MAYBE THE LAST PACK OF NEW TOPPS I WILL EVER OPEN

 HOW'S THAT FOR A NICE CLICKBAIT TITLE. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE IF I FEEL THIS WAY NEXT APRIL WHEN FANATICS PREVIEWS THE 2024 DESIGN BUT RIGHT NOW I AM NOT FEELING IT. WHICH SUCKS BECAUSE 2023 IS MY FAVORITE TOPPS SET SINCE 2015. BUT THE F-ERS CUT THE NUMBER OF CARDS PER HANGER FROM 67 TO 59 FOR UPDATE AND I COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO BUY ONE WHEN I SAW IT AT TARGET. THEN I WAS AT WALMART (LOOKING FOR A PACK OF CHRONICLES WHICH I'M NOT EVEN SURE HAS BEEN RELEASED YET) AND THEY HAD A HANGER PACK AND IT WAS PRICED AT $13.99! LESS CARDZ, MOAR PENNIES! NOW I WAS JUST MAD. MY SON WANTED TO GO TO TARGET TO BUY A NEW LEGO SET (WHICH HONESTLY IS A WAY MORE EXPENSIVE HOBBY AND I SHOULD JUST QUIT MY BELLYACHING) SO I TAGGED ALONG AND TO CHECK THE CARD AISLE FOR CHRONICLES AGAIN. THEY HAD IT! FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL. BUT THEY ALSO HAD THIS:

AN ACTUAL DINKY PACK OF TOPPS UPDATE. ARE STORES STILL ALLOWED TO SELL THOSE? I'VE ONLY SEEN HANGERS, BLASTERS AND THE OCCASIONAL RACK PACK LATELY. I FELT CRUMMY HAVING ZERO UPDATE CARDS OF SUPPOSEDLY MY FAVORITE TOPPS DESIGN IN YEARS AND FELT IT WAS WORTH THREE BUCKS TO STAY IN THE GAME. IT COST THREE-FIFTY. UUUUH YEAH. THERE'S LIKE A HUNDRED OTHER BASEBALL CARD THINGS I CAN DO WITH THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS. THE DEED IS DONE, SO LET'S CHECK OUT THE PACK TOGETHER IN ONE LAST CELEBRATION OF WAX RIPPING. MY WIN CONDITION FOR THIS PACK ARE TWO OUT OF THREE FOR THE FOLLOWING: 1) ANY BRAVES CARD 2) ANY INSERT/PARALLEL CARD 3) THE ONE-PER PACK STARS OF MLB INSERT IS OF SOMEONE GOOD. DO THEY STILL INSERT ONE OF THOSE PER PACK? LET'S CHECK THE ODDS ON THE BACK

WELP. ANOTHER THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT NEW PACKS. I'M NOT GOING TO TOPPS DOT COM SO WE WILL FIND OUT TOGETHER. FIRST CARD!

WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START! KOLBY ALLARD JUST GOT NON-TENDERED IN THE GREAT ANTHOPOULOS PURGE OF '23 BUT IT'S A BRAVES CARD AND I WANTED A BRAVES CARD

WANDY PERALTA PITCHED PRETTY WELL FOR THE YANKEES OUT OF THE BULLPEN THIS YEAR. I'LL NEVER BEGRUDGE A GOOD BULLPEN ARM GETTING A FLAGSHIP CARD

ANOTHER BARVE! BRADEN SHEWMAKE DIDN'T GET NON-TENDERED! THAT'S GOOD! HE GOT TRADED TO THE WHITE SOX INSTEAD! NOT SO GOOD FOR HIM, YOU COULD SAY IT'S A REAL BUMMER

JI-MAN CHOI IS UP NEXT. THIS CARD HAS SOME REAL AI IMAGE VIBES, SOMETHING JUST LOOKS OFF. IT'S PROBABLY JUST MY BRAIN GETTING EXTRA SUSPICIOUS ABOUT BAD PHOTOCHOPS AFTER SEEING THE FLOOD OF AI GARBAGE IN THE PAST YEAR. BESIDES, THEY COULD'VE JUST ENTERED IN 'PADRES' INSTEAD OF 'PIRATES' INTO THE AI SINCE CHOI GOT TRADED TO SAN DIEGO IN AUGUST

THE MORE I LOOK AT THIS CARD THE MORE IT REMINDS ME OF A 70S KELLOGG'S CARD WITH THAT CRISP PHOTO AND BLURRY BACKGROUND. THINKING ABOUT IT THAT WAY THE CARD LOOKS REALLY GOOD NOW

