Joe Montana came to San Francisco from Notre Dame in the third round of the 1979 draft, 82nd overall. In his third season he took the 49ers to the top. On January 10, 1982, in the NFC Championship Game against Dallas at Candlestick Park, he threw six yards to Dwight Clark for the tying touchdown with 51 seconds left, and the 49ers won 28–27. It has been called The Catch ever since. Two weeks later they beat Cincinnati 26–21 in Super Bowl XVI, and Montana was its Most Valuable Player.
On the phone to the booth, in the season of The Catch.
The 1982 Topps set followed: 528 cards, and the first in years made with the NFL's own licensing, so the team logos came back. Montana's second-year card is #488, and it says NFC ALL PRO across the top in blue, with a row of stars.
The picture is a sideline one. Montana stands in the red jersey, number 16, a telephone to his ear, talking to the coaches in the booth. A 49ers helmet sits in the lower corner, over 49ERS, and his name rides on a blue pennant.
The next card in the set, #489, is his In Action card, a game photograph.
Centering in this set is better than in the year before.
