Football set
1981 Topps Checklist & Card Prices
Football198199 cards99 pricedTopps
1981 Topps (Football) has 99 cards in our price guide, 99 of them with live market values. The most valuable is Joe Montana #216 at $51,240 in PSA 10 ($96.20 raw). Across the set, PSA 10 copies total $80K and raw copies $272.
- Cards
- 99
- With prices
- 99
- PSA 10 total
- $80K
- Raw total
- $272
- Avg gem premium
- 62×
- Top card
- $51,240
Most valuable cards
The 12 highest-value cards in 1981 Topps, ranked by PSA 10 price (best graded or raw where no PSA 10 sale exists).
12
3
4
5
6
78
9
10
11
12
Joe Montana #216
Raw $96.20PSA 10 $51,240
Walter Payton #400
Raw $8.25PSA 10 $4,080
Dan Hampton #316
Raw $4.97PSA 10 $3,782
Dwight Clark #422
Raw $2.99PSA 10 $1,861
Art Monk #194
Raw $5.01PSA 10 $1,719
Walter Payton #202
Raw $3.12PSA 10 $1,338
Phil Simms #55
Raw $1.75PSA 10 $700
Tony Dorsett #500
Raw $2.11PSA 10 $575
Terry Bradshaw #375
Raw $2.33PSA 10 $570
Kellen Winslow #150
Raw $2.40PSA 10 $549
Franco Harris #220
Raw $1.56PSA 10 $528
Joe Greene #495
Raw $2.59PSA 10 $517
Best cards to grade
Dan Hampton #316 shows the biggest jump in 1981 Topps: $4.97 raw to $3,782 in PSA 10, a 761× premium. Ranked by PSA 10 price ÷ raw price; only cards with a PSA 10 value of $20 or more are shown.
- 1761×Dan Hampton #316$4.97 raw → $3,782 PSA 10
- 2622×Dwight Clark #422$2.99 raw → $1,861 PSA 10
- 3533×Joe Montana #216$96.20 raw → $51,240 PSA 10
- 4495×Walter Payton #400$8.25 raw → $4,080 PSA 10
- 5429×Walter Payton #202$3.12 raw → $1,338 PSA 10
- 6400×Phil Simms #55$1.75 raw → $700 PSA 10
- 7343×Art Monk #194$5.01 raw → $1,719 PSA 10
- 8338×Franco Harris #220$1.56 raw → $528 PSA 10
Full checklist
All 99 cards we track from 1981 Topps, with the latest raw and graded market values. Tap any card for its full price history.
| Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | CGC 10 | BGS 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmad Rashad #140Ahmad Rashad | $1.42 | $9.99 | $146 | $87.00 | $189 |
| Alan Page #160Alan Page | $1.36 | $38.99 | $161 | $97.00 | $210 |
| Archie Manning #158Archie Manning | $1.17 | $36.23 | $65.00 | $39.00 | $85.00 |
| Archie Manning #379Archie Manning | $1.69 | $36.97 | $159 | $96.00 | $207 |
| Art Monk #194Art Monk | $5.01 | $106 | $1,719 | $1,032 | $2,235 |
| Art Shell #43Art Shell | $1.54 | $23.90 | $169 | $101 | $219 |
| Art Still #310Art Still | $1.21 | $28.00 | $171 | $102 | $222 |
| Bears Team Leaders: Checklist #264 | $2.05 | $40.90 | $260 | $156 | $338 |
| Bill Thompson #336Bill Thompson | $1.48 | $27.68 | $93.64 | $56.00 | $122 |
| Billy Joe Dupree #393Billy Joe Dupree | $1.58 | $9.96 | $54.00 | $32.00 | $70.00 |
| Billy Sims #100Billy Sims | $3.73 | $32.80 | $345 | $207 | $448 |
| Billy Sims #473Billy Sims | $1.80 | $30.90 | $49.31 | $30.00 | $64.00 |
| Bob Griese #482Bob Griese | $1.35 | $30.52 | $161 | $96.00 | $209 |
| Brian Sipe #350Brian Sipe | $1.42 | $29.61 | $200 | $120 | $260 |
| Charles White #69Charles White | $1.60 | $42.79 | $152 | $91.00 | $198 |
| Chris Bahr #107Chris Bahr | $1.25 | $11.08 | $74.58 | $45.00 | $97.00 |
| Chuck Foreman #119Chuck Foreman | $1.34 | $39.99 | $259 | $155 | $336 |
| Chuck Muncie #105Chuck Muncie | $1.37 | $28.00 | $84.00 | $50.00 | $109 |
| Dan Dierdorf #519Dan Dierdorf | $1.50 | $17.56 | $47.00 | $28.00 | $61.00 |
| Dan Fouts #153Dan Fouts | $1.50 | $22.37 | $89.99 | $54.00 | $117 |
| Dan Fouts #265Dan Fouts | $1.43 | $29.25 | $240 | $144 | $312 |
