My Top 5 Chicago Cubs Cards

As far as Chicago Cubs cards go, I always seem to have better luck when pulling fantastic Cubs hits than I do for any other MLB team, including my favorite club, the Boston Red Sox.

I tend to miss out on pulling big-name Red Sox hits from packs of cards. Case and point, my top 10 Red Sox cards list, a countdown that consisted of 10 total cards, only 2 of which I actually pulled from a pack of cards. The rest were either purchased or have always been a part of my card collection as long as I can remember.

Contrary to my inability to pull Red Sox hits, I have incredible luck when it comes to the cards of my 2nd favorite team, the Chicago Cubs. Rather than doing a top 10, I decided to narrow it down to the best of the best by doing a top 5 instead. 

Besides, I bent the rules slightly by including 2 cards at spots #5 and #4, but the point I'm trying to make is pretty clear. Although some cards on this list were purchased at the Baseball card show, the Marlon Byrd stamp card, numbered to 10 on the back, as well as the cards at #3 and #1 were cards that I pulled out of a pack myself. 

Starting with the oldest cards to make this list, let's take a look at my top 5 Chicago Cubs cards.

#5 1969 Topps Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins autographs

Careful research on the part of my Dad helped land us these 2 TTM autographs of 2 of the greatest Chicago Cubs players of all-time, both of whom played on the iconic 1969 team. I've since acquired another autograph of both of these superstars, but the authentic signed 1969 Topps cards will forever be my favorites.

If I remember correctly, the Billy Williams autograph was free while the Jenkins set us back just $10. That's 2 autographs of Hall of Famers and some of the greatest Chicago Cubs to ever play the game for half the price of a blaster box of cards. It's just pretty hard to believe that these 2 incredible cards came in behind 4 others.

#4 2002 Topps 206 Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers bat relics

This was probably the toughest decision to make, but ultimately, I decided to place the Tinker and Evers bat relics above the Williams and Jenkins autos. I mean, I could find other autos of those 2 superstars if I wanted to, but bat relics of 2 guys who played at the beginning of the 20th century are extremely hard to come by.

As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if 2002 Topps 206 produced some of the only bat relics ever made of Tinker and Evers. These cards are absolutely beautiful, especially thanks to the artwork on the minis. If only I could track down one of these of Frank Chance. Then, the iconic trio would be complete.

#3 2018 Bowman's Best Anthony Rizzo red auto

I've barely had this card in my possession for a month, yet it has already become one of my favorite cards in my entire collection. Pulled from a holiday mini box of 2018 Bowman's Best, I was able to land this spectacular red refractor autograph of Anthony Rizzo, serial numbered 2/10. 

As you can imagine, it was quite a moment when I pulled this incredible card from a pack, because it added to what is already a wide variety of Chicago Cubs cards, specifically, the cards on this list. In a year in which I added many impressive cards to my collection, this Anthony Rizzo autograph remains one of the best.

#2 1954 Topps Ernie Banks

It felt odd putting this card at #2 instead of #1, but I'm certain that I'm making the right decision. Regardless, it's still insane to think about the fact that I have, in my possession, a Beckett 3 graded rookie card of Ernie Banks AKA Mr. Cub, one of the greatest hitters in Baseball history.

Although the centering is the primary reason for the low grade, it's still surreal to me that I even have this iconic card. The 1954 Topps set may have been shaky, but Ernie Banks' rookie card is the high point of the entire set for a number of reasons, including the perfect use of the 2 photos and the retro Cubs logo in the top right corner.

#1 2017 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Quad Relic Patch

This is not only the greatest Chicago Cubs card that I own but also the greatest card in my entire Baseball card collection as well as my favorite. Better yet, I actually pulled this hand-numbered 1/1 from a hobby box of 2017 Topps Heritage, a mere 4 months after the Cubs ended their 108-year World Series drought and defeated the Cleveland Indians in the Fall Classic.

Every player's jersey swatch on this 9.5 Beckett graded quad relic features a patch of 2 colors or more, hence why this is the 1/1 quad relic patch instead of the standard quad relic numbered to 10. As impressive as it was to see tri-color relics for Kris Bryant and Addison Russel, I was impressed to see Billy Williams appear on this card, especially with a duo-color jersey swatch as well.

