The 20 Most Valuable Football Cards from the 1980s

[@collectorinvestordealer]

TRIVIA: Who are the only two players on this list not in the Hall of Fame?

[@randyh.7817]

Bo Jackson and Phil Simms?

[@noloanryanfan34]

@@randyh.7817 yep.

[@jeffreylanier222]

Jackson & Sims but it was answered already. Maybe we get a prize next time on your trivia question 😁

[@gmtfamilypics]

Bo n Phil

[@reubenruby27]

My first guess would have been Bo Jackson and Warren Moon, but it seems it is Phil Simms

[@MikePatrickIsAwesome]

I just cleaned out my parent's attic and have all of these cards and multiples of many of them. They are in great condition and after watching your video, I looked into what the PSA system is. I couldn't believe how expensive grading cards can be or that they charge more for the same service based on potential value of the card. Seems like a big scam and you get pennies for a M-NM card without it. Feels like being strong-armed by the mafia

[@jasonleekinney]

Another way to self validate a company or entity in a failing market.

[@Tagraz]

You wouldn't pay money to get 10-20x the value of the card? Seems like a no brainer...

[@antoniomoreymartin560]

I am in the same boat! Down here in P.R., no card shops, and to grade them; mucho dinero.☘🇵🇷

[@k8toelee790]

I feel the same way..I feel like your literally giving your own card it's value

[@DHunter_47]

John 3:16 King James Version 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[@travishouse6295]

That Dickerson rookie is so undervalued.

[@willg.2045]

Wow, the difference between the raw and PSA 9 values are surprisingly large. I knew the graded copies would carry a premium, but the magnitude of the difference is incredible.

[@k8toelee790]

Yeah kind of sad really considering how much it costs to get just one card graded..so I feel really your the one that's actually giving your own card it's value

[@tommayrant2279]

1980s football!!! Those 1985 black borders are sweet cards and tough to find in mint. Thankful to have found a nice '85 set at a yard sale last summer for about $8. One of my best yard sale finds.

[@davestryjak6042]

Wow I need to go to the yard sales you are going to, I thought I did well getting one for $50 a couple years ago!

[@rickellsmore8731]

Love the 80’s football - not surprised with Munoz being in there, feel position players still have value with collectors

[@bearcards3497]

100% agree.

[@johnwaller5309]

Picked up a psa 6 jerry at natty low end but affordable as far as the pc goes and thats a must have!!

[@emocraps07]

I have the Topps Lawrence Taylor card in excellent condition AND the topps Joe Montana card.... glad I found this KZbin channel.. didn't even know I had decent cards 🙌🏻

[@hacksawjimthuggin4957]

As someone who is only a baseball collector, I think today’s video has taught me that I need to pic up a few raw football rookies lol.

[@Aut0KAD]

just some additional comments: Reggie White's nickname was the minister of defense, because he was also a minister. The crazy thing about Jerry Rice is at one point he was like 10k yards more than almost all receivers. There's still a huge gap between him and Larry Fitzgerald at number 2 (22.89k vs 17.49k). Wonder if that will ever get broken

[@wrestlemania7ven]

Glad you included the raw values, high PSA grades are so hard to get, even fresh out of the pack. I pulled a 1980 Rickey Henderson from a 1980 pack bought on ebay and only got a PSA 8 going from pack to sleeve to PSA.

[@dsg148]

Wow, the design on those '85 cards is 🔥🔥🔥 Fun list, great to see so many offensive line and defensive players. Feel like everyone is so conditioned to seeing offensive players, specifically QBs, on these kinds of lists - it's refreshing to get such variety.

[@magicbanding1095]

Not to go there, but that's when the rules allowed non-ball handlers to impact the game at a greater level, now that you cannot even sneeze on a QB without a penalty, it devalues both Offensive and Defensive lineman.

[@dsg148]

@@magicbanding1095 preach

[@thehighlanders607]

Nice, Barry Sanders is my favorite football player of all time too! The greatest running back ever! I'm a Lions fan to this day because of Barry.

[@DfromDANDE]

Okay you’ve inspired me Chris. I currently own zero of these cards, and now am going to try and put together a set of the 20 in low grade slab or raw condition. Purely for sentimental/PC value as I just love the look of 80s football, and there are just so many all time, all time greats in there. Thanks again, keep the content coming!

[@tylersimmons6524]

This past year, I put together the 1980-88 Topps and 1989 Score sets, so I now have all these cards finally! Starting to work on 70s now.

[@DfromDANDE]

@@tylersimmons6524 wow. Amazing effort! Especially given the boom in prices the past 12 months.

[@Al-ImprovEd2022]

Nice to hear something like that as I have hundreds that fit that description.

[@DHunter_47]

John 3:16 King James Version 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[@montrealsports29]

I bought the 1983 JOGO CFL set with that Warren Moon card in it for $25 in 1983, which was a lot of money for a 110-card set back then. It turned out to be a pretty good deal. Moon actually has a JOGO CFL card from 1981, but since those cards are postcard size rather than standard card size, that set gets overlooked. There's also a different 1983 JOGO Moon card from a 9-card set that featured the starting QB from each team.

[@gogglespisano8719]

Just started watching your videos and it has re-awakened my interest in baseball card collecting. Have been adding to my collection for the first time in 12 years and having lots of fun. Won't tell my wife it's your fault for my new found addiction. LOL. Keep up the good work.

[@collectorinvestordealer]

Haha! Happy to hear that and welcome back to the hobby!

[@kaitain7595]

Ahhh, the good ol’ days.

[@gmtfamilypics]

my story on 1980's football cards: back in late 1980's, there was a large SCD dealer with full page ads, with Topps closeouts.... my buddy and I, bought a few of them, one was: 1000 Dan Marino RC's (brick) for $1000... as well as 1000 Eric Dickerson RC for $1000.00. no, Elways... (no deal for 1 buck each) ... but for both Marino and Dickerson, did all right with those 2 buys... (sure, we have dog buys I will not mention here :) )

[@jeremiahhollister3810]

I feel lucky this weekend I found a few box-tubs of cards at goodwill. Could not go thou at the store but at 25 a box. I got them all so glad I did. Got myself 6 Jerry Rice RC, 20 plus Derek Jeter RC plus so much more. Now I need help on how to get them grade

[@rickyosborne9506]

Happy to see Richard Dent on this list!

[@weekendroady2060]

Loving football cards lately, seeing a lot of good value on modern product if you don't simply chase QB rookies (and even if you do, can find a lot of value in mid-round picks and even lower end product for the top guys if you are speculating). Glad to see other positions (esp. defense) performing well on lists like these

[@jamesmackey1229]

Nice walk down NFL memory lane. I personally have four cards on the list (not 9 grades lol) - your favorite Sanders, Montana and Rice, and my personal favorite - Phil Simms. Speaking of Simms - I’m quite sure he is half the answer to your quiz and I would guess that despite his overall greatness Bo doesn’t know the Hall either. Thanks Chris - stay well.

[@jpmnky]

Man, 1989 Score is so loaded. Especially if you add the 110ct supplemental set, 440 cards in total. It’s kinda like the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set. With multiple years of rookie cards. I consider it the first modern day set. Introducing the current year’s draft picks. Wild how they were the high end cards of 1989. And the very next year were looked at as the bottom of the bottom. Where they’ve been ever since.

[@michaelcalland801]

What an Amazing 1983 NFL Draft.... HOFers Elway, Kelley, Marino, Dickerson, Dent, Mathews & Green.. Also had Tony Eason & Ken Obrien & a bunch of others who had decent careers.

[@fasteddiep43]

Really love these videos, such great information and happy you added raw prices

[@chaicharin]

Great video and shows all my favorite players in Football. This is a Techmo Bowl NES reunion of football cards. Walter Payton is the greatest ever. Screw Emmit Smith....he only beat him in total yards because of the amazing offensive line all his years playing and the passing threat. Sweetness is the GOAT. I met him at a driving range in IL back in the 90's and he was still ripped. Best player ever and I will forever dislike Emmit Smith for beating the all time rushing record of Walter Payton.

[@steveseiler478]

I ran into you in the parking lot right as we both got to the national on Saturday! Wish we could have talked more! I might have came off a little weird, idk lol! Happy I got to meet you

[@collectorinvestordealer]

Not at all! Very cool to meet you and thank you for saying hello!

[@jreck111]

Darrell Green was probably my favorite player growin up

[@TourTitaly77]

Thanks for the video. I have a good majority of these cards, just gotta get them graded.

[@royakard8536]

Thanks for the video. I'm slowly coming back to my love of 80s sports cards. This is a valuable reference to picking up a few good hall of fame members for my memories and investment.