OSCAR COLAS DEBUT CARD. HE'S GOT A CARD IN SERIES TWO. GOTTA CRAM MORE RC LOGOS IN THE SET SOMEHOW

CHASE DE JONG. ANOTHER DECENT RELIEF PITCHER GETS A CARD, GOOD FOR YOU CHASE

UH OH WE HAVE A PIRATES HOT PACK! DREW MAGGI GOT SIX AT BATS FOR PITTSBURGH AND WAS RELEASED IN JULY. HONESTLY THAT'S NOT BAD COMPARED TO SOME HORROR STORIES ABOUT CARDS OF PLAYERS WHO WEREN'T EVEN ON THE TEAM IN 2023 ON THE CHECKLIST I HEARD FROM SOME TEAMS COLLECTORS OUT THERE

ROOKIE DEBUT OF CASEY SCHMITT. THESE ORANGE CITY UNIFORMS ARE WEIRDING ME OUT BUT I SAW A PICTURE OF THIS CARD'S ORANGE GHOST HALLOWEEN PARALLEL AND IT LOOKS KINDA GREAT

OH HEY, JARRED KELENIC IS PRETTY GOOD. AT LEAST THE MARINERS FANS I KNOW TALK ABOUT HIM A LOT. THIS IS CARD US321 SO I GUESS THEY UPPED THE SET SIZE TO 330 FROM 300 ALONG WITH THE PRICE HIKES AND THE PACK SHRINKS. OR MAYBE IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A WHILE?? I DUNNO ANYMORE

SAM BACHMAN ROOKIE CARD.  TWO THINGS: DAT BEARD AND DAT BADONKADONK. GOOD LORD, THAT'S A SEAN MURPHY CALIBER BACKSIDE

KING JESSE! OK, SCREW THE INSERT CARD, THIS PACK IS AN EPIC WIN. I DON'T KNOW IF JESSE CHAVEZ AND HIS AMAZING HATS WILL BE BACK WITH THE TEAM NEXT YEAR BUT I AM THANKFUL FOR THE TIME WE HAD WITH HIM

OH SHIT

WHAT THE HELL COLOR IS THIS, MAUVE? THE PHOTO TURNED OUT ORANGY BUT IN PERSON IT'S MORE OF A SICKLY PINK. OH WELL, PARALLEL ROOKIE CARD OF GUS VARLAND OF THE BREWERS NUMBERED TO 50. WHO IS NOW BACK WITH THE DODGERS. IT LOOKED LIKE HE PITCHED WELL OUT OF THE BULLPEN SO YAY? FOR REAL THO WHAT IS THIS COLOR. OR BETTER YET, WHY IS THIS COLOR

PLUS AN INSERT! AN 88 TOPPS CARD OF JORDAN WALKER, BLUE CHIP PROSPECT FOR THE CARDINALS WHO HAD AS LACKLUSTER A SEASON AS HIS TEAM DID. JORDAN IS FROM STONE MOUNTAIN, GA AND IS ONLY 21 YEARS OLD SO I GOTTA SAY IT'S A GOOD INSERT TO GET. LAST CARD, NOW WE GET TO FIND OUT IF STARS OF MLB OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED REALLY IS ONE PER PACK

YES! GOT ONE! ANOTHER ROOKIE, HUNTER BROWN. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIM BUT HE STARTED 29 GAMES FOR THE ASTROS LAST YEAR SO THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE TO CHEW UP 150 INNINGS NOWADAYS

SO AFTER ALL THAT BELLYACHING I MANAGED TO PICK UP MAYBE THE BEST POSSIBLE PACK IN THE ENTIRE STORE. THREE BRAVES, TWO GOOD INSERTS AND A PARALLEL NUMBERED TO FIFTY. WELL, MY TWITTER AND BLUE SKY HANDLE ISN'T MR. GROUCHYPANTS FOR NOTHIN

