The Chicago Cubs are one of the most historic franchises in Major League Baseball. Founded in 1874, the Cubs have won three World Series titles and played in the National League since its inception in 1876. Over the decades, the Cubs have been featured on countless baseball cards highlighting some of the game’s greatest players and moments. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable Cubs team sets issued over the years in the form of trading cards.
One of the earliest Cubs team sets was issued in the 1930s by Goudey Gum Company. This 80-card set featured multiple players from the Cubs roster at the time as well as managers and owners. Some notable Cubs included in this set were Hack Wilson, Gabby Hartnett, and Charlie Grimm. The cards featured simple black and white photographic images with basic player stats and information on the back. These early Goudey Cubs cards are highly collectible today given they capture a unique time in the franchise’s history before World War 2.
In the post-war 1950s, the Bowman Gum Company issued colorful new Cubs cards as part of their main sets. Players like Hank Sauer, Randy Jackson, and Dee Fondy received colorful new cardboard issues during this decade. Topps also began including Cubs in their annual sets starting in 1956. Iconic players like Ernie Banks and Billy Williams had their rookie cards featured in Topps sets of this era. The late 50s/early 60s Topps and Bowman issues of these all-time Cubs greats are extremely valuable in top-graded condition today.
The 1960s saw the rise of the famous “Billy Goat Tavern” Cubs that made the playoffs multiple times. In 1965, Topps captured this era with an exciting 100-card Cubs team issue set. Featuring the likes of Banks, Williams, Ron Santo, and Ferguson Jenkins, this colorful vintage set is a highly sought after piece in any Cubs PC. Around this same time period, the Philadelphia Gum Company also issued a 1960s Cubs team set highlighting the roster from that memorable decade.
Topps continued their Cubs team sets into the 1970s with a 1975 release honoring that year’s team which featured Santo, Jenkins, and Rick Monday. Cards in this 100-card set showcased action shots and player portraits. The 1980s then saw Donruss issue Cubs team sets in 1986 and 1987 during the Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg led teams. These sets captured the players and styles of that mid-to-late 80s time period in Cubs history before the dominance of the 1990s.
Speaking of the 1990s Cubs, this decade saw some of the most iconic team sets released. In 1991, Score issued a classic “Wrigley Field” design Cubs team set featuring Sandberg, Dawson, Greg Maddux, and others. This nostalgic 120-card set captured the North Side atmosphere perfectly. Then in 1998, Upper Deck issued one of the most visually stunning Cubs team sets ever produced to commemorate that year’s Wild Card winning team. Featuring sharp action shots and unique parallel “field level” parallels, this remains a true work of cardboard art among Cubs collectors.
Entering the 21st century, trading card companies continued chronicling the Cubs in team sets. In 2003, Fleer Greats issued a “This is Next Year” Cubs tribute set focusing on young stars of that era. Then in 2015, Topps Archives released a “Wrigley Field Turns 100” Cubs salute set commemorating the iconic ballpark’s centennial. Most recently, 2021 Donruss released a “We Love Baseball” themed Cubs team set highlighting the franchise’s rich history and traditions.
In conclusion, Cubs team baseball cards sets over the decades have captured the franchise’s greatest players, eras, and moments for collectors to enjoy. From early 20th century Goudey issues to modern releases like Topps Archives, these sets preserve Cubs history for fans on cardboard. Whether it’s rookies of Banks and Williams or tribute sets for the 1998 wild card team, Cubs team sets hold a special place in the hobby for collectors of the North Siders.
