What Could One Pack Hurt?

I had no plans on a post today.  I don't want to be like Kyle Lewis (or insert your favorite flame out), come out guns-a-blazin' and then just disappear in a short amount of time.  Then I went to Walmart. 

While there, I figured I'd look for some of the 2026 Topps Chrome Olympics, though I knew the odds were stacked against me.  As expected, nothing.  I saw some Topps Series 1 hanger packs and I figured picking one up wouldn't hurt.  There was no clear price but I figured for $5 I'd do it.  Much to my chagrin, when the cashier rang them up, it was $7.  That disappointment was just the beginning.  

I will be testing the Walmart no returns on cards policy because every card came out with a dinged corner.  Honestly, I'll just take store credit over another pack after all this.  My assumption is that the other packs will have similar damage.  Why can't Topps use the old cello wrappers like they did in the 1980s?  Packaging them in those, with the tightness, could have prevented this.  

These were the team cards in the pack.  I also got an Oakland A's one that I discovered when I went to put the cards back into the pack.  

I know less and less players as every season passes.  I don't collect or even follow home run derby...er...baseball.  Is there anyone good in this group?  I ask because I've never heard of any of them.  

This significantly smaller group of cards is the base cards of guys I've actually heard of.  I think a couple of them are pretty good and one of the collects cards himself.  

I've also heard of these three guys!  Heck, I even have a pretty good Cal Raleigh rookie card - his Topps Heritage Black Border parallel.  I probably should have sold it toward the end of last baseball season, but I'm not the best about selling.  I do like the "Profiles" insert set because it's nostalgic for me.  I don't recall the year those originally were done but it's certainly when I still had some interest in baseball.  I've typically liked the Topps Fire cards I've seen and that's what the Paul Skenes reminds me of.  Maybe I should go pull out one of my old Pirates hats that have been hibernating for at least a decade.  

Good moment to you wherever you are, thank you for checking this out and have a wonderful rest of your day!