For many years, baseball card fans loved opening a wax pack.

It was a very exciting time.

They wanted to find good cards.

The sweet gum inside was also fun.

Some people opened the pack fast.

Other people opened it slow.

Brian Pirrip owns a collectible business.

Its name is M1NT.

He said the smells of wax, gum, and cardboard take people to a different time.

The wax pack started in 1951.

A company called Topps made it.

Opening a pack gave "an innocent joy," Pirrip said.

The card could be a famous player or a normal one.

Kids traded their cards.

They took their cards everywhere.

In the 1980s, baseball card collecting became a big business.

Nostalgia and too many cards helped it grow.

Now, foil wrappers have high-value cards.

But Pirrip said nothing is like opening a wax pack.

He loves collecting.

He has gone to 47 states.

At a recent event at Citi Field, guests opened 1987 Topps packs.

People saw names like Nolan Ryan and Don Mattingly.

They were surprised.

But even unknown names made them smile.

"It instantly transports people to a happier time," Pirrip said.