Ernie Banks is considered one of the greatest shortstops in baseball history and one of the most prolific hitters for the Chicago Cubs franchise. Known affectionately as “Mr. Cub,” Banks played his entire 19-year MLB career with the Cubs from 1953-1971 and was selected to appear in the MLB All-Star Game 11 times over his career. He was also a two-time National League MVP in 1958 and 1959. Given his iconic status with the Cubs and excellence on the field, it’s no surprise that Banks has been featured prominently on baseball cards over the decades. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most notable and valuable Ernie Banks baseball cards that collectors seek.

One of Banks’s earliest and most sought after cards is his 1954 Topps rookie card, which was issued as card number 77 in the Topps baseball card set that year. Banks had just come off a very impressive rookie season in 1953 where he hit .275 with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs primarily playing third base. The 1954 Topps set helped establish Banks as an emerging star player for collectors. High grade examples of this iconic rookie card in mint condition can fetch thousands of dollars today. Another desirable early Banks card is his 1955 Topps issue, which shows him in a batting stance. This common card in lower grades can be acquired for less than $20 but gem mint examples above a PSA 9 grade have sold for over $1,000.

Banks continued delivering All-Star caliber seasons throughout the late 1950s winning back-to-back NL MVP awards. This success is reflected in some of his highest valued cards from that era. His 1957 Topps card, issued as number 130, captured Banks during one of his finest seasons where he hit .293 with 45 home runs and 143 RBIs. High grade versions of this card in the PSA 8-10 range can sell for $400-600. An even better year for Banks was 1958 when he took home his first MVP. His card from the 1958 Topps set, numbered 108, shows him in a follow-through batting pose. Pristine PSA 10 examples of this card have sold for over $2,000, a true marker of Banks’s iconic status at that point of his career.

Banks continued producing All-Star level performance throughout the 1960s as one of the elder statesmen and fan favorites on the Cubs. Some of his cards from that decade also hold significant collector value. His 1962 Topps issue, card number 262, is one of the more visually appealing cards showing Banks smiling in a head shot. High grade versions still fetch $100-200. Another attractive card is his 1963 Topps issue, number 300, which pictures Banks signing an autograph for a young fan. Pristine PSA 10 grades of this card have sold for $800 or more. Banks’s performance began declining in the late 1960s but he was still a revered veteran presence in the Cubs lineup and dugout. His 1968 Topps card, number 515, captures this stage showing Banks giving advice to teammates. Even well-centered examples in lower grades can sell for $30-50.

After retiring following the 1971 season, Banks’s legacy and status among Cubs fans only continued growing. This is reflected in the value of some special commemorative and vintage reprint cards issued featuring Banks over the decades. In the early 1980s, Topps released sets paying tribute to past stars which included a Banks card that has sold for over $100 in top condition. Banks was also included in the 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Greats set that featured retired legends. His card from that set, numbered BG-EB, has reached $75 for pristine copies. In 1992, Fleer released an Ernie Banks Tribute parallel subset that was extremely limited, making high grade versions quite valuable at over $200. More recently, in 2018, Topps Project 70 threw back to the 1968 design with a Banks card that has sold for $50 PSA 10.

Overall, Ernie Banks left an indelible mark on the city of Chicago and baseball history as perhaps the most popular Chicago Cub of all-time. His iconic status is further cemented through the numerous baseball cards issued featuring “Mr. Cub” over his 19-year MLB career and in special tribute sets after his retirement. While most of his common issue cards can be acquired for affordable prices, the true gems such as his 1954 Topps rookie, 1958 Topps MVP year, and pristine high grade examples from the 1950s-1960s hold significant collector value today, often reaching the multiple hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on condition. The legacy of Ernie Banks lives on through both his incredible on-field accomplishments and memorable baseball cards that any collection would be enriched to own.