Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway was a proven leader throughout his time with the Denver Broncos, leading the team to two Super Bowl victories and passing for 51,475 yards across his 16-season career. When it comes to collectible Elway issues, his rookie 1984 Topps #63 issue serves as a foundation.
While a raw ungraded copy can be had for less than $30, a PSA 10 gem-mint example brought $7,500 in an eBay auction in May, 2024. For those seeking a more affordable PSA 9 mint copy, the price typically ranges from $600 to $700.
With a black border, the second year Elway horizontal rookie 1985 Topps #238 is almost impossible to get a PSA 10 grade on. This makes highest condition examples of the common cardboard issue extremely rare and expensive. For ordinary football card collectors, also rare PSA 9 copies can be had for around $200, making this a value play.
Another route for high-end collectors is seeking out on-card autograph issues, often produced after Elway’s retirement. For example, a 2000 1-1 card triple-signed by Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, and John Elway went for more than $20,000 at auction on eBay in July 2024.
