The Chicago Cubs are one of the most historic franchises in Major League Baseball, with a rich history dating back to 1874. As one of the oldest teams in the league, Cubs players have been featured on baseball cards for over a century, providing a visual history of the many stars and memorable teams that have worn the Cubs uniform over the years. Cubs cards offer collectors a unique opportunity to reminisce about past eras of Cubs baseball and appreciate the legacy of some all-time great players.
Some of the earliest Cubs cards date back to the late 1880s from sets produced by tobacco companies like Goodwin & Company and Allen & Ginter. These antique cards featured iconic Cubs like Cap Anson, Adrian “Cap” Anson, and Mike “King” Kelly. While incredibly rare today in any grade above poor condition, these pioneer Cubs cards set the stage for the baseball card boom that would take place in the coming decades as the hobby grew in popularity.
In the early 20th century, T206 and E90-E92 tobacco issues provided the first color images of Cubs stars like Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, Frank Chance, and Jack Taylor. Brown’s distinctive pitching motion and Chance’s leadership of the team’s first World Series champions in 1907 and 1908 made them especially popular subjects. High-grade examples of these early 20th century tobacco issues can fetch six figures at auction today due to their historical significance and limited surviving populations.
The Goudey Gum Company released the first modern design baseball card set in 1933, featuring over 150 players from the National and American Leagues at the time. Notable Cubs in the set included Gabby Hartnett, Charlie Grimm, and Kiki Cuyler. The Goudey set helped popularize the modern baseball card format that is still used today of a vertical design with a color team photo on the front and stats on the back. High-grade Goudey Cubs cards remain some of the most iconic and valuable from the pre-war era.
In the post-war years of the late 1940s and 1950s, the Bowman and Topps gum companies dominated the baseball card market. Legendary Cubs players like Hank Sauer, Randy Hundley, Ernie Banks, and Ron Santo achieved their first widespread card coverage during this period in sets like 1951 Bowman, 1954 Topps, and 1959 Topps. The 1959 Topps card of Ernie Banks with his famous smile has become one of the most recognizable and cherished Cubs cards ever made.
The 1960s saw the Cubs return to the World Series behind the bats of Banks, Santo, Billy Williams, and Ferguson Jenkins on the mound. They were featured prominently in the iconic 1966 Topps set, considered one of the most beautiful designs in card history. Highlights include the first color Cubs team card since the 1930s Goudey issues and individual cards showcasing each member of the infield and outfield. Graded examples of these 1960s stars in their Cubs uniforms are highly sought after by collectors today.
The 1970s produced some of the most visually dramatic Cubs cards ever due to the colorful designs of the era by Topps. Thurman Munson and Bill Madlock led the offense, with pitchers like Milt Pappas and Rick Reuschel on the mound. Topps issued parallel sets like Traded in the mid-1970s, allowing fans to follow players who switched teams during the season. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Dave Kingman and Bruce Sutter also debuted during this decade.
The 1980s saw the Cubs return to the NLCS in 1984 behind ace pitcher Rick Sutcliffe and All-Star shortstop Shawon Dunston. Topps captured them in classic cardboard during that memorable season. Other stars like Jody Davis, Gary Matthews, and Keith Moreland also had their best Cubs years cardified for collectors. The late 1980s Donruss and Score sets showcased future great Andre Dawson’s arrival and early Cubs career before his NL MVP season in 1987.
In the 1990s, the Cubs were competitive again led by Ryne Sandberg, Greg Maddux, and Mark Grace. Upper Deck brought its revolutionary photography and design style to Cubs cards starting in 1989. Finest and Studio issues stood out for their premium refractors and parallel short prints. The 90s also saw the rise of sportscards as an investment asset class, driving up prices for key rookie and star Cubs cards from the decade in top condition.
The 2000s Cubs featured Sammy Sosa’s home run chase alongside young talents like Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Derrek Lee. Updates and parallels in sets from Topps, Upper Deck, and Leaf captured their performances. The late 2000s rookie cards of Starlin Castro and Geovany Soto also gained popularity as those players emerged. In recent years, the Cubs at last broke their World Series drought in 2016 with a championship team led by Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Jon Lester that received extra attention from card manufacturers.
As the Cubs look to add to their legacy in the 2020s and beyond, their baseball cards will continue to be prized collectibles commemorating the franchise’s rich history. Whether celebrating iconic stars of the past or today’s young talents, Cubs cards spanning over 140 years offer a visual connection to some of the most memorable moments in one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Serious Cubs collectors seek out even the rarest and highest graded examples from the team’s earliest card issues to showcase the evolution of the iconic Chicago Cubs in cardboard over the decades.