[@jackiechapman8189]

Gr8 list Chris.. Sadly these cards are painfully undervalued.. Still very desirable and I'm fortunate to have all these legends.. Thanks for the great content buddy.. Well done.. Stay safe all..👍💕🔥🏈🇺🇸😷

[@JHOUSER35]

I find the difference in value between raw graded cards and PSA 9 graded card in this list very interesting. I wonder if the delta in this list and across the entire hobby has become more significant in recent months due to the rising costs of PSA graded cards. I'm sure there's a quantitative method to analyze this delta pre 2020 vs. current and see the trend, and I would expect that trend to continue. Again, great video Chris... Love the Most Valuable Cards of the decades videos you create, and love that you revisit each month or so. Thanks.

[@Al-ImprovEd2022]

That’s a really good thought. I bet the guy at Retro Hoops channel would be into something like that. He’s a number cruncher on PSA stuff.

[@COGSportsCards]

This is great. Thanks so much for creating this list. Love these cards.

[@johnpowell5538]

Had every one of them at some point. Great video!

[@purplealiencookies7416]

Your factual statement about Jerry rice was a gut punch 🥊 ,,,that hurt 😢

[@DfromDANDE]

About to go to bed, new video pops up… yeahhhh I can wait another 13 minutes 14 seconds 😄

[@SgtJoeSmith]

i got all 3 aikman. also, jerry rice and steve young 86 topps

[@TheOddOddish]

Love the Videos as always Chris!!🤟 You are my favorite non-Partisan Sports Card Representative from the Sports Cards World!! 🌎 haha😝🙃🤣

[@dj3pokemon94]

Super interesting! Some of those were a little surprising! Great video my friend!

[@bobwhite4671]

LT easily the best defensive player I ever seen play.

[@user-pf9mt7tz5u]

Lott started as a corner and transitioned to safety

[@zeusdeuce7438]

Several years back I went to a local flea market and found a Dan Marino rookie in a common box that I ended up pairing with a Kobe Bowmans best rookie for 2$. The Kobe rookie doesn’t say rookie anywhere on the card which makes it tougher to identify compared to most other modern cards. Also found a Reggie Jackson rookie a few weeks later, one of my best scores at the flea market.

[@brentwalker5726]

Those 86 Steve Young rookie cards are pretty famous for being off-center. Maybe because of where it sits on the sheet before it gets cut? Plus the 86 cards are condition sensitive in general. Its a tough one to get a high grade.

[@brentwalker5726]

@All Time Sports Cards Heck yeah. That was the year I started collecting cards. Unfortunately, I mostly bought baseball. I bought some football too but not nearly as many. I remember seeing the Fleer basketball but I never bought any. So I ended up with boxes full of 86 Topps baseball (one of the worst sports card sets of the 80s), a couple boxes of football (very nice), but zero Fleer Basketball. My friend bought a bunch of them, he ended up with 10-12 Jordan rookies. My other friends & I were so jealous a few years later when those Jordans were already worth 200$.

[@robertcremeens3166]

I'm was not a big football card collector but probably should have been as I was a Bears fan & Walter Payton was one of my favorite players. A 90's football set that I think really gets underappreciated that I found out about just last year looking for some Tiffany baseball is the 1990 Topps Tiffany football set. I understand only 3000 copies of the 1990 Tiffany were made and this is the only Topps Football Tiffany set ever produced. There are some cool players in the set like Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana and John Elway plus a bunch of others. Not their rookies but nice early cards of these players.

[@JNegus]

Wow I have a lot of those sets from when I was a kid and some never opened or even went through the ones I opened. Lost interest but still purchased cards into my late 20's. A couple cards I had signed a few years ago cause I had the heads up, when a bunch of old players from different teams came to a bar my buddy owns.

[@Dalamartm]

So hard to get that Rice rookie card centered good and no surface defects the odds are way against you with both issues with that set.

[@renocool1558]

I can't believe Art Monk rookie you can get for $3 in nrmt. I used to have that card, it was like $30-50

[@chadtellevik5479]

Anything passing. Lol. Great share.

[@inlandempiresignpros1558]

I have 450 psa graded 9 and 10 joe montana cards im slinging on ebay soon.. all the rare stuff

[@ARGAdrianRyanGaming]

I have that John elway rookie so sick

[@moneymerks]

*looks for trivia question* 👀

[@collectorinvestordealer]

Sorry, I added it late

[@johnpowell5538]

Had that usfl set as well

[@carlhammill5774]

Unless your getting PSA 9 or 10 in these cards...they are essentially worthless. Rare to get PSA above 8 from these years (just check pop report). Collectors owning cards from these years have three choices: 1) sell your collection for few hundred dollars 2) put them back in closet for another 30 years and hope thru attrition these cards somehow come back in favor 3) give them away goodwill.

