Buzz Break: 1990 Pro Set Series 1 football cards (five packs)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The lot: 1990 Pro Set Series 1 football cards (five packs)
Where to buy: Check junk bins ... hit BlowoutCards.com for newer football cards

Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery for what was in this one.

Packs per lot: 5
Cards per pack: 15
Cards in this lot: 75
Base set completion: 70 of 378 (19 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, Jimmy Johnson, Lawrence Taylor, Joe Montana, Franco Harris, Ted Hendricks, Chris Doleman, Cris Carter, Thurman Thomas, Bobby Humphrey, Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson, Neil Smith, Ozzie Newsome, Chris Hinton ... and others of note back then with errors/variations or with strong card photos (see gallery)

Rookie Cards (7) – Percy Snow, John Roper, Mike Dyal, Ken Harvey, Vincent Brown, Jesse Sapolu, Rickey Dixon (not quite the haul like Series 2 packs would have)

Insert/short-prints cards: 5
Super Bowl (5) – I, IV, IX, X, XVIII

Autographs/Memorabilia: None.

What's Buzz-worthy: This batch was the last of a pack lot for some #TBT Buzz Breaks here and, well, it surprised me as the printing and cutting on these was among the cleanest I have ever seen for this all-timer of a set. Normally cards here are found right out of packs with rough cuts on edges and shards of cardboard everywhere ... especially if you dare to penny sleeve 'em without extra-large sleeves or care for details. (Does it matter? Only if you'd dare to grade notables here ... and I might, so that explains some sleeves in the gallery. Why grade? Top marks are not easy ... and could be in demand to those looking.) ... There's a lot I could say about this one as I think it's an all-time great of a set released between two series in packs and then a small "Final Update" set released in a jumbo pack of its own. I've easily opened hundreds if not thousands of packs (it's thousands as cases had 720 and I've done a few ... and here's 1,000-plus for Series 2 alone) since back then and this one was easily a dominator in its day with errors and variations, cards pulled from production, insert cards like the Lombardi hologram and more inside often. Some of the names you may not know in the gallery have variations that can be tough like the Fred Marion card. Others are simply interesting updates to cards as a "living set" philosophy was used here -- if cards needed to be fixed or updated they would be among various printing waves or even in the second series. The photography here was unlike anything seen before for NFL releases, too, and the design was one that showcased things well with team colors to help sorting and set-building as most everything is grouped together quite well. A lot of today's chase and inclusions prompting people to buy more than one box, in my mind, can in some ways be linked to this release which was packed with a ton of stuff. This small lot doesn't really do it justice -- and Series 2 would do it better -- but this was a fun one for many.

Product Grade: A- (Series 2 is better ... an A+ for all of it)
Lot Grade: A- (got some errors/corrections here but not any of the toughest/flashiest ones)
Fun Grade: B (these need to be ripped in volume)

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