FATHER'S DAY CARDS - TOPPS SERIES 2 HANGER PACK

 I GOT A TWENTY FIVE DOLLAR TARGET GIFT CARD FOR FATHER'S DAY AND IMMEDIATELY DECIDED IT WAS GOING TO BE USED ON ONE (1) HANGER PACK OF SERIES TWO TOPPS AND ONE (1) RACK PACK OF 2023 DONRUSS. IT TOOK TRIPS TO FOUR DIFFERENT TARGETS TO FIND ANYTHING OTHER THAN HOCKEY, POKEMON AND CHRONICLES BASKETBALL DRAFT PICKS BUT MY PERSISTANCE PAID OFF. MY POSTING HAS BEEN ERRATIC THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS SO MAYBE DOING A PART TWO OF MY FIRST HANGER PACK POST MIGHT GET ME OUT OF THE FUNK. LIKE LAST TIME, I'VE MOVED THE BASE CARDS IN THE BACK TO THE FRONT TO SAVE THE GOODIES FOR LAST. NO DOUBLES THIS TIME BECAUSE I ONLY BOUGHT THIS ONE HANGER OF SERIES TWO. ONCE AGAIN LET'S FUKKKINN GOOOOOOO

381 WHIT MERRIFIELD

GOTTA SHOW OFF THE FIRST CARD EVEN IF IT'S THE FIRST CARD OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE PACK. NOT GONNA LIE, I GET MERRIFIELD CONFUSED WITH BOBBY WITT JR. ANOTHER BIT OF FUN IS THIS CARD HAS SOME OLD-SCHOOL O-PEE-CHEE CUTTING ON THE TOP OF THE CARD. YOU DON'T SEE THAT TOO OFTEN ANYMORE

374 MICHAEL TAYLOR

505 JOSÉ MIRANDA
403 JUSTIN TURNER
451 ROYCE LEWIS
554 JESÚS AGUILAR

THREE TWINS RIGHT AWAY JUST WHEN THE BRAVES ARE STARTING A SERIES AGAINST MINNESOTA SO I GUESS I BETTER POST THEM. THIS FAILED MISERABLY WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE WHAMMY ON SPENCER TORKELSON BUT MAYBE IT WILL WORK THIS TIME

388 MAX MEYER RC
551 JOHNNY CUETO
438 BRANDON BELT

I REMEMBER MAX MEYER FROM WHEN I PULLED HIS CARD IN SOME ANOTHER PACK, AND ALSO REMEMBER THAT HE'S OUT RECOVERING FROM TOMMY JOHN. CUETO AND BELT ARE ON UNFAMILIAR TEAMS BUT I DON'T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE UNCANNY PHOTOSHOP JOBS TOPPS IS KNOWN FOR NOW SO NO PICS. AIRBRUSH OR GTFO

351 STORY TIME CHECKLIST
514 COLIN MORAN
366 COREY KLUBER
584 BRENDAN DONOVAN
419 MICHAEL CONFORTO

I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE EITHER OF THE SUPERSTAR INFIELDERS UNTIL I LOOKED ON THE BACK ALTHOUGH 'STORY TIME' SHOULD HAVE TIPPED ME OFF. THERE ARE A LOT OF UNCANNY PHOTOSHOP JOBS IN THIS SET BUT APPRECIATE THEM NOW BECAUSE THERE'S A 90% CHANCE THEY'LL BE DONE BY AI WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS SO FANATICS CAN FIRE AN ADDITIONAL INTERN

460 ANTHONY VOLPE RC
530 BRICE TURANG RC
561 SHINTARO FUJINAMI RC

A TRIO OF RCs BEFORE WE HIT A RUN OF SIDEWAYS CARDS. I FOLLOW YANKEE FANS ON TWITTER SO I KNOW EXACTLY WHO VOLPE IS BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE OTHER GUYS. GONNA BE HONEST, WHILE I WAS CHAMPING AT THE BIT HOPING TO PULL A MICHAEL HARRIS II OR VAUGHN GRISSOM CARD FROM SERIES ONE, I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT ROOKIES I SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR HERE

375 RYAN TEPERA
368 LOGAN WEBB
623 TAMPA BAY RAYS

TWO THINGS HERE: HORZONTAL CARDS LOOK FRIGGIN GREAT, AND THE HOLIDAY CAPS AND CITY CONNECT UNIFORMS MAKE NORMAL PHOTOS OF PLAYERS JUST AS UNCANNY AS THE TOUCHED UP ONES

630 JOSÈ ABREU
437 LANE THOMAS
347 JEREMY PEÑA

ASTROS CARDS OF A COUPLE MVPS. THAT IS A NICE ROOKIE CUP CARD

413 ALEJANDRO KIRK
492 EVAN LONGORIA
585 MICHAEL KOPECH

LOOK AT THAT ABSOLUTE UNIT

499 SLAM DUNK WIN!

THAT'S A NICE LOOKING CHECKLIST CARD, GOOD TO SEE THE ORIOLES DON'T SUCK THIS YEAR

523 CHARLIE BLACKMON
538 XANDER BOGAERTS
416 DONNY SANDS RC
453 WILL BRENNAN RC
431 EMMANUEL RIVERA
646 KYLE HIGASHIOKA
448 MATT WALLNER RC
497 ENRIQUE HERNÁNDEZ
553 DAVID BEDNAR

