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.

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.

Ernest “Ernie” Banks is considered one of the greatest shortstops in Major League Baseball history. Known affectionately as “Mr. Cub,” Banks spent his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs from 1953 to 1971. His upbeat and positive attitude in the face of the Cubs struggles endeared him to fans. Banks was an 11-time All-Star and two-time National League MVP. He led the National League in home runs twice and holds the record for the most home runs by a National League shortstop. Naturally, Banks has been featured prominently on many baseball cards over the years.

One of the earliest Banks baseball cards comes from his rookie season of 1953 with Topps. The iconic Topps design from that era featured a large color photo on one side and basic career stats and information on the reverse. Banks’ rookie card shows him in a Cubs uniform from the waist up with his familiar smile. The stats note he was 20 years old, stood 5’11” and weighed 175 pounds. He had just finished a strong rookie season batting .275 with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs. This card is highly collectible today as one of Banks’ earliest and his rookie season. Graded mint condition examples can fetch thousands of dollars.

In 1954, Banks broke out with a .275 average, 25 home runs and 83 RBIs earning him MVP consideration. This led to a more prominent spot on his 1954 Topps card. The large color photo now showed his entire body in a classic batting stance. The stats on the back noted his breakout season performance. High grade examples of this card also have significant collector value today. Banks went on to have all-star caliber seasons in 1955 and 1956 cementing himself as a star, which was reflected in the design and information on his cards those years from Topps and Bowman.

Banks had a career year in 1958, batting .313 with 47 home runs and 129 RBIs winning the National League MVP award. This outstanding season was commemorated on his 1958 Topps card. The large photo showed Banks mid-swing with the Wrigley Field stands in the background. The stats listing his MVP numbers were now in bold on the reverse. This is considered one of Banks’ most iconic and desirable cards today. PSA Gem Mint 10 graded examples have sold for over $10,000, underscoring his popularity and the significance of this MVP season card.

In 1960, Banks led the league again with 41 home runs helping power the Cubs to their first pennant in 40 years. Topps captured this exciting season and Banks’ pivotal role on his 1960 card. The front photo featured Banks mid-swing with confetti falling in the background, referencing the Cubs playoff run. The back listed his impressive 1960 stats and two-time All-Star selection in bold. This card commemorating the Cubs’ long awaited pennant is also highly sought after by collectors. Banks went on to be featured prominently on cards each year through the early 1960s from Topps, Fleer and other brands.

Banks played in the All-Star game in 1963 at Cleveland Stadium where he was named MVP after hitting two home runs. Topps honored this achievement on the 1963 card, labeling Banks an “All-Star MVP” on the front and listing his two-homer game stats on the back. This card remains one of Banks more iconic All-Star game issue cards. In 1966, Banks became the first National League shortstop to hit 500 career home runs. Topps marked the occasion on his 1966 card with “500 Home Run Club” printed prominently across the front photo, honoring his place in baseball history.

After the 1969 season, Banks was traded to the Boston Braves in a rare move away from the Cubs. He never played a game for Boston and retired after the 1971 season spent back with the Cubs. In Banks’ retirement, he remained a beloved figure in Chicago and was active in the Cubs organization. In the 1990s, Banks began appearing on special vintage reprint and retro style cards to honor his playing days from brands like Upper Deck, Score and Leaf. In 2008, Topps released a special Ernie Banks tribute card as part of their Allen & Ginter set, paying homage to Mr. Cub’s enduring legacy nearly 40 years after his last game.

Through the decades, Ernie Banks maintained a prominent place in the hearts of Cubs fans and the history of baseball. His upbeat attitude and impressive playing career have been commemorated on dozens of baseball cards since the 1950s. Many of Banks’ classic rookie, MVP and milestone cards remain some of the most popular and valuable in the hobby. They preserve the memory of one of the game’s true ambassadors and allow collectors to relive Banks’ legendary career with the Chicago Cubs. As long as baseball cards exist, Ernie Banks is sure to have a permanent home within the collectible world he came to represent—sunny optimism and pure joy for the game.