Ernie Banks is considered one of the greatest shortstops in MLB history and one of the most prolific hitters for the Chicago Cubs franchise. Known affectionately as “Mr. Cub,” Banks played his entire 19-year baseball career for the Cubs from 1953-1971 and was selected to appear in the MLB All-Star Game 11 times. His enthusiastic love for the game of baseball earned him the nickname “Mr. Sunshine.” Banks was also the first National League player to hit over 500 home runs in his career.

Given his iconic status with the Cubs and excellence on the field, it’s no surprise that Ernie Banks has been featured prominently on baseball cards over the decades. Some of his most notable and valuable baseball cards include:

1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC (Rookie Card): Considered one of the true “holy grails” for Cubs collectors, Banks’ rookie card from his 1953 debut season is one of the most sought after in the hobby. The 1954 Topps design features a vertical photo with player stats on the bottom. Banks is shown smiling in his Cubs uniform. High grade examples in PSA/BGS 10 or SGC 10 condition can fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction. Even well-centered near-mint copies still command prices well over $1,000 due to Banks’ popularity and the rookie card’s iconic status.

1960 Topps Ernie Banks: The 1960 Topps set is highly regarded by collectors and Banks’ card shows him swinging a bat from a side angle. This issue came out during the peak of Banks’ career when he was an offensive force winning back-to-back NL MVP awards in 1958 and 1959. High grade copies remain quite valuable with PSA/BGS 9s bringing over $500.

1962 Topps Ernie Banks: The 1962 Topps Banks card features a close-up headshot photo of the Cubs shortstop. It was produced during a time when Banks was still producing at an All-Star level offensively. Near-mint 7s trade hands for $150-250 depending on the exact condition grade.

1969 Topps Ernie Banks: Banks’ 1969 Topps issue shows him from a full body view taking practice swings in the on-deck circle. It commemorates one of his final seasons wearing a Cubs uniform. This particular card holds significance as one of the last mainstream issues featuring Banks as an active player before his retirement. PSA/BGS 8 copies can be acquired for $75-125.

1972 Topps Ernie Banks: While Banks was retired as a player by 1972, he still made appearances on this oddball “retired player” subset included in the 1972 Topps set. The photo shows Banks smiling broadly in a suit with the Wrigley Field scoreboard behind him. In higher grades, examples have sold for $300-400, a testament to Banks’ enduring fandom.

1975 SSPC Ernie Banks: The 1975 Sporting News/Sporting Products Company (SSPC) set is one of the most visually appealing vintage issues. Banks’ card uses a unique three-quarters headshot. High grade copies command $150-250 due to the set’s limited print run and Banks’ popularity long after his playing days.

1981 Fleer Ernie Banks: One of Banks’ earliest post-playing career baseball cards comes from the inaugural 1981 Fleer MLB set. It shows him in a headshot with a blue border. Considered fairly common in the hobby, mint condition examples still attract $20-40 for Cubs collectors.

1986 Donruss Ernie Banks: The airbrushed headshot photo on Banks’ 1986 Donruss issue captures him as a senior statesman of the game following over a decade since his last season. Near-mint copies trade for $15-30 depending on exact centering and condition.

1989 Upper Deck Ernie Banks: Upper Deck’s first baseball card set featured Banks in one of their “Golden Greats” retired player subsets. It uses a classic action photo of Banks swinging a bat. High grade versions command $75-150 due to the prestige and limited early print runs of Upper Deck issues.

1992 Topps Ernie Banks Gold Medallion: As part of Topps’ premium “Gold Medallion” insert set within the 1992 flagship issue, Banks received a stunning embossed gold foil treatment on his card. Only available one per wax box, pristine GEM MT 10 examples have sold for over $500.

2000 Upper Deck MVP Ernie Banks: Commemorating Banks’ back-to-back NL MVP awards, this insert from Upper Deck’s 2000 release features his name rendered in baseball stitching. Near-mint copies trade hands for $20-40 based on centering quality.

In summary, Ernie Banks’ iconic status and prolific baseball career translating to many highly sought after baseball cards from his playing days in the 1950s and 1960s through modern retired player issues. High grade examples of his rookie card and other vintage Topps/SSPC issues routinely command thousands due to his popularity as “Mr. Cub.” Banks remains one of the most beloved figures in Cubs franchise history, which is further reflected in the strong collector demand and secondary market prices for his classic baseball cards spanning many decades.