The 2016 Chicago Cubs baseball team made baseball history by breaking their 108-year World Series championship drought. Their dominant season resulted in highly sought after trading cards that year. Let’s take an in-depth look at the most notable 2016 Cubs cards:
The flagship rookie card for the Cubs that year was Kyle Schwarber’s Topps Chrome RC. As a promising power hitter who played a big role in the Cubs’ playoff run in 2015 before getting injured, Schwarber’s debut rookie card carried significant hype. While injuries hampered his 2016 season, his card remained one of the most popular Cubs RCs to collect. Another rookie standout was starter Kyle Hendricks. His 2016 Topps Chrome RC showed promise for his developing pitching skills and it gained value as he solidified his spot in the Cubs’ rotation in subsequent years.
Of course, the biggest star on the team was third baseman Kris Bryant. After winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, Bryant’s sophomore season cards captured the anticipation of him stepping into a superstar role. His 2016 Topps Series 1 base card became a flagship item for any Cubs PC, while parallels and short printed versions command premium prices. The prized 2016 Gypsy Queen Kris Bryant auto remains a ultra-expensive card years later. Donruss Optic also featured a popular Kris Bryant RC auto relic parallel in 2016.
Coming off his NL MVP award in 2015, Bryant’s teammate Anthony Rizzo’s cards in 2016 took on added significance as he emerged as a team leader. Rizzo’s Topps Update base card showed him celebrating on the field and it became a popular Cubs card to own. Rizzo also had sought after 2016 Topps Stadium Club chrome autos and parallels that held value well. Another offensive force, veteran slugger Ben Zobrist played a crucial role in the Cubs’ championship and his 2016 Update and Stadium Club cards gained recognition from collectors.
On the mound, 24-year old fireballer Aroldis Chapman joined the Cubs at the trade deadline and brought excitement as the new closer. While injuries limited his playoff impact, his Cubs debut fueled interest in his 2016 Topps Update and Donruss Optic refractors and parallels. Fellow reliever Hector Rondon also shined in the late innings and his 2016 Stadium Club chrome autos were hot Cubs cards. Starting pitcher Jon Lester anchored the rotation as the staff ace and veteran leader. His 2016 Topps and Bowman autos built on his established star power.
Of course, no article on 2016 Cubs cards would be complete without discussing the legendary retirement season of pitcher Jake Arrieta. After winning the Cy Young Award in 2015, Arrieta posted another stellar year and his playoff dominance led the Cubs to the title. Arrieta’s 2016 Topps Series 1 base card gained recognition as a prized piece of Cubs history. Rare Arrieta autos and rookie cards from prior years skyrocketed in value too. For Cubs diehards, Arrieta will always be remembered as a huge part of ending the century-long drought.
The 2016 Cubs team cards celebrated one of the greatest seasons in franchise history and the ending of a legendary championship drought. Key rookies, stars and veterans from that championship core like Bryant, Rizzo, Arrieta and more will forever have their player cards enshrined in Cubs card history. Even years later, 2016 remains one of the most collected seasons for any Cubs baseball cards as fans look to commemorate the long awaited World Series title.
