Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

The Top 10 Vintage Cubs Baseball Cards of All-time

by Ross Uitts

If you’re like a lot of baseball fans, then you’re also a fan of vintage baseball cards. Some of us collected as kids and have a nostalgic soft spot for them. Others just like the way they look and the history they represent. Whatever the reason, there’s no question they have their place in the game.

I thought it would be fun to put together a list of the best vintage Cubs baseball cards of all-time. And it was fun, but man it was much tougher than I thought it would be. 

A list of the best baseball cards overall is much easier to create. The T206 Honus Wagner. The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. The 1933 Goudey Babe Ruths. They’re just so obvious. But when you try and narrow it down to the best cards of just one particular team, the level of subjectivity increases.

The final criteria I settled on to create this list of top Cubs cards were:

1) If the Cubs retired a player’s jersey number, then I’d find one of his cards to make this list.
2) But the card truly has to be vintage. Most in the hobby will define vintage as any card dating 1980 or earlier. Sadly that leaves out the Sandberg (1984) and Maddux (1987) rookie cards even though the Cubs retired their numbers.
3) If the player is a Hall of Famer who spent significant time with the Cubs, then he’d have a shot to make the list.

So let’s take a look at what I came up with, and you can decide if you agree or disagree.
 

1954 Topps #94 Ernie Banks Rookie Card
He was “Mr. Cub,” so how could his rookie not be included? Along with the Hank Aaron and Al Kaline rookies, it’s a key to the 1954 Topps set and Banks’ most recognizable card overall. Topps and Bowman created some fantastic Ernie Banks baseball cards throughout the 50s and 60s, but I think this one was their best. The dual-imagery of Banks is top-notch and makes for a beautiful baseball card.
 

1887 N172 Old Judge Cap Anson (Uniform)
Cap Anson appears twice in the 1887 N172 Old Judge set, wearing a suit in one and wearing a Cubs uniform in the other. It’s the latter which is a bit more rare and thus more expensive and sought after. Anson was one of the game’s first superstars and went on to become the first to reach the 3,000 hit mark on July 18, 1897, according to MLB.

1909-11 T206 Frank Chance (Yellow Background)
I’m cheating a little bit here, but I blame the T206 set’s multiple permutations of Mordecai Brown. Produced by American Tobacco from 1909-1911, this set is nicknamed “The Monster” for good reason: there are thousands of possible front/back combinations making it nearly impossible to complete in its entirety. And some players, like Chance, appear more than once. I couldn’t pick a favorite between the three so I included each of them. At first base, Chance helped anchor the legendary double-play combination of “Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance” that was immortalized by Franklin Pierce Adams’ 1910 poem “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon.” Chance also led the team to an average of 96 wins per season as its manager during the 1905-1912 season stretch. He’d win four pennants and two World Series and finish with a .664 winning percentage as the Cubs’ manager—the highest winning percentage in franchise history.
1933 Goudey #211 Hack Wilson
Wilson may have been short in stature, but that didn’t stop him from tearing the cover off the ball.  His 1930 season was one for the ages, after he put up 56 home runs and knocked in an otherworldly 191 RBI, a mark that still stands today as the game’s single-season record. The 1933 Goudey set is iconic in the hobby—the Ruth, Gehrig and Lavoie cards routinely sell for over six figures in high grade—and Wilson’s rookie card is a key to it. A mint condition (graded PSA 9) Wilson rookie sold for $14,400 earlier this year.

