- Cap Anson has the highest bWAR in Chicago Cubs history.
- Five Cubs have won the Cy Young.
- Ernie Banks has played the most games for the Cubs.
Founded in the 1870s, the Chicago Cubs are one of the most well-known franchises in the MLB. Despite winning only one World Series since 1908, there are plenty of iconic names to choose from when selecting the best Chicago Cubs players of all time, which often boosted the team’s MLB odds of winning it all.
Cubs players have won the Cy Young on five separate occasions. A Cub has won the MVP in 11 different years, the most recent of which was Kris Bryant in 2016.
Here are my five greatest Cubs ever:
Best Chicago Cubs Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Position | Cubs Years |
| 1 | Cap Anson | First Baseman | 1876-1897 |
| 2 | Ernie Banks | Shortstop/First Baseman | 1953-1971 |
| 3 | Ryne Sandberg | Second Baseman | 1982-1997 |
| 4 | Sammy Sosa | Right Fielder | 1992-2004 |
| 5 | Ron Santo | Third Baseman | 1960-1973 |
1. Cap Anson
Going with anyone but Ernie Banks in the top spot might be controversial, but Cap Anson has a compelling case for No. 1 in these rankings.
Anson has a 12.7 bWAR lead over any other Cub. He had 3,000 hits and a 142 OPS+ with the franchise and would surely have won at least one MVP award if it existed during his playing days.
A Hall of Famer with four batting titles, Anson has the franchise lead in numerous categories due to his combination of elite production and longevity.
2. Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks is the only player in Cubs history to win multiple MVPs. Whether playing first base or shortstop, Banks was one of the sport’s best players throughout his career, resulting in 14 All-Star selections across 19 seasons.
MVP. All-Star. Hall of Famer. Legend.
Happy birthday to the one and only Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks! #LetsPlayTwo pic.twitter.com/D6NZuZjUec
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 31, 2023
A drop-off in production in his 30s means Banks’ overall numbers are not as impressive as some others. He more than makes up for that in counting stats, however, with 512 homers, 2,583 hits, and a franchise-record 2,528 games played.
3. Ryne Sandberg
A 114 career OPS+ isn’t much to get excited about. Ryne Sandberg was an exceptional hitter at his peak, though, winning seven Silver Sluggers and posting six seasons with a 134 OPS+ or better.
Named MVP in 1984, Sandberg is considered one of the greatest defensive second basemen in MLB history. He won nine Gold Gloves, and only two Cubs players ever have amassed more defensive bWAR.
4. Sammy Sosa
PED allegations stopped Sammy Sosa from getting into the Hall of Fame. While Sosa’s legacy is going to be a divisive topic for years to come, there is no arguing with the numbers.
Most HR in any 162-game span, @Cubs
Sammy Sosa 77 (5/98 – 6/99)
Hack Wilson 57 (4/30 – 5/31)
Ernie Banks 56 (9/57 – 9/58)
Andre Dawson 55 (4/87 – 5/88)
Dave Kingman 55 (8/78 – 9/79)The 20-homer lead held by Sosa over 2nd place is one of the largest for any MLB team.
— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) January 16, 2022
Sosa holds the franchise lead in home runs, and he’s tied for fifth in OPS+. All seven of his All-Star campaigns came during his time with the Cubs, including his MVP win in 1998. He also posted a 203 OPS+ in 2001, which remains one of the greatest individual seasons since the turn of the century.
5. Ron Santo
Second in bWAR behind Anson, Ron Santo had to find a place in these rankings. Santo received MVP votes in seven consecutive seasons in the 1960s and ultimately collected nine All-Star selections as a Cub.
The pairing of excellent plate discipline and good power made Santo an extremely difficult hitter to pitch to. He led the National League in walks on four occasions and was exceptionally durable throughout his career, playing 154 or more games in every season from 1961 to 1971.