THE CHARLIE BLACKMON WAS UPSIDE DOWN BY ITSELF IN THE PACK WHICH MADE ME SUSPICIOUS OF SHORT PRINTS BUT THEY DO THOSE MORE OBVIOUSLY NOW. I'LL NEVER GET USED TO GREEN COLORADO UNIS EVEN THOUGH THEY LOOK KINDA GREAT. WE NOW HAVE A LONG STREAK OF PLAYERS I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT, WHICH SEEMS TO BE AN ANNUAL THING IN SERIES TWO. I'M ALL FOR THE KYLE HIGASHIOKAS OF THE WORLD GETTING A CARD IN FLAGSHIP THOUGH SO IT'S A NECESSARY THING

401 CORBIN CARROLL RC

OK THIS ROOKIE I'VE HEARD OF, LET'S CHECK THAT BASEBALL REF PAGE TO SEE WHY EXACTLY PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS GUY- OH MY GOODNESS. GOOD LORD, WELL AT LEAST I WON'T HAVE TO GO CHASING THIS CARD NOW. WOOF

563 JESÚS LUZARDO

EVERY TIME I SEE THIS GUY I CAN ONLY THINK OF THE JESUS LIZARD AND I'M WRONG FOR THAT SO I ADDED HIM TO MY FANTASY TEAM AND HE'S PUTTING UP SOME PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS FOR ME

443 LUKE VOIT
517 CHAD KUHL

ANOTHER BIG UNIT ALTHOUGH HE'S ALREADY MOVED ON TO MILWAUKEE AND THE METS SINCE THIS UNPHOTOSHOPPED (?) PIC WAS TAKEN

456 AMED ROSARIO
449 DREW RASMUSSEN
424 LOGAN GILBERT
657 JAKE FRALEY

GUARDIANS CARDS LOOK SO DAMN GOOD, I LOVE THAT LOGO SO MUCH

560 THAIRO ESTRADA
593 TREY MANCINI

THAIRO ESTRADA IS THIS YEAR'S "GUY I PICKED UP IN A FANTASY LEAGUE KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT THEM WHO IS CARRYING THE WHOLE TEAM ON HIS BACK". HE JOINS NICOLA JOKIC ON THAT LIST SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAIRO. TREY IS TRANSMOGRIFIED INTO A CUBS UNIFORM WHICH MADE ME LOOK UP TO SEE IF HE EVER GOT AN ASTROS CARD. I ONLY FOUND TOPPS NOW CARDS AS AN ASTRO WHICH IS KIND OF A SHAME

331 CHARLIE MORTON
521 NICK ALLEN

YAY!  A BARVE! CHARLIE IS DEFINITELY ON THE TAIL END OF HIS CAREER BUT HE'S STILL CHEWING UP A LOT OF GOOD INNINGS FOR US. THIS PHOTO OF HIM LOOKS ABSOLUTELY BIZZARE IF YOU LOOK AT IT TOO LONG. STARTING TO WONDER IF TOPPS ISN'T ALREADY USING AI ON THESE CARDS

459 RYNE NELSON RC

I HAD TO GO BACK THRU MY FIRST SERIES CARDS TO CHECK ON THIS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST 2023 TOPPS CARD I'VE SEEN WHERE THE CORNER PORTRAIT ISN'T COMPLETELY INSIDE THAT LITTLE TEAM WINDOW. NOT ALL THE MUGSHOTS ARE STARING DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMERA BUT THEY'RE NOT BARELY IN THE FRAME EITHER. LOOKS LIKE RYNE WAS LATE FOR THE CARD AND TRIED TO SNEAK IN AT THE LAST SECOND. KINDA COOL ACTUALLY! RYNE IS UNIQUE, AT LEAST UNTIL I SEE ALL THE OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS ON CARDS I DON'T HAVE

602 SPENCER STRIDER
581 RAMÓN LAUREANO
550 MARK VIENTOS RC
439 JARED WALSH
595 GRIFFIN JAX
479 SIMEON WOODS-RICHARDSON RC

HOORAY! SPENCER STRIDER ROOKIE CUP! THE NATIONAL LEAGUE DYLAN CEASE. THIS MIGHT BE MY ONLY STRIDER CARD? MY BRAIN HAS THE DUMB SO I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER. VERY HAPPY TO SNAG ONE FROM A PACK BECAUSE STRIDER CARDS ARE HARDER TO FIND IN ATLANTA THAN EVEN ACUÑA. PEOPLE LOVE THE STRIKEOUTS

600 SHOHEI OHTANI

WOOOOOOO! SHOHEI! ALL SHOHEI CARDS PULLED FROM PACKS ARE BLESSINGS. A VERY NICE FINISH TO THE BASE CARDS. TIME FOR THE SHINIES!