[@ronniemorgan5143]

I spent so much hard earned 💵 on 89 Score. Trying to get Aikman,Sanders(Barry& Deon),Risen etc. had 1 awesome day & got an Aikman,& Barry in same pack. Then got Deon in the next. As much as I spent on packs,I should of just bought the set. More exciting to pull em from packs though.

[@verygreedy100]

Great video

[@tigtime1763]

I have a question for anyone willing to answer. I just got a Topps 2021 series 1 retail box. Should I rip it or hold it? I'v heard some say, now is the time to start holding and not ripping that particular box. What say you?

[@TheOddOddish]

Rip it baby!! It's modern..... I always run into this dilemma myself..... Buy 2!! Rip one and Hold one!! Good Luck!🤟

[@tigtime1763]

@@johnconnor4136 to late for this box. But I still have 9 unopened packs from it. Its been a homerun box already. 1 gold Dodgers team gold #25/2021. 1 independence day #75/76. 2 foil 52' insert. Mike trout bc. Mike trout 52' insert. 2 refractory. I'll hold the next box I get.

[@tigtime1763]

@@johnconnor4136 slowly opening a few packs a day, while I wait for some project 70 to arrive. I was able to get 2 different artists proofs.

[@mattcheek1388]

I have that jerry rice card in a screw together case I need to get it graded…

[@bearcards3497]

Nice video. Other than Payton, Barry was my favorite player too.

[@markthompson7503]

I still have most of them...sadly at 12-16 years of age I didn't know about penny sleeves, top loaders and one touches.

[@calliopivogiatzis2235]

I have tom brady's college card in mint condition. I wonder how much that's worth

[@bobo44donemilking51]

Chris you are the goat

[@RAR2628]

My father has a complete set of 61 topps and bunch of the 64 giant topps. All raw. He’s been holding onto them but now wants to part ways

[@collectorinvestordealer]

Feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@inlandempiresignpros1558]

What does he want for them?

[@Cards-In-The-Closet]

I collected in college and have many multiples of all of these and unopened wax packs of 84 and 86. I know nothing about grading. I saw PSA was charging $200 per card now? Could you do a video on where old collectors need to start and what to consider if they have older cards that they are thinking about grading?

[@PhuryousOne]

The Barry Sanders Topps rookie looks far better than the Score rookie, and I know there's more of the Topps cards graded than the Score, but there are a crap ton of both, and I feel like the Topps rookie should be worth more. And besides Topps > Score.

[@knsuser1982]

If I had to guess Simms and either Bo or Moon, but I would guess Simms & Bo because of Bo's time playing. But Gale Sayer's played a really short time too, but Moon put up some pretty great stats!

[@collectorinvestordealer]

Correct! Simms and Bo.

[@WhatYouActuallyGet]

I think I made this comment on a previous video, but I pulled that Warren Moon rookie card out of a pack in the early 90s. Packs could be bought for about $5-10 back then. Random birthday gift from my Mom! Still have it!!

[@WhatYouActuallyGet]

Wow!!! And very next on the list is Ronnie Lott. I also have that rookie card! Don't remember where I got it, but it was early 90s as well. Pretty beat up, but really cool that the only 2 80s football cards in my collection are #10 & 9 on this list.

[@joesphgross562]

How could Munoz be a sleeper???? Man was a beast. Are any of the topps team leaders cards worth anything?

[@robertspencer8662]

Great video thank you

[@tylersimmons6524]

Not all that surprised there are only 7 QBs. There's really only one that is missing, Jim Kelly. Kind of surprised his 87 Topps isn't in the top 20. Who else would be in consideration? Boomer Esiason? Ken O'Brien? Jeff Hostetler? Vinny Testaverde? Mark Rypien? Most of the other notable 80s QBs have 70s RCs. And, guys like Esiason get overlooked despite being good because they never won a Super Bowl. Really, Marino is the only highly valued QB in the hobby that never won a SB.

[@itmeyo0]

One day Chris I’ll dress up a lord humumgus to meet you in the card wasteland

[@magicbanding1095]

Check on the REC SPECS on Eric Dickerson. 1980s and no where else.

[@nkmason8284]

Great information here, how is Phil Simms not in the Hall of Fame?

[@chefgromano5025]

His stats aren’t great had some struggles.

