1888 N28 Allen & Ginter World's Champions

John M. Ward

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Allen & Ginter has enjoyed some resurgence as a result of a series of retro-styled sets issued by Topps beginning in 2006, but vintage card collectors have long known the brand as one of the most visible tobacco brands of the 1800s. Their cards covered a wide variety of topics: birds, flags, leaders, actresses, Indian chiefs, etc. The newer A&G sets have included other athletes and even some people outside of sports as a way of acknowledging the fact that baseball players was but a small part of card collecting in the 1800s. Among collectors of baseball cards, they are best known for this 50-card set covering champions from several different sports.

The cards measure 1 1/2 by 2 3/4 inches, which is considered the standard for "small cards" among N-series sets. The fronts feature a lithograph painting with some paint wash around the subject, all of which blends into a solid white border. Some cards have an added image, such as a boat for the oarsmen. At the bottom of the card are a name, an Allen & Ginter advertisement and the company's home city of Richmond, Virginia. All cards have a checklist back, with all 50 subjects broken down by their sport.

Only ten of the cards feature baseball players (six of which are Hall of Fame members), but the other subjects include several figures known to Americans, such as "Wild Bill" Cody, Annie Oakley and the boxer John L. Sullivan. Along with baseball players, there are pugilists (what we now call "boxers"), wrestlers, oarsmen, rifle shooters, billiards and pool players. All 50 of the images were made into an album that could be ordered from Allen & Ginter as a premium, which is known in the hobby as A16. This set was issued at the same time as the N162 Goodwin Champions -- also a 50-card set -- and featured many of the same subjects.

N28 back

1888 N28 Allen & Ginter

(1) Joe Acton (Wrestler)
(2) Yank Adams (Billiards)
(3) Adrian C. Anson (Baseball)
(4) Theo. Bauer (Wrestler)
(5) Wm. Beach (Oarsman)
(6) Chas. W. Bennett (Baseball)
(7) Young Bibby (Goe. Mehling) (Wrestler)
(8) Capt. A.H. Bogardus (Rifle Shooter)
(9) Geo. Bubear (Oarsman)
(10) Jimmy Carney (Pugilist)
(11) Jimmy Carroll (Pugilist)
(12) R.L. Caruthers (Baseball)
(13) Dr. W.F. Carver (Rifle Shooter)
(14) John Clarkson (Baseball)
(15) Hon. W.F. Cody (Rifle Shooter)
(16) Charles Comiskey (Baseball)
(17) Maurice Daly (Billiards)
(18) Jack Dempsey (Pugilist)
(19) Jos. Dion (Billiards)
(20) Albert Frey (Pool Player)
(21) Jacob Gaudaur (Oarsman)
(22) Capt. Jack Glasscock (Baseball)
(23) Albert Hamm (Oarsman)
(24) Ed. Hanlan (Oarsman)
(25) Geo. H. Hosmer (Oarsman)
(26) Timothy Keefe (Baseball)
(27) Mike Kelly (Baseball)
(28) Jake Kilrain (Pugilist)
(29) Joe Lannon (Pugilist)
(30) J.L. Malone(Pool Player)
(31) Jack McAuliffe (Pugilist)
(32) John McKay (Oarsman)
(33) J.H. McLaughlin (Wrestler)
(34) John McMahon (Wrestler)
(35) Charlie Mitchell (Pugilist)
(36) Wm. Muldoon (Wrestler)
(37) Joseph Mulvey (Baseball)
(38) Miss Annie Oakley (Sharp Shooter)
(39) Wallace Ross (Oarsman)
(40) J. Schaefer (Billiards)
(41) Wm. Sexton (Billiards)
(42) Geo. F. Slosson (Billiards)
(43) Jem Smith (Pugilist)
(44) Matsada Sorakichi (Wrestler)
(45) John L. Sullivan (Pugilist)
(46) John Teemer (Oarsman)
(47) E.A. Trickett (Oarsman)
(48) M. Vignaux (Billiards)
(49) John M. Ward (Baseball)
(50) Ike Weir (Pugilist)