No one embodies Chicago Cubs baseball more than the great Ernie Banks. He was the team's first number ever retired and with good reason. The 2-time MVP was also a 14-time All-Star and hit 512 home runs over 18 seasons, all spent with the Cubs. No wonder everyone still calls the player "Mr. Cub." While he was universally admired during his peak, advanced stats show he was actually even better than his contemporaries knew. Ernie has an impressive career OPS+ (the best stat for capturing the full offensive capability of a player) of 122 and hit over 150 twice. He was also a fine defensive player, winning the Golden Glove in 1960.
However, Ernie Banks's career was somewhat overshadowed by what is colloquially referred to as “the Curse of the Cubs” or hilariously as “the Curse of the Billy Goat.” William Sianis attended Game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley Field with his pet goat, Murphy. The man and his pet were thrown out of the game for causing a disturbance. Sianis is then said to declare, "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more.” And indeed, the Cubs lost the World Series and would not appear in another until they won in 2016. Banks spent his entire career playing in those depressing doldrums of Cubs history. No one can blame Ernie Banks, who did his utmost to uplift the team. But he had the misfortune of being on a series of mediocre and unlucky teams.
But in a way, that is part of the lure and charm of Ernie Banks's cards. He is the noble and tragic underdog who lost so many battles but always won the respect of his rivals. It also helps that he had real charisma and always looked marvelous in every photo shoot. And, of course, the Cubs have a rabid nationwide fan base. And they adore "Mr. Cub." They have also won the World Series again, so they are feeling generous. Therefore, there is a substantial market for Ernie Banks cards, and their value appreciates marvelously.
Here is the guide to the key cards in any Ernie Banks collection.
1954 Topps #94 Ernie Banks Rookie Card
A PSA 9 sold for $198,000.
The 1954 Topps #94 Ernie Banks Rookie Card is one of the biggest and best-looking rookie cards of the 1950s. The baseball card is absolutely exploding with young promise, as any good rookie card should. The young Ernie Banks has a massive, genuine smile, and that old school cutsie Cub logo accentuates the youthful exuberance bursting out of this card. The image of Ernie swinging the bat could be clearer, but the overall design is so excellent that it adds to the charm. The 1954 Topps baseball design didn’t work on every card, but here it pops.
Strange as this might sound, the card is far from its full value potential. I’m surprised a PSA 9 sells for under $200,000. It probably won’t for long. Meanwhile, there are two PSA 10s out there in the world. There hasn’t been a verified sale of either since 2012, but they should easily cross the $500,000 threshold if they are sold. This will always be considered one of the most important baseball cards ever made. So you can’t go wrong with a copy of the Ernie Banks rookie card in good condition.
1955 Topps Ernie Banks #28
A PSA 9 sold for $12,000
The two first Ernie Banks Topps cards are stunningly beautiful. Some prefer the Ernie Banks rookie card, while others prefer the 1955 Topps Ernie Banks #28. But the real beauty is in the juxtaposition of the two cards. In the 1954 rookie card, Ernie looks young and full of promise. The 1955 design is generally better known and more beloved than the previous year's. But Banks makes both work beautifully. In his second-year Topps issue, the shortstop already looks like a grizzled veteran. His game face is on, and the shortstop crouch seems very professional. However, the old and fluffy teddy bear-looking Cubs logo looks just as childish as it did in 1954.
The 1955 Topps baseball cards grade relatively well compared to other cards from the era. However, there are no PSA 10s on this card and only 11 PSA 9s.
1955 Bowman Ernie Banks #242
A PSA 9 sold for $54,000
You can love or hate the 1955 Bowman baseball “TV design,” but it certainly leaves an impression. I have never been a fan. I guess TVs were cool new technology, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. The lettering in this series, with a white stripe on the faux screen, also leaves me cold. Having said that, this is a spectacular picture of Ernie looking positively angelic after unleashing that powerful swing.
Aside from my aesthetic quibbles with the design, the 1955 Bowman set is a challenging grade. Any small chip of imperfection shows up immediately and clearly on those edges. And since baseball cards from 1955 are typically not in the best condition anyway, these are a nightmare. Therefore, finding a 1955 Bowman Ernie Banks #242 card in good condition can be tricky. Therefore, there are only 51 cards in a PSA 8 condition or above. No PSA 10s have been located yet. But the scarcity of good grades will be good for its long-term value.
1956 Topps Earnie Banks #15
A PSA 9 sold for $8,235
The 1956 Topps baseball set is the most beautiful card ever produced. The 1956 Topps Ernie Banks #15 is also stunning. However, it gets some points off for using the same image as the 1955 Topps release. Sure, the jersey is colored a bit differently. But that isn’t fooling anyone. Topps also used a somewhat generic action drawing of “Mr. Cub” in this card. Compare it to, say, the unique Mickey Mantle card for that year, and you can’t help but get the feeling that Banks got short shrift in the amount of attention this card got.
Still, this is a beloved release, and Ernie Banks has one of its key cards. Therefore, the value is substantial.