1909-11 T206 Mordecai Brown (Portrait)
Brown’s story is amazing as you’d think the farm accident he suffered that led to his mangled hand wouldn’t have allowed him to pitch at all. Instead, it helped him toss one of the most effective curveballs of the day on his way to helping the Cubs win two World Series championships in 1907 and 1908. Brown also appears three different times in the set and again, I couldn’t pick a favorite so here’s all three of them.
1933 Goudey #202 Gabby Hartnett
He may have been quiet in nature, but Charles Leo “Gabby” Hartnett let his bat and glove do the talking for him. Often remembered for hitting the “Homer in the Gloamin,'” a blast that helped the Cubs win the 1938 pennant as night settled in over Wrigley Field, Hartnett is a Chicago Cubs icon. And his 933 Goudey #202 is a must-have card for Cubs fans.
1961 Topps #141 Billy Williams Rookie Card
Williams wasted no time leaving his mark on the game when he won the 1961 NL Rookie of the Year Award. The great thing about the 1961 Topps set was that the printing quality was better than usual so finding these cards in high-grade condition is a bit easier. As an up-and-comer in the Big Leagues, Williams received the “Rookie Star” symbol in the upper right corner of his rookie card.
1966 Topps #254 Fergie Jenkins Rookie Card
Jenkins won 20 or more games for the Cubs six years in a row from the 1967 through 1972 seasons. Unfortunately, he fell short of eclipsing the 300 win mark for his career (284 total), but he did add a Cy Young award to his list of accomplishments. His 1966 Topps rookie card is one of those instances where a player’s rookie card doesn’t depict him wearing the jersey of the team for which he’s most famous. Like the 1958 Topps Roger Maris (Cleveland jersey) and even the 1962 Topps Lou Brock (Cubs jersey), for example. Still a must-have for Cubs fans.
1961 Topps #35 Ron Santo Rookie Card
Another Cubs legend, Ron Santo, made his rookie card debut in the 1961 Topps set as well. Not as expensive or as desirable as the Williams rookie, Santo’s card is still one of the keys to the entire set. I believe 1961 was the second year in which Topps released its “All-Star Rookie” cards, and as you can see, Santo’s has that distinction with the trophy symbol in the lower left.
1977 Topps #473 Andre Dawson Rookie Card
Growing up as a kid in the late 80s, I clearly remember “The Hawk” as being a favorite of many kids in my neighborhood. “Awesome Dawson” could flat out play ball, bringing both a noisy bat and glove to the field. Along with Bruce Sutter’s rookie card, it’s a key to the 1977 Topps set. And if you can find his 1977 rookie card in high grade, you’ve got quite a nice piece of cardboard to remember him by.

So that’s my list of the best vintage Cubs cards of all-time. Again, it wasn’t easy and maybe you agree or disagree with my final list. But, to me, that’s what makes this hobby so great—we each have our own likes and dislikes and each card means something special to each of us.

For more about classic baseball cards, be sure to visit oldsportscards.com.
 

Comments

Ernie Banks's baseball persona was such a fit for a baseball card. Thanks for the post, Ross!

daniel poncedeleon (STL AAA) had surgery today to relieve swelling/presure in his skull after taking a comebacker from v.caratini (CHC AAA) a couple days ago. ugg.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

University of Houston RHP Daniel Poncedeleon was selected by the Cubs in the 14th round of the 2013 draft and he agreed to terms, but the deal was rescinded by the Cubs after a pre-existing ulnar nerve issue in his right elbow was detected in his physical exam. 

He subsequently was ruled ineligible by the NCAA (because he signed a professional contract with the Cubs, even though it was later voided), so he transferred to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (at the time an NAIA school) and pitched there in 2014, and then he was drafted and signed by the Cardinals in June 2014 (9th round).

I thought you may have featured a '61-'64 card by this guy named "Brock"? In the 2 spot he hit behind Jimmy Stewart (not the actor) ahead of Billy Williams.

For a few of us who were young once, throw in a couple of Kens, Hubbs and Holtzman. Hubbs was GG and ROY in '62, which was also Brock's first year. Hubbs of course flew a private plane into a mountain in Utah at age 22. If he and Brock had been allowed to participate on that team that finally fizzled in '69, 1908 might not have been mentioned as frequently last year. Holtzman came along in the late sixties and was going to be the Cubs' answer to Sandy Koufax, not only for being a lefty fastballer with a sweeping curve but also for potentially declining to play in a World Series game that fell on Yom Kippur. He didn't fulfill his promise until he was acquired by Oakland, where he won 77 games in four season for those great early-70's A's teams under Dick Williams and Alvin Dark.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

VAP: As I recall, Holtzman threw a No-Hitter during the '69 year, in August - when all was right with the world as far as the Cubs were concerned. CUBSTER may have actually been at that game. Man would land on the moon that year too - if it wasn't shot in Arizona. I was so convinced the Cubs were going to the WS that year. The staff of Fergie, Holtzman, and Bill Hands was pretty fucking good for a bit. If only Chapman was available.

Recent comments

  • Charlie (view)

    I worry that Morel will lose starts at 3B as long as this roster lacks a compelling DH.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I think if you had ranked players by how much the team could ill afford to have them miss significant time, Steele would be right at the top of the list.

  • crunch (view)

    steele MRI on friday.  counsell expects an IL stint.

    no current plans for his rotation replacement.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.