SMLB-38 XANDER BOGAERTS STARS OF THE MLB 
SMLB-45 YORDAN ALVAREZ STARS OF THE MLB 
SMLB-59 SALVADOR PEREZ STARS OF THE MLB 
SMLB-53 KYLE SCHWARBER STARS OF THE MLB 

ONCE AGAIN THERE ARE FOUR STARS OF THE MLB SHINYFOIL INSERTS IN THE HANGER PACK. THEY'RE OK? YORDAN IS COOL AND I LIKE SCHWARB'S POWDER BLUES BUT THIS COLLECTION OF PLAYERS DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR ME. THE MICHAEL HARRIS AND AUSTIN RILEY CARDS I'D LIKE TO PICK UP ONE DAY

LG-3 NOLAN RYAN LEGENDS OF THE GAME

ANOTHER EXTRA SHINY INSERT. THE BASEBALL CARD GODS MUST HAVE HEARD ME BITCHING ABOUT HOW I'M MISSING NOLAN RYAN CARDS FOR ALL MY SETS BECAUSE HE'S SHOWING UP EVERYWHERE NOW. I WASN'T PLANNING TO SHOW OFF ANY BACKS DUE TO THE STUPIDLY MASSIVE SIZE OF THIS POST BUT YOU GOTTA SEE THIS ONE

HYPER SHINY FOIL FRONT, FAUX VINTAGE CARDSTOCK BACK. VERY WEIRD. AND LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE BACKS OF THE DONRUSS CARDS AS WELL?? BUT THAT'S ANOTHER POST

WBC-5 TIM ANDERSON WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

YES! ANDERSON IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND WBC CARDS ARE ALWAYS COOL. THIS SET'S DESIGN IS REALLY GOOD LOOKING AND I HAVE A MIGHTY NEED FOR THE ACUÑA FROM THE SET

2T88-25 NICK PRATTO RC 1988 TOPPS

NOT SUPER ENTHUSED ABOUT THIS ONE. I GOT LUCKY PULLING OZZIE ALBIES LAST TIME, GUESS I SHOULDN'T GET GREEDY. THE NUMBERING FOR THIS SET IS DUMB. FIRST SERIES IS T88-## AND THIS ONE IS 2T88-##. I GUESS THE UPDATE VERSION WILL BE UT-88-## IF THEY DON'T JUST CHUCK IT AND DO 1987 TOPPS AGAIN. ALL THATR EFFORT TO TRY TO DISGUISE THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY BE A THREE HUNDRED CARD SET. THAT'S TOO MANY CARDS FOR AN INSERT

399 JEAN SEGURA FOIL PARALLEL

MOARER SHINY. I ONLY COLLECT THE GOLDS WHICH ARE STOOPID HARD TO PULL NOW SO WHATEVER. I WOULD TELL YOU THE EXACT ODDS BUT THE BACK OF THE PACK TELLS YOU TO GO TO TOPPS.COM AND I AIN'T DOING THAT

HRC-14 JOSE RAMIREZ HOME RUN CHALLENGE

I FUCKING HATE THESE. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME AND HAVE NO INTEREST IN SCRATCHING A CODE ON THE BACK JUST TO HAVE TOPPS TELL ME I LOSE. WASTE OF AN INSERT CARD. BOOOO! OH WAIT WHAT'S THIS

