In 1887, Allen & Ginter inserted a 50 card set of "World Champions" into boxes of their cigarettes. The set, designated N28 in the American Card Catalog, is considered to be the first nationally distributed tobacco issue. It featured famous athletes of the day, including ten baseball players, ten pugilists, ten oarsmen, four rifle shooters (including Buffalo Bill Cody and Miss Annie Oakley), seven wrestlers, seven billiard players, and two pool players. Two members of the St. Louis Browns, Champions of the American Association and winners of the World Series over Chicago in 1886, made the list. Six of the baseball players are members of the Hall of Fame, including Charles Comiskey, player-manager of the Browns through much of the 1880s. Each card has a complete checklist on the back.

In 1888, Allen & Ginter released a second 50 card set, designated as N29 in the American Card Catalog. Like the first set, this set included champions from various sports, including cyclists, runners, "pedestrians", swimmers, one "Club Swinger", and a hammer thrower, among others. There were six baseball players in this second series, none of which were from the Browns. This set was also produced in a larger format in which the central card was placed in front of other baseball images. The larger format is designated as N43 by the ACC.

Allen & Ginter was consolidated into the American Tobacco Company in 1890.

A complete card gallery can be found at Old Cardboard.com.

Allen & Ginter (N28) (Set size 10 of 50)

Card # 9 R.L. Caruthers

Card # 10 Charles Comiskey