07/2023
2004 Ultimate Collection Joe Montana Joe Namath GAME-USED PATCH AUTO /15 PSA 10
- Card Description:
- 2004 Ultimate Collection
- Joe Montana Joe Namath GAME-USED PATCH AUTO
- Serial Number: /15
- Grading: PSA 10
- PSA Population: 1 of 2
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Sale Price: $3,240
- Sale Date: 11/13/2022
2018 Panini Flawless Distinguished Platinum Joe Montana PATCH AUTO 1/1 #1 BGS 9
- Card Description:
- 2018 Panini Flawless Distinguished Platinum
- Joe Montana PATCH AUTO
- Card Number: #1 (Limited to 1/1)
- Grading: BGS 9
- Special Note: 1/1 Masterpiece – Only Copy Ever Made
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $3,250
- Sale Date: 2/13/2022
2005 Ultimate Collection Dual Dan Marino Joe Montana PATCH AUTO 1/5 PSA 8 NM-MT
- Card Description:
- 2005 Ultimate Collection Dual
- Dan Marino & Joe Montana PATCH AUTO
- Serial Number: 1/5
- Grading: PSA 8 NM-MT
- PSA Population: 1 of 1 (None Graded Higher)
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $3,360
- Sale Date: 12/04/2022
2004 Upper Deck Legends Link Tom Brady & Joe Montana AUTO DNA 9 /25 #LP-BM PSA 8
- Card Description:
- 2004 Upper Deck Legends Link
- Tom Brady & Joe Montana AUTO (#LP-BM)
- Grading: PSA 8 (DNA 9)
- PSA Population: 1 of 1 (None Graded Higher)
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Price: $3,480
- Sale Date: 4/30/2023
2005 Exquisite Dual Autos Joe Montana Dan Marino /25 #MM BGS 9
- Card Description:
- 2005 Exquisite Dual Autos
- Joe Montana & Dan Marino
- Serial Numbered: /25 (#MM)
- Grading: BGS 9
- BGS Population 1 of 3 – None Graded Higher
- Sale Price: $4,250
- Sale Date: 10/02/2020
2019 Panini Donruss Optic “Downtown” Gold Vinyl #DT14 Joe Montana (#1/1) – PSA GEM MT 10
- Card Description:
- 2019 Panini Donruss Optic “Downtown” Gold Vinyl #DT14
- Joe Montana (#1/1)
- Grading: PSA GEM MT 10
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Sale Price: $5,100
- Sale Date: 4/10/22
2016 Panini Flawless Finishes Platinum Joe Montana AUTO DNA 10 1/1 #FFJM PSA 9
- Card Description:
- 2016 Panini Flawless Finishes Platinum
- Serial Numbered: 1/1 (#FFJM)
- Grading: PSA 9
- 1/1 Masterpiece – Only Copy Ever Made
- Sale Price: $5,640
- Auction End Date: 2/06/2023
2007 Bowman Sterling Dual Gold Refractor Joe Montana Tom Brady AUTO /20 BGS 9.5
- Card Description:
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Dual Gold Refractor
- Joe Montana & Tom Brady Autograph
- Serial Numbered: /20
- Grading: BGS 9.5
- BGS Population: 1 of 3
- None Graded Higher
- Sale Price: $11,100
- Auction End Date: 9/13/2023
2007 Topps Co-Signers Gold Tom Brady & Joe Montana AUTO 1/25 #CSA-BM BGS 9.5
- Card Description:
- 2007 Topps Co-Signers Gold
- Tom Brady & Joe Montana Autograph
- Serial Numbered: 1/25 (#CSA-BM)
- Grading: BGS 9.5
- BGS Population: 1 of 2
- None Graded Higher
- Sale Price: $15,600
- Auction End Date: 4/10/2022
2004 SP Game Used Extra Significance Joe Montana Tom Brady AUTO /25 #MB PSA 10
- Card Description:
- 2004 SP Game Used Extra Significance
- Joe Montana and Tom Brady
- Serial Numbered: /25 (#MB)
- Grading: PSA 10
- PSA Population: 1 of 2
- Sale Price: $30,600
- Auction End Date: 9/22/2022
2004 Skybox L.E. Legends Purple Tom Brady Joe Montana LOGO PATCH 1/1 BGS AUTH
- Card Description:
- 2004 Skybox L.E. Legends Purple
- Tom Brady/Joe Montana
- NFL Logo Patch
- Serial Numbered: 1/1
- Special Note: 1/1 Masterpiece – Only Copy Ever Made
- Grading: BGS AUTH
- Sale Price: $42,099
- Auction End Date: 4/24/2021
1981 Topps Football Joe Montana ROOKIE #216 PSA 10
- Card Description:
- 1981 Topps Joe Montana Rookie #216
- Card Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Auction Number: 50064
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: Jul 14, 2023
- Sale Price: $45,600
Conclusion
Investing in Joe Montana football cards can be a valuable addition to your portfolio, given his esteemed place in NFL history and the consistent demand for his memorabilia. However, always ensure you’re diversifying your investments and conducting thorough research before making any purchasing decisions.
Investment Recommendation:
- If you’re a seasoned sports memorabilia investor, allocating 10-15% of your portfolio to Joe Montana’s football cards could be a wise decision, given their historical appreciation and consistent demand.
- For general investors, around 5% of your sports memorabilia portfolio could be dedicated to Joe Montana cards. While they’re likely to hold value, it’s always good to diversify.
- Always ensure the authenticity of the cards and consider getting them graded. Well-graded cards, especially in mint condition, can fetch significantly higher prices.
- Pay attention to the market trends. Football cards, like other investment assets, can fluctuate in value. But given Montana’s legendary status, his cards are more resistant to market dips than players with less established legacies.
From a young age, Matt dove deep into sports card valuation, turning to esteemed price guides like Beckett and Tuff Stuff. Eventually he extended to Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. With a vision to sustain and nurture the hobby he loved, Matt established the ‘Graded Card Investor’ YouTube channel and website. He aims to foster a healthy community and offer invaluable insights to those entering the world of sports cards and TCGs. His depth of understanding, from the card market’s 2020 pinnacle to its 1990s valleys, is consistently fortified by meticulous research.