1957 Ernie Banks Topps #55
A PSA 9 sold for $4,350
1957 Topps baseball was the first year the company used color photographs rather than paintings. It was the end of the golden era of art for Topps and the start of a new one. Of course, Ernie benefitted from this greatly because he was magnificently photogenic. The 1957 Ernie Banks Topps #55 card shows off his magnificent physique. And the creative, yet highly classy lettering in this release renders this card a raving beauty.
Considering how iconic this card is, it has a surprisingly low market value. Perhaps it is because the white edges make it relatively easy to grade. There are over 300 copies graded a PSA 8 and above. Among them is one PSA 10, which is worth an unknown amount.
1959 Home Run Derby Ernie Banks
A PSA 7 sold for $7,575
In the late 1950s, there was a TV show called Home Run Derby. It would pit the most prominent baseball stars against each other. That is where we get the 1959 Home Run Derby Ernie Banks card. You can watch many of the episodes on YouTube. They are an absolute delight, and the show inspired the All-Star event we all know and love today. The show was held at Wrigley Field, so of course, Ernie Banks took part several times. Ernie won once and lost twice, but he has the coolest-looking card. As usual.
These baseball cards were released as a one-time promotion for the show and are, therefore, exceedingly rare. There are only 36 copies and none grade above a PSA 7.
1960 Topps Ernie Banks #10
A PSA 9 sold for $6,400
The 1960 Topps Ernie Banks #10 card gives us a glimpse of the famous “Mr. Cub” cheekbones in all their glory. Of all Ernie Banks cards, this is the one where he looks the most graceful, and almost angelic. Amazing to think this delicate-looking guy walloped over 500 home runs. That classic 1960s style of the 1960 Topps baseball release really shines on this one. And you still have that funny-looking bear mascot on it, which adds to the charm.
There are no PSA 10s of the 1960 Topps card unfortunately. But the lower grades are quite common.
1963 Topps Ernie Banks #380
A PSA 9 sold for $2,200
The 1963 Topps baseball cards design simply doesn’t get enough credit. Sure, it's a classic design that may have been more at home in the 1950s than the swinging 60s. But it really works, and that is all that matters. The 1963 Topps Ernie Banks #380 card is a beauty, showing Banks at the plate and fielding, in the kind of dual picture design that Topps made famous. The juxtaposition of the natural background in the larger shot, and the colored one in the small picture make it pop. The card is fairly common, but there are no PSA 10s, but a healthy 29 PSA 9s on the market.
1967 Topps Ernie Banks #215
A PSA 9 sold for $4,000
The late 1960s were a tumultuous time in America. That only makes the positive and sunny vibes emanating from the 1967 Topps Ernie Banks #215 card all the more remarkable. That blue sky and the purity of the smile are simply infectious. And how many veterans can muster a smile that youthful? In general, the 1967 Topps design was nothing special. But a clean and minimal look can work wonders when the picture is this good.
1968 Topps Ernie Banks #355
A PSA 9 sold for $790
I think we can all agree that the 1968 Topps baseball cards design is among the worst of their vintage era releases. You could make a case that it is one of their ugliest yet. What were they thinking? But the great thing about our photogenic shortstop hero is that none of that matters. With that smile and spark in his eyes, no card is ever ugly. And the appearance of his old friend, the cuddly Cubs mascot, the 1968 Topps Ernie Banks #355 card makes a great impression. And for some reason, this card is surprisingly affordable. So there is no excuse not to get one.
1971 Ernie Banks Topps Greatest Moments #36
A PSA 9 sold for $3,500
The 1971 Topps Greatest Moments baseball set is one of the greatest and most memorable the company has ever produced. The 1971 Ernie Banks Topps Greatest Moments #36 card commemorates the record “Mr. Cub” held for 30 years. On Sept. 19, 1955, Banks hit his fifth grand slam of the season, the most ever to that point. Today, Don Mattingly and Travis Hafner hold the record with six each. But this card can't beat the beautiful card with the classic newspaper clippings and a close-up color picture of the man's gorgeous and iconic smile.
1971 Topps Ernie Banks #525
A PSA 9 $6,500
While active, the last Topps baseball card for Ernie Banks captures him in a gregarious mood. Banks seems surprised at something and seems to be caught in the middle of a remark. It is an unusual and very memorable image of the great shortstop.
You may be wondering why a PSA 9 of this card sells for significantly more than “Mr. Cubs” other late-career cards. Part of the story is that the 1971 Topps Ernie Banks #525 card is his last. But that isn’t all of it. The 1971 Topps baseball series shows every little imperfection because of its black borders. Therefore, finding a decent copy can be challenging.
Final Word On Ernie Banks Baseball Cards
There are players with beautiful cards, and then there are Ernie Banks cards. His magnetic presence takes them to a whole other level. If you combine the eye appeal, low population count and the eternal popularity of “Mr. Met,” you get a recipe for increased value. Therefore, picking up the high grade copies of these cards for their current value is an excellent idea.
