Ernie Banks Baseball Cards: The Ultimate Collector’s Guide
For Cubs fans and collectors, it doesn't get much better than owning Ernie Banks baseball cards.
He was the greatest baseball player to ever wear a Cubs uniform.
His was the first number the Cubs ever retired.
He was "Mr. Cub".
Because of his popularity with Cubs fans and his legendary status as one of the game's true greats, Ernie Banks cards are some of the most popular in the hobby.
Below you'll find a list of the key Banks cards that you'll want to add to your collection. Enjoy!
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1954 Topps #94 Ernie Banks Rookie Card
This is the only recognized rookie card for Ernie banks and one of the keys to the 1954 Topps baseball card set along with the Hank Aaron and Al Kaline rookies.
It's also one of the most valuable baseball cards in the entire hobby.
A large full color head shot of Banks dominates the front of the card while a nice black and white image of him ready at the plate flanks the right side.
The 1954 Topps design is a classic and instantly recognizable and it's one of their best in my opinion.
Centering can be a challenge and the white background can easily show print defects.
1955 Bowman #242
The 1955 Bowman cards with their brown border, TV set design are notorious for showing wear and chipping along the edges.
But that doesn't prevent the 1955 Bowman #242 Ernie Banks from being a great-looking card.
A young Banks is shown following through on a swing wearing a blue Cubs ball cap.
In typical Bowman fashion, the card's front lacked any team or position info and that year only the player's last name was displayed.
1955 Topps #28
In 1955 Topps would change to a horizontal layout and the result were some really sharp-looking cards.
Ernie's card shows a nice, large head shot of him along the right with a nice action shot of him crouched and ready at the shortstop position.
The red background really gives this card some great eye appeal.
The Koufax, Clemente and Killebrew rookies are the most sought after in the 1955 Topps set but Banks' card is still a key.
1956 Topps #15
Back with another horizontal design in 1956, Topps went with pretty much the same head shot of Banks on the right, less some difference in coloring of his jersey.
You'll find that Topps re-used player images more than once on cards throughout the 1950's and 1960's.
It doesn't make the card any less desirable, though, as the overall design is finished off by a nice image of Banks being congratulated at home plate.
Centering is usually the most common challenge with this card.
1957 Topps #55
To some collectors, the 1957 Topps set is their favorite Topps set of the 1950's since it was the first time they used color photography for player images.
Here Banks is shown ready at the plate in his famous batting stance.
The Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Don Drysdale rookies may be the key rookie cards of the set but Banks' card is also a key to to this iconic set.
Watch out for poor centering on this card.
1958 Topps #310
Ernie Banks' 1958 Topps card really stands out from the pack due to its bright yellow background.
That coloration instantly gives this card some nice pop.
Series 1 cards in this set are notorious for featuring variations in the color of a player's name but since Banks' card is #310 he only has the one you see below.
The yellow background, while beautiful, can be prone to showing print defects.
Banks played fantastic baseball in 1958 leading the league in home runs and RBI on his way to his first of two consecutive MVP awards.
1959 Topps #350
To round out the 1950's, Topps released a design with encircled player images and slanting player names in their 1959 set.
I think it's one of their more creative designs in the 1950's and the Ernie Banks card is a really nice example.
The green background is a nice compliment to the fantastic shot of Banks waiting to catch the ball.
Banks would win his second and final MVP award that year
1960 Topps #10
1960 was the only year in which Topps went with a horizontal layout for its baseball card sets.
A black and white image of Banks atop a yellow background drapes the left while a nice full color head shot of him dominates the right side.
The split pane design was a nice creative step forward and one of the most easily recognized designs of the 1960's.
The 1960 Topps Ernie Banks card usually suffers from poor centering and at time print defects will creep into the green background along the bottom.
1961 Topps #350
This is one of Ernie Banks' easiest cards to find in high grade as Topps had far fewer print quality concerns that year compared to others.
The image that Topps chose isn't as exciting as those that they chose in previous years and I think that's primarily what holds this one back from being as desirable.
Serious Banks fans will pay no attention to that, though, as they love it all the same.
Print dots can show up in the bottom colored border and centering is also an issue at times.
The injury bug caught up with Banks in 1961 as he started to spend time in left field and at first base due to knee problems.
1962 Topps #25
The famous wood grain borders of the 1962 Topps baseball cards are instantly recognizable on this Ernie Banks baseball card.