[@MikeSmith-uj1bl]

I just found a Tupperware container in a house I was cleaning out today.It has a bunch of 1980s cards,in sealed graded PSA plastic keepers.Where do I take them to have them checked out? Also a few Spiderman 3d cards sealed in the hard plastic keepers, I have a feeling I may have just hit it big,superman 3d cards also,same thing PSA graded mint,if you can help at all man I would really appreciate it

[@SgtJoeSmith]

phil simms and bo jackson

[@SgtJoeSmith]

86 topps fb is like 86 fleer basketball

[@matthewpotts4529]

I have the Jerry Rice card that is said to be worth 2,671. I have had in plastic since I had it. Is worth any thing close to that?

[@swaugertim]

Loved the video but I don't understand the pricing on raw NM values. When I look for these cards at my local card shows and shops, I don't see them that cheap. You can't touch a Ronnie Lott RC for less than $20.

[@collectorinvestordealer]

There are 15 currently available on COMC for under $10

[@swaugertim]

@RAH Capital But if the alternative is buying cards online, and paying tax and shipping, it's not worth it.

[@ilonfernandez8773]

I cant believe that these cards are almost 40 years old and are worth so little. Marino, Montana, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Walter Payton, Deion Sanders, Ronnie Lot, John Elway.... Pretty pathetic how they arent worth as much as I thought when I collected back then

[@KeithHonigford]

Where is the trivia question Chris?

[@collectorinvestordealer]

My bad, I just added it

[@franciscorivera507]

I have a Drew Brees rookie card is Eli Manning rookie card and a gal says card how much are they worth

[@kevinheckeler]

Steve Young was a sleeper (did not have success until later in his career), so I don't think his 86 topps rookie was being set aside at the time being pulled from packs and that may have led to many copies being treated less gently.

[@kevinheckeler]

I speak from experience, I was collecting at the time and he was in my commons box when I retrieved it a few years later.

[@geraldbusler661]

I figured I "had" about 10,000 bucks worth in value

[@bowmadman9562]

I've got at Jerry Rice but it's rough

[@lyonssonssportscardscomics1513]

Awesome video

[@bigjax731]

Awesome

[@olyseed4528]

I have Jerry rice rc , Barry Sanders rc and John elway rc

[@zuke-ci4vd]

Most of you younger collectors may not know this, but Joe Montana's rookie card is a common card. You cane find, as I remember it, 5 or 6 copies per box of Topps 1981 Football. As to the trivia question, sadly Bo Jackson's NFL career was cut short due to a hip injury. He only played 4 years, so does not qualify. (Must play 10 years or more) As to the other player, I am at a loss....

[@cardsfan-ym1bj]

You dont have to pay 10 years to be in the hall of fame,one example i can think of,off the top of my head is Terrell Davis

[@lopki55]

I wasn't finding a lot of info on the internet so I was hoping you guys could help me out. I bought 20-point top-loaders instead of 35. And it's a tight fit for my 2017 to 2020 Topps Chrome with a penny sleeve. Is it okay to try to make them fit?

[@bettyjane6684]

I often wonder why pictures used on baseball cards are so an impressive. Not the greatest play nor the best photo?

[@standyer7482]

What about the USFL cards? They are very rare, and they were only printed for two years. Very low production.

[@francisbeland8959]

Can't wait to get my order back from PSA. I got 5 cards from that list in my order: Taylor, Payton, Dent, Young and Rice X 3.

[@bobo44donemilking51]

Good luck on the grades you'll need it the way psa grades now days

[@LeeCopus]

What were the grades?

[@elisacorella2108]

I have a lot of baseball baseball cards I don't know if they're worth anything

[@israelhernandez-sg8mt]

I have moust of these.cards.i dont have money for pSA.Help.Pleacea

[@lisazdankiewicz8846]

I have the Joe Montana Notre Dame card. Is it worth anything ???

[@GabrielAlcala956]

Would you take $2.50?

[@maryberry54]

I have a lot of 80's cards I would like to sell, they are all in mint condition. Please let me know if anyone wants to buy some of these.

[@nuggetscollector]

Needs more Dwight Clark.

[@rodakjones7574]

Rice"s stats should have an asterisk by them because of who his QB was and the fact that there was no free agency for a good bit of his career. Moss is the best WR of all time.

[@Al-ImprovEd2022]

Gotta give Rice the edge because he was on Dancing With the Stars. 😃

[@chefgromano5025]

Montana was hurt a lot then he had Steve young then he was good at the raiders when he was like 40.

[@atria1973]

have tons of cards afraid to sell, dont know prices

[@johnpowell5538]

He's on the phone because he's talking to the president after winning super bowls

[@bartkilby3249]

Thoughts on investing in raw vs. graded??

[@collectorinvestordealer]

I think investing wise, grading is the way to go