HUMMINA HUMMINA HUMMINA HUMMINA

MLM-MM MICHAEL HARRIS II RC MAJOR LEAGUE MATERIAL

I'VE LOST MY BITCHING ABOUT BASEBALL CARDS PRIVILEGES FOR LIKE THREE YEARS AFTER THIS. HOLY SCHNIKES THIS IS MY BEST PULL SINCE THAT TOM GLAVINE 1971 MINI AUTO A DECADE AGO. THE ODDS OF GETTING ANY KIND OF HIT FROM A RETAIL PACK IS HIGH ENOUGH, GETTING THE EXACT GUY YOU WANT IS ASTRONOMICAL. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU BUY MAYBE TEN PACKS A YEAR. ONLY CARD FROM THIS SET THAT COULD BEAT THIS IS RONALD AND THAT ONE DOESN'T HAVE THE VAUNTED ROOKIE CARD LOGO ON IT. KINDA BLOWN AWAY BY THIS ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS WASN'T THE FIRST HANGER I PICKED UP. I GRABBED ONE, PUT IT BACK FOR SOME REASON AND THEN PICKED THIS ONE. I CAN REALLY REALLY QUIT BUYING PACKS NOW (EVEN THOUGH I WON'T) BECAUSE I'M NOT PULLING ANYTHING BETTER THIS YEAR. BETWEEN THIS AND THE DOG CARD (HAVE I POSTED THE DOG CARD? I NEED TO POST THE DOG CARD) I'M PRETTY CERTAIN I'VE PEAKED ON MY 2023 PICKUPS ALREADY AND IT'S NOT EVEN JULY

ANYWAY, I STILL HAVE A DONRUSS PACK TO SHOW OFF AND ABOUT A HUNDRED POSTS ROTTING AWAY IN THE DRAFT FOLDERS SO UNTIL NEXT TIME, GO GET A HANGER AND SEE IF YOU CAN BEAT THAT (YOU WON'T). HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MEEEEEEE

FIRST TOPPS PACK SINCE MAYBE 2019

I HAVEN'T OPENED A NEW PACK OF TOPPS FLAGSHIP SINCE AT LEAST 2019 BUT I REALLY REALLY LIKE THE 2023 DESIGN SO I SAVED A GIFT CARD I GOT AT CHRISTMAS SPECIFICALLY TO GET SOME BLASTERS OR SOMETHING. I ENDED UP NEAR THE LCS THIS WEEK SO INSTEAD OF DRIVING AROUND TO EVERY TARGET AND WAL-MART WITHIN 50 MILES I SIMPLY PICKED UP FOUR HOBBY PACKS INSTEAD. WITH THE RETAIL PRICE INCREASES IT ENDED UP COSTING ABOUT AS MUCH AS A HANGER BOX EVEN WITH THE MASSIVE DAY OR RELEASE MARKUP AND HOBBY PACK GAMBLING IS MORE LIKE BUYING A POWERBALL TICKET AS COMPARED TO THE RETAIL SCRATCH-OFFS. ALL I REALLY WANT IS A MONEY MIKE OR VAUGHN GRISSOM ROOKIE, HERE'S THE FIRST PACK AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REST

OFFICIAL FIRST CARD OF 2023 IS THE BRAVES' NEW CATCHER! THAT'S A GREAT START. MY PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING FIRST CARD OUT OF THE PACK IS RIPPING AND CHOOSING THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE FRONT, UNLESS YOU SEE THE BACK OF THE CARD, THEN GOING TO THE ONE ON THE BACK. IN ALL OF THESE PACKS BOTH THE FRONT AND THE BACK SHOWED THE BACK OF THE CARD STRAIGHT OUT OF THE PACK. I TOOK THE FIVE BACKWARDS CARD FROM THE FRONT AND PUT THEM IN THE BACK AND SEAN WAS RIGHT THERE LOOKING AT ME. TOPPS ALWAYS GOTTA MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT BUT IT WORKED OUT GREAT IN THIS CASE

THE FIRST QUESTION EVERYONE HAS THE MOMENT THE NEXT YEAR'S DESIGN IS TEASED IS 'WHAT DOES THE BACK LOOK LIKE'. OR MORE FREQUENTLY AS WE ALL GET OLDER, 'CAN I READ THE GODDAMN CARD NUMBER THIS YEAR'. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT YES, THIS YEAR WE CAN ACTUALLY READ THE GODDAMN CARD NUMBER. THIS SET IS NOW FIRMLY IN MY TOP FIVE TOPPS DESIGNS OF ALL TIME LIST. I AM CERTAIN THAT EVERYTHING WILL GO TO SHIT ON THE UPDATE SET, BUT IF WE GET A MIRACLE AND FANATICS DUMPS THE UH- PREFIX AND JUST CONTINUES THE NUMBERING 661-990 THIS WILL BE THE BEST DESIGN OF ALL TIME. NO ARGUMENTS, THE BESTEST EVER

