One of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball, the Chicago Cubs boast a long history that dates back to 1876. As one of the National League’s charter franchises, the Cubs have produced some true icons of the game like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ryne Sandberg. This illustrious past is reflected in the Cubs’ rich collection of valuable baseball cards from across the decades. For collectors seeking authentic pieces of Cubs history, here are some of the most notable and expensive cards to keep an eye out for.
1909 T206 Honus Wagner (PSA 1): Arguably the most coveted card in the hobby, even poor condition examples of Honus Wagner’s iconic 1909-11 T206 baseball card can fetch astronomically high prices. While Wagner spent just one season with the Cubs in 1910, high grade examples regularly sell for well over $1 million given the card’s immense rarity and cultural significance in the collecting world. A PSA 1 would still pull in a high 6-figure sum.
1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson (PSA 6): One of the true icons of the Deadball Era, “Shoeless Joe” Jackson spent 2 1⁄2 seasons with the Cubs from 1915-1917 before being banned from baseball for his role in the Black Sox Scandal. His scarcity in high grades makes his 1914 Cracker Jack issue an extremely valuable Cubs card. A mid-grade PSA 6 would command a sale price well north of $100,000.
1913 M101-4 Nap Lajoie (PSA 8): Adolphe “Nap” Lajoie was an outstanding second baseman who played 33 games for the Cubs late in the 1913 season after over a decade starring with the Philadelphia Athletics. His legendary skill as a two-bagger earns him iconic status, and his tobacco card from that year remains one of the most coveted pre-war issues. Even common for the series, a high quality PSA 8 example would sell for $50,000-$75,000.
1929 Bazooka Ruby Roberts: The first African-American player in Cubs franchise history, infielder Johnny Burns spent parts of three seasons with Chicago in the late 1920s under the pseudonym “Ruby Roberts” due to the racial segregation and prejudice of the time. Nearly a century later, his scarcity and historical significance as a pioneering ballplayer make his ’29 Bazooka card one of the most valuable Cubs issues, with PSA 5s bringing $5,000-$7,500.
1956 Topps Ernie Banks (PSA 8 NM-MT): Known affectionately as “Mr. Cub,” Ernie Banks embodied the franchise for nearly two decades and was a 14-time All-Star. As one of the first prominent stars of the post-war Topps era, his 1956 rookie card is hugely iconic for Cubs collectors. High quality PSA 8 examples frequently command $4,000-6,000 at auction.
1961 Topps Billy Williams (PSA 8 NM-MT): A true Cubs legend, left fielder/designated hitter Billy “Sweet Swingin'” Williams played all 19 of his MLB seasons with Chicago and racked up over 500 home runs. His outstanding 1961 rookie card is highly coveted by collectors, with a PSA 8 bringing approximately $3,500.
1969 Topps Ron Santo (PSA 8 NM-MT): A fixture at third base for 15 campaigns in Chicago, Ron Santo was a ferocious competitor and five-time All-Star who unfortunately missed out on a World Series championship with the Cubs by a year. Still, his accomplishments earned him a place in the Hall of Fame. High grade copies of his iconic 1969 card move for $2,500-3,000.
1984 Fleer Ryne Sandberg (PSA 10 GEM MT): Winning MVP honors twice in his 16 seasons patrolling second base at Wrigley Field, Ryne Sandberg was the NL’s premier player for much of the 1980s and cemented his Cooperstown status in his Cubs career. To find his 1984 Fleer rookie in pristine PSA 10 condition is the true Holy Grail, fetching over $7,000 on the primary market.
1989 Upper Deck Greg Maddux (PSA 10 GEM MT): Before becoming a Braves/Cubs legend and one of the games’ all-time great hurlers, righty Greg Maddux broke in with Chicago in 1986 at age 20 and showed flashes of future dominance across parts of four Cubs seasons. High grade copies of his premiere Upper Deck RC in 1989 still bring $2,000-2,500 given his illustrious career.
There are of course many other notable Cubs stars and valuable cards not mentioned here spanning each era — from vintage greats like Gabby Hartnett, Hack Wilson and Charlie Grimm to modern aces like Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. But this selection provides a snapshot of some true blue-chip Cubs issues that exemplify both the team’s storied history and rich cardboard heritage for collectors. For those chasing authentic pieces of Wrigley Field’s past, these represent among the most prized possessions in the long box.
