And the First Card of 2026 Topps is Of...

One of these packs, purchased today at Au Sports in Morton Grove, IL, contains the first 2026 card I will feature on this humble, little blog. 

Let's get to it. (Going to ask my son to pick a number from 1 to 3. I'll be right back.)

He picked 3. So the pack on the right will be opened.

And the first card of 2026 is of...

2026 Topps Teoscar Hernandez #251

Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers!!!

Let's do a deeper dive on the card. (If you recognize the format below, rest assured that the Randomizer is ready to go, it's just a matter of pulling cards and getting everything going.)

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2026 Topps #251.
• Player Name, position, team: Teoscar Hernández, outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Major League Debut: August 12, 2016.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2025 stats (Dodgers): 134 G, 511 AB, 65 R, 126 H, 29 2B, 1 3B, 25 HR, 89 RBI, 5 SB, 26 BB, .454 SLG .738 OPS .247 AVG, 1.5 WAR..
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Astros as a Free Agent 02/17/2011. Signed with the Dodgers as a Free Agent 01/12/2024. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 11. This is his eleventh Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Teoscar had a milestone-packed 2025 season, reeling off his 200th homer, 200th double and 1,000th hit. The latter achievement occurred on July 3, when he scalded a single that left his bat at 108.2 mph."
• Commentary: The first card of 2026 is of Hernández. Looking at the design up close now compared to images online, the fabric background and stitches look realistic. The 75th anniversary logo is in foil, but it's not embossed like the 50th anniversary logo from 2001 Topps. While I understand the complaint about the font used for the player's name, at least it's easy to read (looking at you 2025 Topps). The team's primary right fielder, Teoscar is a 2-time All-Star and 3-time Silver Slugger winner.
• Beckett value: n/a.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 36 cards.

The rest of the pack included:

• #161 Michael McGreevy, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
• #113 Toronto Blue Jays Team Card
• #104 Samuel Basallo, catcher, Baltimore Orioles, RC
• #16 Casey Mize, pitcher, Detroit Tigers
• #328 Junior Caminero, third baseman, Tampa Bay Rays
• #25 Carson Williams, shortstop, Tampa Bay Rays
• #205 Bobby Witt, Jr, shortstop, Kansas City Royals
• #41 Mookie Betts, outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
• #210 Jacob Young, outfielder, Washington Nationals
• #ATT-3 Jazz Chisolm, Jr, 2025 All-Topps Team
• #70 Bob Seymour, first baseman, Tampa Bay Rays

2026 Topps 2025 All-Topps Team Jazz Chisolm, Jr, #ATT-3

The first insert card is off Jazz Chisolm, Jr. of the Yankees, named to the 2025 All-Topps Team as the second baseman. The first of many insert cards that will make up the eventual master set. Looking forward to the chase.

Speaking of chases, Topps is making a big deal of adding a redemption card that could net a collector a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. It wouldn't be the first time that Topps is inserting one of the most iconic baseball cards in history (oh and is there ever controversy over Topps' picks for iconic cards...that's a topic for another day) in packs of product (see 1991). It is an awesome prize to chase. Time will tell if and when it will be found.

As I said when the design was announced earlier this year, I love this design. Even Sports Card Radio acknowledged this to my surprise (been a fan of these guys for a long time). I can't wait to open the rest of the packs and boxes I bought today. It would be nice if I managed to get a full set from the items I bought today, but I am not holding my breath. Now that product is out, I'm going to start working on my want lists for insert cards. If you have any you want to get rid off, please feel free to contact me. I'll be more than happy to take them off your hands.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama