There will always be an element of sadness around Steve Young and the act of collecting his cards. As tremendous as he was, the 49ers quarterback was plagued by a series of concussions, which even threatened his life at one point. That may have stopped him from being part of the GOAT discussion. He also spent his rookie season and part of the next in the moribund USFL league. A mistake that delayed the quarterbacks' development. But that only makes his achievements all the more incredible. Young won an amazing 3 Super Bowl rings and has two MVP awards to boot.
Steve Young Cards to invest in
The secret of Steve's success was an almost preternatural accuracy. He led the NFL in completion rate 5 times, including 4 straight in 1994-1997, and led all quarterbacks in passer ratings 6 times. But people forget he was one of the most potent running threats of any player in his position. Ever. Young has the second-most rushing touchdowns of any quarterback and the fifth-most yards. Indeed, his frequent and dangerous running plays exposed him to the dreaded cranial injuries he would suffer.
For football fans from the 1990s, Young has a mystique and cache that guarantees strong value for Steve Young rookie cards. And, of course, the Niners have a particularly strong national fan base. So, Steve Young cards are worth investing in, grading, and, dare I say, treasuring.
1984 Topps USFL Steve Young RC #52
A PSA 10 sold for $21,000
Is the 1984 Topps USFL Steve Young RC #52 Young's actual rookie card? The naysayers will tell you that because the Los Angeles Express wasn't an NFL team, this one doesn't count. But I say, this is his first professional card and is absolutely his real and most crucial rookie. And the fact that USFL cards had low print runs helps this wondrous item maintain its substantial value. Everyone has an NFL rookie card, but only an elite few have a USFL one. Young went to the Express instead of the Bengals because he wanted to start and wasn't willing to compromise, which is pretty badass. We also need to keep it real. Steve looks so freaking cool in this pic. Very nonchalant for a rookie, with hair blowing in the wind. This is THE Steve Young card, no matter what the nattering nabobs of negativity say.
1985 Topps USFL Steve Young #65
A PSA 10 went for $455
The 1985 Topps USFL Steve Young #65 often falls between the cracks. It isn't the first USFL card for the quarterback and doesn't look quite as cool as the 1984 USFL Topps card, either. It also comes the year before Steve's first proper NFL rookie card. Still, USFL cards are rare, and it's one of the earliest in the legendary career of this three-time Super Bowl winner. So, it fetches a reasonable price if maintained in primo condition. It is also a reminder to all of us that one of the reasons the USFL folded was because of their hideous uniforms. You can't play in LA looking that drab. It is a city of glamor, glitz, and magnificent drips. Read the room.
1986 McDonald's Steve Young #8 (Orange)
A PSA 10 sold for $124
Because Steve started out with the USFL, his early cards are off the beaten path. And that is a good thing because it reflects this incredible athlete's unique path to the top. The 1986 McDonald's Steve Young #8 is his earliest NFL football card. These were distributed regionally by the fast-food giant, and each card has four variations, including the Young one. We chose the orange because it's the best known, but any of them are nifty reminders of 80s culture and the place of our quarterback in that world. But beware of the condition of these cards. They were part of a scratch-off competition. So, any card that was actually scratched may not be in the most optimal state. The scratching area is a bit below the picture.
1986 Topps Stickers Steve Young #23 Charles Romes #173
A PSA 10 sold for $55
The hobby deeply underrates the sticker in question. It is the first Topps NFL release featuring young and has that cool double rookie format that vintage collectors absolutely love. But, unfortunately, the other guy on the front, Charles Romes, was also no slouch and had 137 starts for the Buffalo Bills, the 8th-highest number in franchise history. And because it is a sticker, PSA 10s are hard to find. So many people stuck them somewhere, and they also get damaged more easily than standard cardboard. But unfortunately, despite its cool status and scarcity, people are sleeping on the fantastic 1986 Topps Stickers Steve Young #23 Charles Romes #173.
1986 Topps Steve Young Rookie Card #374
A PSA 10 sold for $35,302
For NFL purists (and sticker haters), this is the first and only proper Steve Young rookie card. That approach is understandable. It is the first traditional card to show the promising player in his Tampa Bay uniform. Unfortunately, it will be a while until he wears the San Francisco 49ers uniform with which he will forever be associated. And the shockingly ugly design of the 1986 Topps football release only adds to its junk wax appeal. There is no shortage of copies of this card, with 10,335 PSA-graded items alone. However, this release's terrible centering and poor cardboard quality have kept PSA 10s down to a minimum of 9. And there are only 189 PSA 9s of the 1986 Topps Steve Young RC #374. So, if you have a good copy, grade it as soon as possible.
1987 Topps Steve Young #84
A PSA 10 sold for $180
The last Topps card featuring Steve in a Tampa Bay Bucs uniform, the 1987 Topps Steve Young #84, showcases him in full stretch. The picture is very much an in-action ugly face kind, one of the coolest cards. You can also see Young's magnificent curls before he put on his helmet, and it ruined his perm. Of course, second-year cards never get the love that rookie cards do, but the 1987 Topps design is certainly nicer than the more storied rookie card. This one should be in the collection of every serious Steve Young enthusiast.