NOW AFTER THE INITIAL EXCITEMENT, HERE'S THE REST OF THE CARDS. I DON'T KNOW WHO ANYONE IS ANYMORE SINCE I QUIT RIPPING TONS OF PACKS, QUIT PLAYING IN A FANTASY LEAGUE, AND ONLY PAY ATTENTION TO ONE TEAM. THIS GUY'S A ROOKIE WHICH MEANS THIS CARD WILL BE IN UNPRICED BOXES FOR 8 YEARS AND THEN THROWN INTO A BULK COMMONS BOX. OR THE TRASH

EVERYONE HAS OPINIONS ON THIS DESIGN BUT I LOVE THE LITTLE FLOATING HEAD ON TOP OF A CHEESY TV GRAPHIC MOTIF THING GOING ON. I DON'T MIND THE ANGLES AND LITTLE STARS AND ODD GRAY BAR AT THE BOTTOM FOR NO REASON. IT LOOKS FILE AND I REALLY ENJOY OPENING A PACK AND SEEING A BUNCH OF LITTLE DUDES LOOKING OUT AT ME. MY FAVORITE CARDS ARE PORTRAITS AND SINCE WE ARE IN THE ERA OF ALMOST EVERY CARD HAVING A GENERIC ACTION PHOTO I'LL TAKE MY PORTRAITS WHERE I CAN. SPEAKING OF ACTION PHOTOS, THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ONE IN THIS PACK. CATCHER THROWING IN FULL GEAR WITH A JACKIE ROBINSON TRIBUTE TAKING UP EVERY BIT OF THE FRAME. LOOKS GREAT

THE RAYS LOGO FITS ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY ON THIS DESIGN, IT REALLY LOOKS GOOD. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO YANDY DIAZ IS, BUT IT'S NOT A ROOKIE CARD AND HE PLAYS FOR THE RAYS SO I'M GUESSING HE VERY QUIETLY GOT 2-3 WAR LAST YEAR. DANG, 3.5 WAR? YEP, THAT'S THE RAYS

YAY, 88 TOPPS INSERT. BOOO METS. YAAY, I DON'T HAVE MANY PETE ALONSO CARDS. BOOOOOOO METS. THESE LOOK NICE. THANK GOD IT'S NOT 1987. THERE WAS ONE INSERT PER PACK IN THE ONES I GOT AND THE INSERTS ARE PRETTY FEAST OR FAMINE. AND THERE'S A HUNDRED IN THIS SET ALONE SO FORGET TRYING TO BUILD IT. TOPPS HAS BEEN DOING THIS RECYCLING THING FOR A WHILE NOW, MAYBE THERE'S A NEW FRANKENSET IDEA HERE 🤔

TEAM CARD FOR ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE TEAMS. TEAM PHOTOS ARE USUALLY PRETTY GOOD, A NICE WAY TO BREAK UP THE MONOTONY

SPLOOSH! SEE, THE PROLES CAN HAVE A FEW FUN PHOTOS AS A TREAT. THE REST OF YOU START RIPPING CASES FOR SSP GOLD CARDS. COUNTING THIS AS AN OHTANI CARD. TROUT'S PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THAT MESS AS WELL

FIRST BRAVES CARD OF 2023. I SAW THIS AND THE DESIGN MADE ME MAKE A DOUBLETAKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN 80-81 TOPPS BASKETBALL HOMAGE FOR A SEC AND REALLY WANTED TO SEPARATE THE PANELS. IT LOOKS A LITTLE ODD BUT I LIKE IT AND IF I GET DOUBLES I MIGHT GRAB SOME SCISSORS AND GET ME A KYLE WRIGHT MINI CARD

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, HORIZONTAL CARDS HAVE LOOKED FAIRLY AWKWARD BUT I REALLY LIKE HOW THIS YEAR'S TURNED OUT. IT ESPECIALLY LOOKS GOOD IF THE PHOTO IS CHOSEN WELL LIKE ON THIS CARD. MICHAEL HARRIS II'S ROOKIE CARD IS HORIZONTAL SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HORIZONTAL RUNS IN PACKS NOW. THIS WAS TECHNICALLY THE CARD ON THE BACK OF THE PACK

SUPERSTAR CARD THAT IS NO LONGER A STAR BECAUSE OF SHENANIGANS. I'M NOT FINDING IT IN THE DIME BOX SO I'M GLAD TO HAVE IT HERE

