1959 Topps #559 Ernie Banks
About Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks, nicknamed "Mr. Cub" for his lifelong association with the Chicago Cubs (1953-1971), became one of the most beloved figures in baseball history through his sunny disposition and signature catchphrase, "Let's play two." A shortstop and later first baseman, Banks won back-to-back National League MVP awards in 1958 and 1959, the first NL player to accomplish the feat, powered by seasons of 47 and 45 home runs. An 11-time All-Star who played in 13 All-Star Games, he finished his career with 512 home runs and 2,583 hits despite never appearing in a postseason game, as the Cubs failed to reach October during his entire tenure. Banks was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 in his first year of eligibility, reprising "Let's play two" in his induction speech. His 1959 Topps cards, issued during his historic back-to-back MVP seasons, capture Banks at the absolute peak of his Hall of Fame career.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number (Series 7)
The seventh and final series. High numbers carry a BLACK card-number box (the other six series use green) and were printed in the lowest quantity, so they are the scarcest cards in the set.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,618 | 0 | 23 | 184 | 299 | 357 | 278 | 472 | 5 |
| SGC | 468 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 42 | 84 | 121 | 200 | 3 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1959 Topps Ernie Banks card?
It is card #559 of 572 in the 1959 Topps Baseball set - Topps' largest set to that point, issued across seven series with a circular color photo on every front. It pictures the Chicago Cubs player.
Is the 1959 Topps #559 a high number?
Yes - cards #507-572 are the seventh-series high numbers, printed in the lowest quantity and identifiable by a BLACK card-number box instead of the green box used on the first six series.
Is the 1959 Topps Ernie Banks valuable?
Value depends on grade, the series (the high numbers run scarcer), and any variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, BaseballCardPedia, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data, images & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-13.