If you grew up in the early 90s, you probably remember the smell of fresh gloss and cheap cardboard. You've likely got a shoebox somewhere in your attic filled with cards that were supposed to fund your retirement but are now basically colorful coasters. Among the piles of 1990 Pro Set football, one name always made your heart skip a beat: Joe Montana.
He was the king. The 49ers were unstoppable, and Montana was the guy everyone wanted to pull from a pack. Honestly, the Joe Montana 1990 Pro Set cards—yes, there are a few—are the perfect snapshot of that era. They’re chaotic, full of errors, and printed in such massive quantities that you could probably wallpaper a stadium with them.
But here’s the thing. Even in a "junk wax" set, Montana holds weight.
The Messy Reality of Card #2 (The Error Everyone Hunts)
The most famous Montana in this set isn't even his base player card. It’s card #2, the "1989 NFL Player of the Year" commemorative. Pro Set was notorious for rushing things to the printer, and this card is a prime example of their "fix it later" philosophy.
If you find this card, flip it over immediately.
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There’s a stat line for Jim Kelly on the back. In the first printing, Pro Set messed up the yardage. The error version says Kelly threw for 3,521 yards. The corrected version (which is actually less common in some regions) shows the right number: 3,130 yards.
You'll see people on eBay listing the 3,521-yard error for thousands of dollars. They'll use words like "RARE" and "INVESTMENT PIECE." Take a breath. It’s not rare. Pro Set printed millions of these. While it’s a cool piece of hobby history, a raw copy is usually a $2 to $5 card on a good day. If you have a PSA 10—a perfect gem mint copy—then we’re talking about maybe $50 to $100 because these cards were notoriously difficult to find with decent centering.
The Super Bowl MVP Inserts
Aside from the Player of the Year card, Montana shows up in the Super Bowl MVP insert set. These were tucked into Series II packs. They feature beautiful portraits by artist Merv Corning.
- Card #16: Commemorating Super Bowl XVI.
- Card #19: Commemorating Super Bowl XIX.
- Card #24: Commemorating Super Bowl XXIV.
These look a bit more "premium" than the base cards. They have a distinct gold-bordered feel (even if it's just yellow ink) and really lean into the legend of "Joe Cool." Most collectors prefer these for their aesthetic, but again, don't expect to retire on them. They’re basically dollar bin royalty.
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Why Does Anyone Care in 2026?
You might wonder why we're still talking about 36-year-old cardboard that isn't worth a fortune.
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.
The Joe Montana 1990 Pro Set represents the peak of the NFL's golden age. For a lot of us, this was the first card we ever owned of a true GOAT. Also, Pro Set cards were the first to feel "official" because they had the NFL logo and full-color photography on both sides. Before this, cards often felt like cheap toys. Pro Set tried to make them feel like a premium news product, even if their spell-check was non-existent.
The Grading Gamble
Is it worth grading these? Usually, no.
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The cost of grading a card at PSA or SGC is often higher than the value of the card itself. However, if you have a Montana #293 (his base card) or the #2 Error that looks absolutely perfect—meaning the borders are even and there are no white chips on the edges—it might be worth the $20 gamble. A PSA 10 Montana is always a liquid asset. People love Joe. They will always buy a perfect Joe Montana card.
Spotting the Variations
Because Pro Set was constantly tweaking their files, there are "blank back" versions and "no position" versions of various cards. If you find a Montana with a blank back, that’s a legitimate printing scrap that made its way into a pack. Those actually have some rarity.
The standard #293 base card also has minor color shifts. Some look a bit more orange, others more red. Most of this is just due to low-quality ink control at the factory rather than an intentional "parallel."
Moving Forward With Your Collection
If you've just dug out a stack of these, here is what you should actually do:
- Check the Jim Kelly stats on the back of card #2. If it says 3,521 yards, you’ve got the classic error.
- Look at the corners. If they aren't sharp enough to prick your finger, don't bother grading them.
- Check centering. Pro Set was famous for "diamond cuts" where the image is tilted. Those are worthless to high-end collectors.
- Buy the Super Bowl MVPs if you don't have them. They are dirt cheap right now and look great in a binder.
The 1990 Pro Set Joe Montana isn't a winning lottery ticket, but it's a foundational piece of football history. It’s the card that defined an era of collecting where everyone believed they were holding a treasure. Even if the monetary value stayed low, the "cool factor" of having Joe in his prime is still pretty high.
Pro Tip: If you're looking to buy, skip the "unopened" boxes unless they're incredibly cheap ($20-$30). The packs are prone to "brickage," where the gloss sticks together over decades, and you'll ruin the cards just trying to peel them apart. Better to just buy the singles you want for a couple of bucks.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your "Junk Wax" boxes: Sort through your 1990 Pro Set specifically for the Montana #2 and check the back for the Jim Kelly yardage error.
- Price check on 130Point: Use 130Point.com to see what these cards actually sell for in the last 30 days, rather than looking at the crazy asking prices on eBay.
- Store them properly: Even if they aren't worth much, keep your Montana cards in penny sleeves and top loaders to prevent the gloss from peeling or the edges from fraying further.