Dr. Beckett unretires to share sports card stories, analyses, and opinions, based on his six decades of intensive experience.
Episodes
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Dr. Beckett reviews three current Panini sports card releases, including baseball, football, and basketball products. He discusses pricing, licensing issues, and the enjoyment factor of opening packs. Highlights include an examination of autograph valuation, no purchase necessary offers, and the nuances of various card sets. The episode also compares the complexities and potential value of each sport's cards, reflecting on Panini's role and the future of the hobby.
00:57 Understanding Card Breaks and Market Value
02:26 Reviewing 2025 Donruss Baseball
03:48 Autographs and Their Market Impact
04:49 No Purchase Necessary Offers
07:25 Reviewing 2024 Panini Contenders Optic Football
08:51 Reviewing 2024-25 Select Basketball
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Dr. Beckett addresses listener questions from various platforms. Topics include potential mergers like GameStop acquiring Collectors and PSA, the future landscape of grading companies, the logistics of dividing collections, and personal anecdotes from the world of sports card collecting.
00:57 Rumors of GameStop Acquiring Collectors
02:55 Future of Grading Companies
03:38 Buying Collections and Partnering
05:05 Challenges with Plastic Sheets and Supplies
10:02 Modern Hobby and Collector Sentiments
11:08 Auction Bidding Issues
Monday Jun 16, 2025
Monday Jun 16, 2025
Excerpts of Dr. Beckett's interview by Victor Roman Sr. on Victor's YT channel, reflecting on the life and influence of Dr. Beckett's late father. Dr. Beckett shares stories about his dad's early life, his love for baseball and stamp collecting, his professional journey, and his impact on Dr. Beckett's personal and professional life. They discuss the values of hard work, independence, and faith that his father instilled in him, as well as the importance of vulnerability and authenticity. Dr. Beckett also explains how these lessons have influenced his approach to career and family.
01:24 My Dad's Early Life and Career
03:31 Life Lessons and Work Ethic
05:34 Support and Independence
09:02 Faith and Personal Growth
Friday Jun 13, 2025
Friday Jun 13, 2025
The second part of Dr. Beckett's conversation with Mike and Andrew Aronstein. They share nostalgic stories of collecting 1951 Bowman cards, the evolution of their collections, and their unique approach to sports memorabilia. Listen to tales of entrepreneurial ventures, the transition from sports cards to postcards, and the fascinating experiences of setting up at shows and partnering in the collectible world.
00:29 Childhood Memories of Card Collecting
02:27 Transition to Postcards and Reflections on Collecting
03:19 Entrepreneurial Ventures and Business Success
04:49 Family and Collecting Together
05:42 Partnerships and Business Anecdotes
09:00 Challenges and Changes in the Hobby
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Dr. Beckett and Mike Johnston share heartfelt stories about their late fathers and their mutual love for vintage baseball cards. Both Dr. Beckett and Mike discuss how their fathers' collections of Goudey, Play Ball, and Diamond Stars cards created lasting memories and a strong bond between them. They reminisce about the times their dads spent buying and trading cards in the 1930s, with touching anecdotes about family life during the depression, baseball radio broadcasts, and the therapeutic power of collecting.
03:03 Baseball and Family Bonds
03:48 Rediscovering the Collection
04:36 Generational Differences and Shared Interests
05:02 The Impact of War and Career Paths
07:19 Card Collecting Community and Connections
12:05 Sentimental Value and Family Legacy
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Dr. Beckett is joined by Andrew and Mike Aronstein. Andrew, operations manager at Love of the Game Auctions, and his father, legendary hobbyist Mike Aronstein, share their insights and stories from the world of sports card collecting. They explore their early memories, the evolution of the sports card industry, and the challenges of balancing family and hobby. amidst entrepreneurial ventures.
01:45 Father-Son Bonding Through Sports Cards
03:47 Entrepreneurial Journey in the Hobby
07:12 Photo File and Licensing Stories
14:04 Early Days and Evolution of TCMA
16:53 Vintage Cards and Their Impact
Friday Jun 06, 2025
Friday Jun 06, 2025
Dr. Beckett reviews the latest releases from Upper Deck in May, breaking down eight products ranging from affordable to premium. He discusses the value and accessibility of these products, including the effort by Upper Deck to create a public database for RPAs and the significance of grading and authentication. Reviewing AEW Wrestling, AHL Hockey, CHL Hockey, UD Extended, SPX, Skybox Metal Universe Hockey, SP Game Used, and Ultimate Collection.
01:01 Upper Deck's Market Leadership and Innovations
06:44 Upper Deck Extended Series: Young Guns
07:31 SPX Hockey Cards: Emphasis on Rookies
08:17 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey: Colorful Experience
09:23 SP Game Used: Heavy on Game-Used
10:49 NHL Ultimate Collection: Ultra Premium
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Dr. Beckett delves into the recent hiatus and return of Hobby News Daily. He discusses the challenges and importance of consistent content creation, especially in the sports card industry. Dr. Beckett reflects on his own experience in publishing, provides feedback to Hobby News Daily, and touches upon various industry topics including controversies, quality control, and the secondary market. hobby media.
03:16 Controversies and Conspiracies in the Hobby
03:49 Challenges of Daily Media Production
10:43 Quality Control in Card Production
13:03 Pricing Strategies and Market Dynamics
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Dr. Beckett discusses Panini's platform and their recent card releases. He provides a unique perspective on both modern and vintage sports cards, focusing on specific Panini products such as Totally Certified Football and Basketball, and the 2024 Panini Clearly Donruss. Dr. Beckett also discusses the impact of losing licenses, potential legal resolutions between Panini and Fanatics, and ideas for Panini's future ventures including NFTs and expanding into other entertainment properties.
01:48 Comparing Panini's Products
06:20 Panini's Market Position and Future
06:37 Legal Issues and Potential Resolutions
07:55 Panini's Strategic Opportunities
09:39 The Importance of Execution
Friday May 30, 2025
Friday May 30, 2025
Out-takes from Dr. Beckett's recent Hobby Hotline appearance joined by co-hosts Orlando (Collectors Dream) and Logan Ward, focusing on gambling in sports and the complex case of Pete Rose's reinstatement. They also touch on topics like the possibility of steroids users like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens entering the Hall of Fame, second chances in society, and how historical figures in baseball are remembered. The episode includes commentary on the nature of apologies and owning up to mistakes, with parallels drawn between personal life and professional sports ethics.
01:07 Gambling in Sports and Pete Rose's Legacy
04:22 Comparing Pete Rose and Ty Cobb
07:00 Hall of Fame Debates: Bonds, Clemens, and PEDs
12:52 The Importance of Full Admission and Apologies