1988 Topps Steve Young #39
A PSA 10 sold for $202
The value of the 1988 Topps Steve Young #39 may not seem very high, but for a third-year base card, that is an outstanding value. And you have to love the picture where Steve looks like a legit superhero. For 49ers fans, this is an exciting item to add to your collection because it's his first in their distinctive uniform. And let's face it; Steve was pretty weak for the Tampa Bay Bucs; it was in San Francisco that he became a legend. In addition, fans from the era will remember this is the card that ushered in the fiercest competition for a starting QB spot in history, between Young and the equally superb Joe Montana.
1989 Topps Traded #24T Steve Young
A PSA 10 card went for $60
Indeed, the 1989 Topps Traded #24T Steve Young card isn't worth much money. I mean, it barely seems worth grading. But it's noteworthy for two reasons. First, it has the best action picture of any Steve Young card. It captured that exciting uncertainty when Young got the ball, and you had no idea if he was going to make a run for it or split the defense with a devastating pass. Second. It's in 1989 Topps traded set, even though the Bucs traded Young the previous year.
1991 Pro Line Portraits Autographs Steve Young
A raw card is worth $240
Back in 1991, there were very few auto cards on the market. They would continue to be a rarity until well into the 1990s. So, a relatively early auto from the young Young is a welcome rarity. In addition, the 1991 Pro Line Portraits Autographs Steve Young card is a very attractive specimen. Therefore, surprisingly, these cards do not fetch better prices on the open market. The set had an unconventional approach to photography, catching the athletes from interesting angles. All this makes the 1991 Pro Line Portraits Football Card series seem way ahead of its time. The photos are full-bleed photo beauties. However, for some reason, Pro Line thought placing the autographs on the back would be wise. That may be one of the reasons the value is so low. But as autos become a more critical part of the hobby, their value will likely increase.
1994 Finest Refractor Steve Young #77
A PSA 10 sold for $1,047
Topps brought refractors into the hobby in the mid-1990s, and the early designs remain some of the best-ever manufacturers. The 1994 Finest Refractor Steve Young #77 is the latest featuring the quarterback, which is magnificent. In Young's best cards, his muscular and determined look makes him seem like a real-life Captain America. The design here is fitting for an early 70s comic book, and the gorgeous refractor shine gives this card a real boost. It is no wonder these items go for good prices, even though Steve was no longer a spring chicken when they were printed.
1996 Upper Deck Game Jerseys Steve Young
A PSA 8 sold for $575
Unfortunately, we do not have a Rookie Patch Auto (RPA) for Steve Young. There were none of those back in 1986. So, the closest thing we have is the 1996 Upper Deck Game Jerseys Steve Young card. And they go for a reasonably nice sum, even though the cards were printed towards the end of his storied career. If you have one of these, get them graded ASAP. There isn't a single copy over a PSA 8, and a gem could be worth a small fortune. As a note, there are a good number of counterfeit versions of this card or in-person signatures (which don't bother me but alarm the purists and lower value). So, to ensure you have a legit copy, look out for the embossed seal on the card.
2017 Impeccable Joe Montana Steve Young Holo Gold Dual Autograph Auto #10/10
A raw card went for $440
There are several dual-auto Joe Montana and Steve Young cards on the market. Because, well, who wouldn't want one? But the 2017 Impeccable Joe Montana Steve Young Holo Gold Dual Autograph Auto #10/10 is my favorite. The design is absolutely sensational, and it is numbered 10. It captures both wearing the Niners' uniform in similar but unique poses that reflect the parallel careers of these two legends.
2021 Playoff Jerry Rice/Steve Young Dual Auto /10
A raw card went for $800
Of course, Young and Montana aren't the only iconic 49ers duo that Steve was a part of. Young and Jerry Rice was the most productive and unforgettable quarterback and receiver pairing of the 90s. Indeed, that combination was significantly more effective than the Montana to Rice combo. Montana combined with the wide receiver for 35 touchdowns. But Young hit him up for an incredible 85, many of them for over 50 yards. And Young's most outstanding performance was in the 1994 Super Bowl, where he connected for 6 touchdown passes, three of which were caught by Rice. The 2021 Playoff Jerry Rice/Steve Young Dual Auto /10 is a gorgeous reminder of that magical time.
Final Word On The Best Steve Young Trading Cards For Collectors
The backlog of Steve Young cards is a reminder that the 49ers quarterback did not have your standard career. He started in the doomed USFL league and struggled in his early NFL seasons with the Bucs. But we love Steve Young just the way he was. Scrappy, brilliant, and one of a kind. That means there aren't as many top-dollar cards as we would like from such a top-notch Hall-of-Famer. But it also allows us to follow along on Steve's fantastic journey by collecting his cards. And that is what the hobby is all about.
