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1888 N28 Allen & Ginter Mike Kelly PSA Mint 9....
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Sold on Feb 28, 2026 for:
$317,200.00
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Description
Population one, none superior!
1888 N28 Allen & Ginter Mike Kelly PSA Mint 9. The 1888 N28
Allen & Ginter Mike "King" Kelly is among the most historically
significant early baseball cards ever produced, and this PSA Mint 9
example represents an otherwise unattainable level of condition.
Kelly, a transformative figure in 19th-century baseball, was as
renowned for his play as for his charisma. In 1888-the year this
card was issued-he played for the Boston Beaneaters, hitting .318
with 71 RBI while continuing to showcase his pioneering
baserunning, strategic creativity, and crowd-pleasing showmanship.
A two-time batting champion and a master of both the game and its
narrative, Kelly helped define baseball's early era and was
arguably its first true celebrity, immortalized in popular culture
through books, songs, and vaudeville.The N28 Allen & Ginter issue holds a foundational place in the evolution of sports cards. Released as part of a multi-sport tobacco premium set titled "World's Champions," it features just ten baseball players alongside figures from boxing, wrestling, and other late-19th-century pursuits. The cards were produced using richly colored chromolithography and are revered for their vivid artwork, ornate design, and thick card stock-hallmarks that set the standard for subsequent generations of trading cards.
Of the nearly 6,000 N28 cards submitted to PSA across all subjects, only thirteen have achieved a Mint 9 grade, with none higher. The Kelly offered here stands alone as the only known example at that tier. Its unmatched condition, combined with Kelly's stature and the N28 set's historic importance, makes this a museum-caliber piece-a truly peerless artifact from the dawning era of baseball card collecting. Graded PSA Mint 9.
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Auction Info
2026 February 28 - March 1 Winter Platinum Night Sports Catalog Auction #50083 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
Feb-Mar, 2026
28th-1st
Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 31
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 7,971
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid per lot.
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