The Chicago Cubs are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball, but their history is defined by decades of playoff futility. Prior to 2016, the Cubs had not won the World Series in over a century, dating all the way back to 1908. As a result, baseball cards from the few times the Cubs reached the Fall Classic are incredibly rare and highly sought after by collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable and valuable Cubs World Series baseball cards from their championship season in 2016 and earlier attempts.
One of the earliest and most iconic Cubs World Series cards comes from their last championship in 1908. The T206 White Border set from that year features multiple future Hall of Famers who were key contributors to the Cubs first title, including triple crown winner Joe Tinker (#281). High graded examples of this rare early 20th century issue in PSA Gem Mint 10 condition have sold for over $100,000 due to the incredibly small print run over 100 years ago. Other notables from the 1908 set include pitcher Mordecai Brown (#76), outfielder Billy Jurges (#234), and second baseman Johnny Evers (#253).
After over a century of waiting, the Cubs broke the curse and won the World Series again in 2016 against the Cleveland Indians. The major sports card manufacturers all released sets focused on capturing the historic championship run. Topps issued several different varieties focused on the 2016 postseason, headlined by star third baseman Kris Bryant’s prominent rookie card (#212). Panini also delivered retro-style World Series Moment’s parallels and Prizm parallels commemoration the title. The crown jewel for Cubs collectors was the case hit 2016 Topps Chrome Cubs World Series Champions autograph patch card of Javier Baez. Only 24 were produced, with PSA 10 examples reaching astronomical prices above $30,000.
In between those two championship decades, the Cubs made back-to-back World Series appearances in 1935 and 1938 but fell short of a title both times. The 1935 Goudey set is one of the most recognizable designs from that era and featured star first baseman Phil Cavarretta’s prominent rookie card (#85). High graded examples have sold for over $10,000. Several cards also exist featuring Hall of Fame pitcher Claude Passeau from those late 1930’s World Series rosters, including in the iconic 1939 Play Ball issue.
After nearly 20 years of disappointment following the 1938 Series loss, the Cubs returned to the Fall Classic in 1945 facing off against the Detroit Tigers. Star pitchers Hank Borowy and Bill Nicholson, who both started games in that Series, have decently popular vintage cards from that set. The true key cards are those featuring Hall of Fame third baseman and team captain Stan Musial from the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Musial dominated the 1945 Series for the National League champion Cardinals who defeated the Cubs 4-3.
In 1984, the Cubs had their best team in decades led by All-Stars Ron Cey, Gary Matthews, Ryne Sandberg, and Rick Sutcliffe on the mound. They made a storybook run to the NLCS before falling to the San Diego Padres. Topps issued a pivotal update series late in ’84 focused solely on playoff performers from that postseason. Popular short prints include Sutcliffe’s dominant Game 1 winning pitcher performance card and Sandberg’s iconic #363 issue recognizing his key home run and MVP caliber series. High graded examples from the ultra-rare ’84 Update have cracked $1000 due to the short print window.
While they haven’t repeated the ultimate goal of winning another championship, the Cubs did return to the NLCS in both 2015 and 2016 prior to capturing the trophy the following year. The 2015 Topps Update and 2016 ChromeUpdate sets are also highly collected for focusing solely on performances from that Fall Classic runs and playoff heroes like star shortstop Addison Russell. Kris Bryant’s prominent rookie card from the ’15 Update set cracked six figures in PSA 10 condition.
Baseball cards representing the Cubs appearances in the World Series present collectors with some extremely rare and historically significant issues due to the infrequency of their October success over the last century. Key cards from the 1908, 1935, 1938, 1945, 1984, 2015, and 2016 seasons highlight star players, rookie cards, and autographs that showcase those memorable championship runs and playoff performances. With another extended dry spell before the 2016 title, cards from their past Series appearances remain highly valuable and some of the most prized possessions for diehard Cubs collectors.
