Buzz Break: 2018 Pearl Jam Chicago trading cards (four 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 packs 2018 Pearl Jam Chicago trading cards (four packs)
First Buzz preview: N/A
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... (click here for non-sports boxes)

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

Cards per pack: 11 (10 cards and one sticker)
Base set completion: 
37 of 61 (61 percent)
Duplicates: 3

Notables on base cards – Eddie Vedder (vocals), Stone Gossard (guitar), Jeff Ament (bass), Mike McCready (guitar), Matt Cameron (drums), Boom Gaspar (keyboards), Brendan O'Brien (producer)

Insert/short-print cards: 4 (all cards in gallery below)
Chicago logo sticker (1)
Seattle logo sticker (2)
Boston logo sticker (1)

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: This is ultimately some throwback end-of-year desk-clearing here on the Buzz Breaks front, but it was a good one with nearly all members of this legendary band in their Chicago Cubs jerseys ... and that made this break a win. ... What are these? As part of the band's merchandising for three big concert dates in 2018, Pearl Jam made three 60ish-card sets -- one for Seattle, Chicago and Boston -- using the 1990-91 NBA Hoops design (1989-90 Hoops wrappers) and with completely different photos for everything. They're not their first card sets as their previous releases using the 1991 Topps baseball design as a starting point were a big hit, so that's probably why these happened. I've ripped these a few times over the years and a couple of Vedder cards in uniform have been graded and are deep in my stash ... but the one where he wears the Cubs gear will end up being my last slab for the run sometime in 2025. There can be dupes here regularly but this time was clean and all packs actually included an extra card along with some odd finds among the stickers (should have been Chicago only). There's no wax staining to worry about here, either, but the top card will have some surface damage more times than not thanks to the packaging. The silver-edge design is one that will showcase flaws easily but these are smoothly cut and clean for the most part, save for centering, and are way better than the set they are re-creating. I still have a couple of packs somewhere for one other set here to pop up here -- maybe next month -- but this one was a win.

Product Grade: A-
Lot Grade: A
Fun Grade: B+

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com