Buzz Break: 1990 Topps Big Baseball Series 3 cards

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 box: 1990 Topps Big Baseball Series 3 baseball cards
Where to buy: Will take some hunting ... but check out other Retro Rips boxes here

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

Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 288
Base set completion: 
110 of 110 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 105
Triplicates: 55
Quadruplicates: 18

Notables on base cards: Ken Griffey Jr., Larry Walker (RC), Sammy Sosa (RC), Cal Ripken Jr., Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, John Smoltz, Cecil Fielder, Kirk Gibson, Jim Abbott, Will Clark, Ben McDonald (RC), Carlos Baerga (RC) ... and others who were notable, reliable big-leaguers or rookies with promise at that time.

Autographs/Memorabilia: Not in this one.

What's Buzz-worthy: Why rip this one? Well, it's a super-cheap box -- less than 70 cents a pack for me this time -- and there are some notable second-year and Rookie Cards here that are overlooked if you ask me. (It's a standalone brand yet reference sites out there don't give them RC tags ... just saying. It's overlooked.) Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr. and John Smoltz are key cards here and I actually don't think I ever saw these let alone opened a box back in the day. This was the third and final series in the second year of the run for this standalone brand which was one of only a few to arrive back then beyond flagship, let alone get three series per year. (Most stuff was boxed-set material in 1989 and 1990 with stuff like Stadium Club showing up beginning in 1991. The only thing somewhat comparable as an in-pack product was 1990 Bowman MLB. This, to me, further reinforces that these are RCs that are overlooked in comparison to flagship and Bowman.) These cards are larger-format releases like 1956 Topps with 110 cards per series -- so these are 221-230 on the checklist -- and there are few, if any real variations to chase here though all cards have different sheet notations in the fine print -- either an F* or E* on the copyright lines. (This box was all F* versions ... and I'm not sure anybody would really be trying to collect 'em all that way, anyway.) There were nearly two complete sets here and if your'e a grader the skinny stock and packaging won't do you any favors. The card backs are basic but colorful by Topps standards for 1989-1990ish with cartoons and full names that add to some of the oddity that is this one. Don't be surprised if one or two of the cards from this show up in slabs from me right here in Making The Grade in the future.

Product Grade: A- (key young names and a couple notable RCs in this series)
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: B- (no inserts ... just basic cardboard)

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