ROOOOOKIE CARD. LOOKIT THAT BIG GRIN, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THAT IN ANY OTHER TOPPS SET FROM THE PAST 20 YEARS. WELL, IT MIGHT SHOW UP IN HERITAGE. ACTUALLY THEY WILL PROBABLY USE THAT EXACT PHOTO IN HERITAGE

AND LOOK AT THIS HAPPY GUY! THIS IS A TOP TIER SET. I'M OPENING MORE PACKS, I'M GETTING A BINDER. LOVE THIS DAMN SET. AS MUCH AS THE RAYS LOGO WORKS ON THIS DESIGN, THE BOSTON LOGO DOES NOT. THIS ALSO MAKES ME HAPPY

LITERALLY EVERY PLAYER CARD IN THIS PACK HAS HAD A SHARP PHOTO OF THE PLAYER IN FRONT OF AN OUT OF FOCUS BACKGROUND, YET THIS IS THE CARD WHERE MY BRAIN CALLS BULLSHIT. I'M NOT A PHOTOGRAPHY GUY BUT THIS REALLY LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY PLOPPED A PHOTO OF TOMMY ON TOP OF A FAKE BACKGROUND. THEY'VE DONE LOTS OF PHOTOSHOPPING ON RECENT BASE PHOTOS AND HALF OF HERITAGE SHOTS ARE IN FRONT OF A GREEN SCREEN SO SHENANIGANS IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY. OF COURSE IN FIVE YEARS ALL CARD PHOTOS WILL PROBABLY BE AI GENERATED SO I SHOULD REALLY COUNT MY BLESSINGS. NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO UNSEE THIS ANY TIME SOON THO

THREE ROOKIES IN THE PACK, NONE ARE BRAVES. BOOOOOO. I REMEMBER BRETT BATY BEING A PAIN IN THE ASS DURING BRAVES-METS SERIES LAST YEAR. WHO WON THE DIVISION THO EH

I'M NOT SHOWING OFF EVERY CARD BUT HERE'S SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM TEH OTHER THREE PACKS:

NOT A BIG FAN OF THE HOME RUN CHALLENGE GIMMICK. DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY, DON'T LIKE SCRATCHING CODES OFF CARDS. WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A DIFFERENT INSERT TBH BUT THEM'S THE BREAKS

VAUGHN GRISSOM GREAT VICTORY

STILL GOTTA CHASE MONEY MIKE, BUT I GOT TO SEE VAUGHN WRECK SOME SHIT AT A ROME BRAVES GAME LAST YEAR AND HE'S THE REAL DEAL. REALLY ROOTING FOR HIM TO PULL OFF BEING THE DANSBY REPLACER

LOOKED SIDEWAYS AT THIS INSERT SET ON THE SELL SHEET THINKING IT WAS A 90S-ERA PACIFIC RIPOFF BUT THESE THINGS LOOK FUCKING FANTASTIC IN PERSON. HOLOFOIL, CRAZY DESIGN, ROUNDED CORNERS, I REALLY REALLY LIKE AND WILL GRAB WHEN I SEE IN QUARTER BOXES

NICE LOOKING PURPLE BACK TOO

THESE TWO WERE BOTH IN THE LAST PACK AND AFTER PICKING UP ALMOST NOTHING BUT DIRT COMMON FLAGSHIP CARDS OUT OF RANDOM JUNK BOXES THE PAST TWO YEARS HITTING SOME SUPERDUPERSTARS OUT OF A PACK FELT GREAT

ANOTHER BRAVES CARD IN THE LAST PACK. THE BRAVES LOGO LOOKS GOOD ON THE DESIGN, MAKING THIS TEAM SET COLLECTOR VERY HAPPY. IAN'S FIGHTING FOR A ROTATION SPOT THIS SPRING BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES WITH STARTING ROTATIONS THESE DAYS AND HE'LL STILL MOST LIKELY START 20+ GAMES THIS YEAR

THE LAST INSERT WAS A REAL LET DOWN. IF I HAD PULLED ONE OF THE THREE BRAVES CARDS IN THIS SET I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENTLY BUT JUST DO NOT LIKE THIS ONE AT ALL. OH WELL, THAT'S HOW IT GOES WHEN BUYING LOTTERY TICKETS. 

OVERALL I'M VERY HAPPY GETTING TO RIP SOME PACKS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FORVEVER ALTHOUGH I WILL LIKELY BE BUYING RETAIL FAT PACKS FROM NOW ON TO GET MORE BANG FOR MY BUCK IF I CAN EVEN FIND THEM. IT'S NICE TO HAVE A TOPPS DESIGN THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD AGAIN