1990 Pro Set Football was released in three different series. Series 1, or “First Series,” consists of the first 378 cards. They would later release a Series II as well as a Final Update set to round out the checklist. Being 1990, this series is simple. There is the base set plus full one insert set. The insert set in Series 1, Super Bowl Collectibles, consists of one card for each Super Bowl up to that point and have the corresponding hologram.

There is one other surprise in store in this one, though. Series 1 packs give you the chance of landing the Vince Lombardi Trophy hologram. Although they are serial numbered to 10,000, which seems like a lot today, they are extremely tough pulls. These routinely sell for $100+, and much more if they are high grade.

1990 Pro Set Series 1 Football Box Break

Cards per pack: 15
Packs per box: 36
Price paid: $11

Shop for 1990 Pro Set Series 1 Football boxes on eBay.

Pack 1 highlights:

Jim Mora, George Seifert, Barry Sanders & Super Bowl VI

This set was loaded with coach cards, something you don’t really see today. You decide if that is good or bad. 

Pack 2:

Steve Atwater, Howie Long PB, John Elway, Steve McMichael & Super Bowl XVIII

Pack 3:

Boomer Esiason, Don Shula, Mike Singletary & Super Bowl X

Pack 4:

Deion Sanders, Dan Marino, Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe & Super Bowl IV

Pack 5:

Clay Matthews PB, Buddy Ryan & Super Bowl I

Matthews, obviously, is the father of former Packers Pro Bowler Clay Matthews III.

Pack 6:

Joe Montana, Andre Rison & Super Bowl V

Pack 7:

Barry Sanders, Michael Irvin, Warren Moon, Reggie White & Super Bowl XXII

Pack 8:

Carnell Lake & Super Bowl XIX

Pack 9:

Christian Okoye PB, Chuck Noll, Charles Haley & Super Bowl XXI

Okoye made the Pro Bowl after leading the league with 1,480 rushing yards.

Pack 10:

Lawrence Taylor, Andre Ware RC, Jim Everett, Anthony Miller PB & Super Bowl II

Pack 11:

Buck Buchanan HOF, Brian Blades PB, Dan Reeves & Super Bowl XXIV

Pack 12:

Bob St. Clair HOF, Marty Schottenheimer, Randall Cunningham, Super Bowl XVI & Super Bowl III

Pack 13:

Derrick Thomas, Eric Metcalf & Troy Aikman

This pack’s “Super Bowl Collectible” snuck into the previous pack.

 

Pack 14:

Bob Griese HOF, Jim Kelly, Ken Norton, Barry Sanders & Super Bowl XV

Pack 15:

Jerry Glanville, Thurman Thomas PB & Super Bowl XII

Pack 16:

Rod Woodson PB, Art Monk & Super Bowl XX

Pack 17:

Rod Woodson, Bruce Smith PB, Ickey “Shuffle” Woods & Super Bowl XIV

Smith was named to the Pro Bowl squad 11 times in his career. 

Pack 18:

Bill Parcells, Rod Woodson, Morten Andersen & Super Bowl VII

Pack 19:

Randall Cunningham, Jim Everett & Super Bowl VII

Pack 20:

Bill Parcells, Kevin Greene & Super Bowl II

Pack 21:

LT, John Elway, Howie Long PB, Sterling Sharpe & Super Bowl VI

Howie “Caveman” Long made the Pro Bowl eight times. 

Pack 22:

Deion Sanders, Don Shula, Boomer Esiason PB & Super Bowl XVIII

Pack 23:

Tim Brown, Steve Atwater & Super Bowl X

Pack 24:

Joe Montana, Warren Moon & Super Bowl IV

Pack 25:

Dan Marino, Reggie White & Super Bowl I

1989 marked Reggie White’s fourth straight All-Pro First Team selection. 

Pack 26:

Andre Rison, Ted Hendricks HOF & Super Bowl V

Pack 27:

Franco Harris HOF, Chuck Noll, Herschel Walker, Mike Singletary & Super Bowl XXII

Pack 28:

Joe Montana, Michael Irvin, Greg Lloyd, Charles Haley, Marv Levy & Super Bowl XIX

Pack 29:

Thurman Thomas, Art Shell & Super Bowl XXI

Art Shell went 7-5 his first year as a head coach in 1989. 

Pack 30:

Dave Krieg PB, Roger Craig & Super Bowl XXIII

Pack 31:

Jack Lambert HOF, Andre Reed PB, Joe Gibbs & Super Bowl VIII

Pack 32:

Ozzie Newsome, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Mike Ditka, Bernie Kosar & Super Bowl IX

Pack 33:

Jimmy Johnson, Vinny Testaverde & Super Bowl XIII

Johnson went 1-15 his first year as head coach in Dallas.

Pack 34:

Bo Jackson, Eric Metcalf & Super Bowl XVII

Pack 35:

Derrick Thomas PB & Super Bowl XI

Pack 36:

Cris Carter, Sterling Sharpe & Super Bowl XXIV

Lastly, the Carter card back. His career numbers weren’t all that impressive early on. But, that changed quickly.

No hologram card in this one but, at just $10 or so per box it may be worth trying again just to hunt one down.

Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.