| Dan Hampton #316Dan Hampton | $4.97 | $200 | $3,782 | $2,269 | $4,917 |
| Don McCauley #137Don McCauley | $1.30 | $21.50 | $311 | $187 | $404 |
| Donnie Shell #90Donnie Shell | $1.61 | $22.49 | $147 | $88.00 | $191 |
| Doug Williams #32Doug Williams | $1.68 | $21.34 | $165 | $99.00 | $215 |
| Drew Pearson #95Drew Pearson | $1.99 | $25.00 | $150 | $90.00 | $195 |
| Dwight Clark #422Dwight Clark | $2.99 | $98.68 | $1,861 | $1,117 | $2,419 |
| Earl Cooper #75Earl Cooper | $1.51 | $9.02 | $175 | $105 | $228 |
| Ed 'Too Tall' Jones #185Ed 'Too Tall' Jones | $1.25 | $20.45 | $86.00 | $52.00 | $112 |
| Eddie Lee Ivery #117Eddie Lee Ivery | $1.75 | $29.99 | $40.00 | $24.00 | $52.00 |
| Franco Harris #220Franco Harris | $1.56 | $38.93 | $528 | $317 | $686 |
| Fred Dean #520Fred Dean | $1.35 | $31.68 | $149 | $89.00 | $193 |
| Fred Smerlas #201Fred Smerlas | $1.54 | $21.76 | $263 | $158 | $341 |
| Gene Upshaw #219Gene Upshaw | $1.69 | $13.25 | $155 | $93.00 | $201 |
| Greg Hawthorne #297Greg Hawthorne | $1.13 | $42.16 | $353 | $212 | $458 |
| Harold Carmichael #35Harold Carmichael | $2.40 | $38.00 | $183 | $110 | $238 |
| Herb Orvis #508Herb Orvis | $1.48 | $15.00 | $49.99 | $30.00 | $65.00 |
| Jack Ham #235Jack Ham | $1.69 | $22.25 | $164 | $98.00 | $213 |
| Jack Lambert #155Jack Lambert | $1.75 | $48.35 | $164 | $98.00 | $213 |
| Jan Stenerud #387Jan Stenerud | $1.62 | $33.39 | $181 | $108 | $235 |
| Jay Saldi #53Jay Saldi | $1.77 | $14.99 | $89.16 | $54.00 | $116 |
| Jim Allen #251Jim Allen | $1.49 | $13.97 | $50.99 | $31.00 | $66.00 |
| Jim Plunkett #135Jim Plunkett | $1.67 | $60.00 | $315 | $189 | $409 |
| Joe Cribbs #360Joe Cribbs | $1.54 | $19.75 | $163 | $98.00 | $211 |
| Joe Greene #495Joe Greene | $2.59 | $36.28 | $517 | $310 | $672 |
| Joe Montana #216Joe Montana | $96.20 | $3,015 | $51,240 | $30,744 | $77,467 |
| Joe Theismann #165Joe Theismann | $1.74 | $26.37 | $175 | $105 | $228 |
| John Bunting #439John Bunting | $1.53 | — | $99.99 | $60.00 | $130 |
| John Jefferson #332John Jefferson | $1.15 | $30.00 | $46.01 | $28.00 | $60.00 |
| John Stallworth #476John Stallworth | $1.81 | $27.82 | $169 | $101 | $219 |
| Johnny Lam Jones #16Johnny Lam Jones | $1.69 | $24.00 | $240 | $144 | $312 |
| Kellen Winslow #150Kellen Winslow | $2.40 | $59.75 | $549 | $330 | $714 |
| Ken Greene #17Ken Greene | $1.13 | $17.00 | $33.22 | $20.00 | $43.00 |
| Ken Stabler #405Ken Stabler | $1.97 | $26.99 | $158 | $95.00 | $205 |
| Ken Stone #479Ken Stone | $1.68 | $12.25 | $33.38 | $20.00 | $43.00 |
| Kenny King #333Kenny King | $1.65 | $49.97 | $51.00 | $31.00 | $66.00 |
| Larry Swider #442Larry Swider | $1.61 | $19.99 | $30.01 | $18.00 | $39.00 |
| Lee Roy Selmon #410Lee Roy Selmon | $1.89 | $33.53 | $410 | $246 | $533 |
| Leon Gray #30Leon Gray | $1.09 | $12.22 | $77.16 | $46.00 | $100 |
| Lester Hayes #20Lester Hayes | $1.69 | $55.08 | $189 | $113 | $246 |
| Lester Hayes #218Lester Hayes | $1.79 | $31.51 | $167 | $100 | $217 |
| Lions Team Leaders: Checklist #338 | $1.59 | $29.99 | $152 | $91.00 | $197 |
| Lyle Alzado #505Lyle Alzado | $1.61 | $19.65 | $101 | $60.00 | $131 |
| Mark Gastineau #342Mark Gastineau | $2.63 | $89.97 | $251 | $150 | $326 |
| Mike Bragg #483Mike Bragg | $1.78 | $8.46 | $34.00 | $20.00 | $44.00 |
| Mike Haynes #230Mike Haynes | $1.69 | $14.99 | $64.19 | $39.00 | $83.00 |
| Mike Kenn #215Mike Kenn | $1.55 | $25.25 | $78.77 | $47.00 | $102 |
