Buzz Break: 2012 Panini Americana Heroes & Legends

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: 2012 Panini Americana Heroes & Legends (24-pack retail)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (this and other options)

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 194
Base set completion: 
125 of 125 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 55

Notables on base cards – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Barbara Bush, Kerri Strug, Carly Patterson, Lisa Fernandez, Cat Osterman, Bruce Jenner, Dan Gable, Hope Solo, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sally Ride, Scott Carpenter and many more

Insert/short-print cards: 12 (all inserts in gallery below with some base)
Astronauts (2) – Eileen Collins, Robert Crippen
Military Elite (2) – Floyd Carter, Theobald G. Wilson
U.S. Women's Soccer (2) – Hope Solo, Stephanie Cox
U.S. Women's Soccer Teammates (2) – Alex Morgan & Hope Solo, Amy Rodriguez & Jill Loyden
Olympics (4) – Dan Jansen, Rowdy Gaines, Bart Conner, Scott Hamilton

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Elite Materials (1) – Bruce Baumgartner (/499)
Elite Materials Bronze Proof (1) – Barbara Morgan (/99)

What's Buzz-worthy: This isn't my favorite of the past Americana sets -- in fact, it might be near the bottom of the list since soccer and presidents aren't my thing -- but at less than $20 for a box with two guaranteed hits (and apparently autographs are possible here) it's definitely worth the rip for its potential. Why? There are some huge potential finds here among the autos that are guaranteed every time over on the hobby side -- check out the asking prices on ink from this set. (Boxes indicate autos are possible but the wrappers don't offer particulars.) ... The product is basically built from these groups -- past presidents (they're all in there), notable military veterans such as the Tuskegee Airmen, Astronauts and other NASA notables, a heavy presence for the U.S. women's soccer team and other notable Olympians from the past. The hobby wax for this one has largely dried up but the notable soccer stars here have powered interest. Even their base cards have sold -- team set lots in bulk -- for more than you might think. Astronauts also have a decent collecting base as do politicians and others off the typical collector radars. The memorabilia cards here also have parallels, which can add to the demand for names that, again, you might not expect to hold as much value. Meanwhile a number of people in this set don't have any other autographs or memorabilia cards -- or even base cards -- that will help the potential interest, too. While these guarantee two hits, blaster boxes typically deliver one. The bulk lots (see link) have potential for more at a similar price but there are no guarantees.

Product Grade: B
Box Grade: A-
Fun Grade: B

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