Buzz Break: 2009 Topps American Heritage American Heroes Edition (25 blister retail pack lot)

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The packs: 2009 Topps American Heritage American Heroes Edition (25 blister retail pack lot)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per lot: 25
Cards per pack: 8
Cards per lot: 200
Base set completion: 
84 of 125 (67 percent)
Duplicates: 47
Triplicates: 17
Quadruplicates: 8
Quintuplicates: 3

Notables on base cards: Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Thomas Jefferson, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Stewart, George Washington, Norman Schwarzkopf, Ulysses S. Grant, James Madison, Frank Robinson, Wyatt Earp, Frank Serpico, Theodore Roosevelt, Navajo Code Talkers, Jonas Salk, Clara Barton, Kelen Keller, Herbert Hoover, Jane Addams, Elenor Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Woodrow Wilson, John Quincy Adams, Nellie Bly, John Steinbeck, Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's Midnight Ride, The Underground Railroad, Lewis & Clark Expedition, Battle of Gettysburg, Doolittle Raid, Battle of Midway, D-Day, Battle of Iwo Jima, First American Spaceflight, March to Montgomery

Insert/short-print cards: 41 (a sampling of inserts and base in gallery below)
Barack Obama/Abraham Lincoln short-prints (6) – Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln
A Hero's Journey (4) – Abraham Lincoln
Heroes of Sport (4) – Stan Musial, Magic Johnson, Tris Speaker, Jimmie Foxx
Heroes of Spaceflight (7) – Mercury Aurora 7, Mercury Faith 7, Gemini IV, Gemini V, Apollo 7, Apollo 10, Apollo 13 
Medal of Honor (11) – Eugene Asa Carr, Francis E. Brownell, Allen Thompson, George Lewis Gillespie Jr. (2), Dennis Bell, William F. Cody, Hiram I. Bears, John J. Kelly, Bud Day, Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan
Presidential Medal of Freedom (8) – Fred Rogers (2), Frank Robinson, David Brinkley (2), Duke Ellington, Andy Griffith, Harper Lee
Chrome parallel (1) – John McCain (/1,776)

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: This one's not even a decade old and its hobby boxes aren't easily found because of all of the interesting and historic inclusions -- and, more importantly, the unique and sometimes unusual inclusions on the autograph and memorabilia front. In the case of retail, you don't get those easily (see odds below -- autos start at one in 258, for example), so a bulk lot like this one is more of a rip-for-fun project on the cheap ($1 a pack). So, what is Topps American Heritage? It was the second of two releases focusing on American history in the wake of Barack Obama's election as president and this second set includes short-printed cards pairing him with Abraham Lincoln. (The first set included some cards focusing on that campaign for office and his election.) This set uses a number of past designs from Topps history to spotlight certain segments of American history and it's not as A-list filled as the first set, which included an A+ mix of historical figures (obvious household names). This break under-delivered statistically on the Chrome cards, but the rest was about right. If you can find a hobby box on the cheap, it's worth a rip because you should get some hits and they can include pieces of space-used memorabilia, big-name sports autos, unusual ink from people such as Erin Brockovich and even cut autos from presidents, Astronauts and others in history.

Product Grade: B
Lot Grade: B- (heavy on dupes, light on Chromes)
Fun Grade: B

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