While those borders can show wear and chipping rather easily, the nice full image of a smiling Banks makes this a great card overall.
Because of the aforementioned condition issues, this is also one of his more expensive cards of the 1960's, too.
His position is listed as shortstop but by that time he was a full-time first baseman.
1963 Topps #380
In my opinion, the 1963 Topps design was their most creative in the 1960's.
The dual-image approach with the smaller one being superimposed and encircled along the bottom were a great concept.
Banks stands ready at the bat and looking rather serious compared to other cards in the past.
Centering and chipping along the colored bottom border are major challenges for this card.
For the first time since 1954, Ernie Banks would not make the All-Star team that season.
1964 Topps #55
This is probably the easiest Banks card to find in top condition because Topps had terrific printing quality that year.
If anything, you may find some centering issues here and there but compared to other years it's not as tough.
A nice image of Banks smiling and looking off into the distance gives the card a classic and straightforward appearance overall.
Banks put up very respectable numbers that year but still didn't quite make the All-Star team.
1965 Topps #510
Sometimes Topps went with puzzling player images on vintage baseball cards and I think this is one of those instances.
The card still looks nice but it would've been way better had they taken his picture from the front.
The red border and Cubs pennant in the lower left a very nice touches.
Those red borders are prone to showing print blotches and centering can be an issue, too.
Banks would once again be selected as an All-Star in 1965.
1966 Topps #110
The 1966 Topps design was fairly straightforward and featured a nice full head shot of Banks with a bright blue sky in the background.
I think it would have been even better had they used red instead of orange in the upper right and bottom borders.
But, still, a great-looking card overall.
That year, Banks would hit the fewest home runs (15) since 1954 but he still managed to knock in 75 RBI.
1967 Topps #215
This card really has great eye appeal and a great vibe overall.
The bright smile on Banks' face and bright blue background really make this card standout.
The facsimile signature is also a nice touch.
He had another great year in 1967 as he earned another All-Star appearance and finished 14th in MVP voting.
1968 Topps #355
Opinions are usually mixed on the 1968 Topps design with its burlap-colored borders but how can you not love this Ernie Banks card?
His beaming smile is hard to beat and really makes it one of his best-looking of the 1960's in my opinion.
He must've been feeling good that year because it was the first time since 1962 that he would put up more than 30 home runs after belting 32 in total.
Condition issues like centering and print defects aren't as big of a challenge as usual but wear and chipping easily show on the non-white borders.
1969 Topps #20
Here was another instance where Topps used the same image of Banks in consecutive years but who cares?
It made for a great-looking card in 1968 so why wouldn't it in 1969?
Tilt is a famous concern on 1969 Topps baseball cards but if you can locate one without tilt and nicely centered then you've got a nice card on your hands.
The orange circle with name and position info along with the Cubs name in yellow on the bottom are great touches.
1969 was an important year for Banks as it would be his last of 11 career All-Star selections and the last time he put up more than 100 RBI with 106 total.
1970 Topps #630
I go back and forth on whether I like the 1970 Topps design or not.
It's definitely not my favorite vintage baseball card design but it's certainly unique, I'll give it that.
The grey borders can easily show wear and centering was definitely a challenge for these cards.
An older Banks on the tail end of his career is shown swinging the bat with the big bright smile of his.
1971 Topps #525
I'm not sure what to call the expression on Ernie's face on his 1971 Topps baseball card but I love the card anyway.
To me, the 1971 Topps design is one of the best, if not the best, card designs of the 1970's.
The black borders were an aggressive step forward and they do easily show wear, but in top condition these cards have strong appeal. T
he 1971 Topps Ernie Banks card looks classic but still has a warm feel to it. In Banks' last season, he would appear in only 39 games and hit only .193.
Clearly he was finished but what an amazing career he had and what an amazing card to cap off his career.
Ernie Banks Baseball Cards Wrap-up
So there you have it, the full list of the most important Ernie Banks cards that you should add to your collection.
Banks is an icon for both the Chicago Cubs and the entire game of baseball.
After a brief stint in the Negro Leagues and military service, Banks finally got his chance to shine in the Majors when the Cubs bought his contract from the Kansas City Monarchs. And the rest was history.
Sadly, Banks never got to compete in post season play during his career but that didn't prevent him from playing the game with joy and a positive disposition. A great example for all ball players, really.
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, his positive approach and optimism forever ring true with his famous line of: "There's sunshine, fresh air, and the team's behind us. Let's play two."