Not a single card in my collection, whether I obtained it before or after the Cubs quad relic, has overtaken the 1/1 card is my favorite card in my entire collection. Plus, the fact that it features 4 Chicago Cubs makes this unbelievable card even more special.

Top 5 Cards; Billy Williams

I often wonder if we'll ever come across an era in Baseball more exciting and with more talented players than the late 60s and early 70s, a span of years where some of the greatest hitters and pitchers in Baseball history graced the field.

In terms of offensive superstars, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, and countless other perennial All-Stars and future Hall of Famers were the faces of Baseball for many years. 

In addition to talent, the players of this time period had consistency, leading them to the Hall of Fame whereas star players in subsequent decades were unable to replicate their success year after year.

Specifically, the 1972 MLB All-Star game featured 29 future Hall of Fame players and coaches, 13 from the American League and 16 from the National League. As intriguing as any era in Baseball history can be, I can't think of a single one that had as many superstars and Hall of Famers as the late 60s and early 70s, the time when Cubs outfielder Billy Williams was in his prime.

Williams was one of the 29 future Hall of Famers who played in the 1972 All-Star game. Despite being a career .290 hitter with well over 400 homers and 25 RBI shy of 1,500, Williams was unable to stand out at the level of fellow sluggers who he played alongside with, including his teammate Ernie Banks. 

Unbelievably, it took the 1962 NL Rookie of the Year 6 years on the ballot before he was elected into Cooperstown with 85% of the votes.

I haven't yet tracked down any Billy Williams cards from 2018, but Topps has been generous with Williams' inclusion in their products this decade. Maybe not as many sets as Ryne Sandberg, but like I said, Williams wasn't always able to stand out.

At the moment, I have 56 cards of this Chicago Cubs legend, excluding his 1961 Topps Rookie card that's going towards building the 1961 Topps set. Without further adieu, I give you my 5 favorites.

#5 1998 Fleer Sports Illustrated Then & Now

For a brief time period, the Chicago Cubs' jerseys had the players' numbers on the front of the uniform directly under the city name. If you take a look at 1973 Topps Cubs cards, you'll see many original examples of these short-lived uniforms. Fleer's use of one of these images in their 1998 Sports Illustrated Then & Now set was a cool one, especially when combined with the brown/sepia color used throughout the card with the exception of the indigo coloring for Williams' name.

#4 1965 Topps

Being that 1965 Topps is one of my favorite Flagship sets ever made, it seemed like a given that this card would make my list. However, an abundance of cards to choose from, both vintage and modern, caused the card to come in a bit lower on the list than I would've originally thought. The use of the vintage Cubs logo on this card is near perfect next to the pennant along with the excellent choice of including red as the predominant color of the card.

#3 2004 Upper Deck Legends Timeless Teams

If it's a possibility, I typically try to include at least one card with a black and white image on every single top 5 cards post that I do. It's a nice contrast to the color images of all the other cards on the list, and the little bit of Cubs blue at the bottom of the card is another fantastic touch. 

As if the black and white image wasn't a good enough reason for me to like the card, the timeless team being commemorated is the classic 1969 Cubs team, one of the most iconic teams in Baseball history that didn't go on to win the Fall Classic.

#2 1964 Topps

While the 1964 Topps set isn't exactly the most interesting set you'll ever lay your eyes on, the image of 6-time All-Star Billy Williams helps to bring an element of excitement to the card that it otherwise would've lacked. The Cubs uniform is another standout despite its simplicity. 

All in all, the era in which Williams played in was a very simple time for Baseball cards so there won't be all shiny cards and numbered cards that we see today. Thus, the criteria for a "good" card in the 1960s is very different from what it is today. Now, this is an example of what would qualify as a fantastic card during that time.

#1 1962 Topps

The classic wood borders of the 1962 Topps set along with the old-school Topps All-Star rookie trophy are a winning combination for the greatest Billy Williams card in my collection out of 56 options. It's also a nice choice to include the classic Cubs home jersey though the blue pinstripes are slightly fainter and slimmer than they are today. Simply put, the card works and sometimes, that's just enough for the top spot on the list.