| Mike Nelms #252Mike Nelms | $1.51 | $28.03 | $146 | $88.00 | $190 |
| Mike Webster #10Mike Webster | $1.70 | $26.00 | $177 | $106 | $230 |
| Nick Lowery #213Nick Lowery | $1.53 | $20.00 | $234 | $140 | $304 |
| Ottis Anderson #365Ottis Anderson | $1.54 | $10.13 | $108 | $65.00 | $140 |
| Ozzie Newsome #435Ozzie Newsome | $1.38 | $29.99 | $125 | $75.00 | $162 |
| Pat Tilley #239Pat Tilley | $1.54 | $9.99 | $36.37 | $22.00 | $47.00 |
| Phil Simms #55Phil Simms | $1.75 | $22.01 | $700 | $420 | $910 |
| Randy Grossman #256Randy Grossman | $1.42 | $20.83 | $125 | $75.00 | $162 |
| Randy White #470Randy White | $1.60 | $27.49 | $182 | $109 | $237 |
| Ray Guy #510Ray Guy | $1.50 | $28.62 | $183 | $110 | $238 |
| Rod Martin #334Rod Martin | $1.61 | $22.00 | $78.13 | $47.00 | $102 |
| Roger Carr #245Roger Carr | $1.50 | $19.50 | $59.99 | $36.00 | $78.00 |
| Ron Jaworski #280Ron Jaworski | $1.65 | $27.42 | $125 | $75.00 | $162 |
| Rush Brown #54Rush Brown | $1.25 | $16.50 | $69.75 | $42.00 | $91.00 |
| Sidney Thornton #61Sidney Thornton | $1.37 | $26.27 | $135 | $81.00 | $175 |
| Steelers Team Leaders: Checklist #526 | $1.54 | $19.01 | $147 | $88.00 | $191 |
| Steve DeBerg #364Steve DeBerg | $1.55 | $12.98 | $89.99 | $54.00 | $117 |
| Steve Largent #271Steve Largent | $2.01 | $29.31 | $328 | $197 | $426 |
| Steve Largent #343Steve Largent | $1.72 | $29.98 | $153 | $92.00 | $199 |
| Steve Mike Mayer #277Steve Mike Mayer | $1.72 | $9.52 | $26.99 | $16.00 | $35.00 |
| Super Bowl XV #494Super Bowl XV | $1.25 | $24.00 | $189 | $114 | $246 |
| Terry Bradshaw #375Terry Bradshaw | $2.33 | $44.20 | $570 | $380 | $742 |
| Terry Bradshaw #88Terry Bradshaw | $1.96 | $24.99 | $174 | $104 | $226 |
| Theotis Brown #502Theotis Brown | $1.51 | $12.99 | $22.45 | $13.00 | $29.00 |
| Tom Brahaney #178Tom Brahaney | $1.44 | $19.99 | $39.06 | $23.00 | $51.00 |
| Tony Dorsett #138Tony Dorsett | $1.58 | $29.74 | $267 | $160 | $347 |
| Tony Dorsett #500Tony Dorsett | $2.11 | $36.10 | $575 | $345 | $748 |
| Tony Hill #355Tony Hill | $1.64 | $21.50 | $89.99 | $54.00 | $117 |
| Vince Evans #11Vince Evans | $1.61 | $28.75 | $149 | $89.00 | $194 |
| Walter Payton #202Walter Payton | $3.12 | $147 | $1,338 | $803 | $1,739 |
| Walter Payton #400Walter Payton | $8.25 | $172 | $4,080 | $2,448 | $5,305 |
| Wayne Morris #122Wayne Morris | $0.99 | $12.95 | $31.28 | $19.00 | $41.00 |
Players in this set
All Football players →About this set
1981 Topps is a Football set from 1981. Midpoint tracks 99 cards from it, 99 with market prices from recent sales and 99 with a PSA 10 value. The set's most valuable card is Joe Montana #216 at $51,240 in PSA 10 ($96.20 raw). Priced raw copies add up to $272, and PSA 10 copies to $80K. On average a PSA 10 sells for 62× the raw price across the set's graded cards.
Frequently asked questions
- How many cards are in 1981 Topps?
- Our Football price guide lists 99 cards for 1981 Topps, 99 of them with live market prices.
- What is the most valuable card in 1981 Topps?
- The most valuable card in 1981 Topps is Joe Montana #216 at $51,240 in PSA 10 ($96.20 raw).
- Is Joe Montana #216 worth grading?
- A PSA 10 Joe Montana #216 sells for $51,240 vs $96.20 raw — a 533× premium. That gap is what makes grading a well-centered, clean copy worthwhile.
- When was 1981 Topps released?
- 1981 Topps was released in 1981.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
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