Dr. Beckett unretires to share sports card stories, analyses, and opinions, based on his six decades of intensive experience.
Episodes
Monday Jun 03, 2024
Monday Jun 03, 2024
Dr. Beckett is asked directly by Cage how he personally would improve BGS to regain its former position and prestige. Addressing the competitive landscape of grading companies, they deliberate on BGS's challenges and Dr. Beckett's suggestions for improvement, focusing on maintaining the brand's unique qualities while adapting to the industry's evolving demands. The conversation also touches on the impact of market consolidation, the importance of effective marketing and customer service, and the potential influence of newer collectors' preferences on grading services. Additionally, there's a nostalgic look at the historical significance of BGS in the collecting community and speculation about its future direction.
00:21 Discussing BGS and Suggestions for Improvement
01:22 Evolution of Grading Companies and Beckett's Position
02:27 Addressing Beckett's Challenges and Potential Fixes
06:43 Beckett's Identity and Strategy Moving Forward
08:22 Importance of Customer Service
09:58 The Red-Label Santa Claus Slab
Friday May 31, 2024
Friday May 31, 2024
Box battle with four current hockey card products from Upper Deck. He evaluates the boxes based on contents from 2023-24 Trilogy, 2023-24 Black Diamond, 2022-23 Ultimate Collection, and 2023-24 SP Game Used. Initially ranking Trilogy the highest, the results surprise him after opening the packs. The SP Game Used box, featuring standout cards like a Jason Robertson dual patch, takes first place. Ultimate Collection comes in second due to its impressive autographs, while Trilogy and Black Diamond follow. The video explores the nuances of card collecting, the importance of meaningful combos, and the challenges of redemption timelines and packaging.
01:36 Unboxing Insights: The Intricacies of Packaging
06:49 Ranking the Boxes Pre-Opening: Expectations vs. Reality
07:43 Revealing the Results: Surprises and Disappointments
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Dr. Beckett reviews Darren Rovell's investigative article and provides insights into the history and classification of the Michael Jordan Star Company XRC, including misconceptions around the XRC designation and reflects on the broader implications for the sports card hobby. The conversation sheds light on historical decisions, collector perceptions, and the evolving dynamics of the trading card market. Certainly a hotly debated topic.
00:20 Deep Dive into the Michael Jordan XRC Controversy
01:29 Overall Impact of Beckett Classification of XRC's
02:42 Star Company's Reputation and Legal Troubles
03:43 The Debate Over Rookie Card Classifications
06:34 PSA's Role in Reevaluating Star Company Cards
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
A heartfelt tribute to the late Bill Walton, reflecting on his illustrious career and his memorable moments at UCLA and in the NBA. Dr. Beckett shares personal anecdotes and insights into Walton's impact on the sport and his presence in the sports card hobby. The episode also touches upon the legacy of Coach John Wooden and the evolution of basketball cards.
00:55 College Years and Influence of John Wooden
04:19 NBA Career and Health Struggles
05:33 Bill Walton's Legacy in Sports Cards and Collectibles
08:46 Personal Anecdotes and Shared Memories of Bill Walton
Monday May 27, 2024
Monday May 27, 2024
Dr. Beckett is interviewed by investigative journalist Darren Revell. They delve into the history of Michael Jordan's XRC and the role of major grading companies. Dr. Beckett shares his insights on the early days of card grading, interactions with various dealers, and the complexities of determining card designations like XRC. He also touches on relationships with companies like Star Company and Fleer, highlighting the challenges and decisions that shaped the industry.
01:15 Exploring the World of Star Dealers and Card Grading
04:46 Evolution of Card Collecting and Price Guides
05:41 The Controversy and Complexity of XRCs
13:18 Navigating the Pressures and Politics of Card Companies
Friday May 24, 2024
Friday May 24, 2024
Recapping and amplifying episodes 1201 to 1224. Overall, this recap presents a rich tapestry of topics, from the evolution of sports card collecting, market dynamics, historical perspectives, to personal growth stories within the hobby.
00:28 Founder's Influence: The Half-Life of Leadership
02:43 The Debate on Card Restoration
05:19 Mount Rushmore
06:39 Exploring the 10X Factor in the Hobby
07:23 The Wall of Fame: A Deep Dive
08:38 Sensory Challenges and the Hobby
09:16 Baseball Card Hall of Fame Insights
10:43 Grading, Alteration, and Restoration: A Hot Topic
11:10 From Dirty Jobs to Hobby Insights
11:39 Topps Conference Outtakes and Industry Updates
12:03 Dueling Questions with Chris Sewell
12:42 Basketball Hypotheticals and Industry Power Dynamics
Wednesday May 22, 2024
Wednesday May 22, 2024
Nuances of collecting cards with a focus on buying collections, exploring the excitement around both high demand and low supply cards, and their mutual preference for low supply, low demand cards. They also discuss the significance of grading, with a look at Beckett's grading service inception, their approach to overcome initial hesitations, and how they differentiated their service from competitors. Additionally, the conversation covers the dynamics of buying collections, dealing with sellers' expectations, and the strategies for fair negotiation. Insights into the grading process, evaluating the rarity and demand of cards, and the impact of grading on the card's value are also shared, making the episode a comprehensive guide on various aspects of sports card collecting and investing.
00:43 High Demand vs. Low Supply Cards
01:49 Grading Preferences and Strategies
02:50 Beckett's Journey into Card Grading
06:53 Navigating Collection Purchases and Negotiations
Monday May 20, 2024
Monday May 20, 2024
Dueling Questions with Chris Sewall, a discussion that spans various aspects of the sports card market. They touch on recognizing undervalued cards not reflected in price guides, share personal stories about discovering short prints, and delve into the nuances of card collection management. Sewell discusses his experiences living in the Netherlands, starting a YouTube channel, and how both impacted his business strategy. Additionally, Dr. Beckett reflects on his decision to sell Beckett Media, his role post-sale, and his transition back to collector status, emphasizing the evolution of his involvement in the hobby and the sports card market.
00:42 Uncovering Hidden Gems
03:03 Art of Identifying Short Prints
06:35 Adapting to Life and Business Abroad
08:27 The Decision to Leave Beckett
Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
A purely hypothetical discussion unfolds on the future of basketball cards, involving an upper level NBA leadership decision to shift all future basketball cards to 'tall boy' format to emphasize athletes' height and athleticism, diverging from the traditional card size. Arguments for and against this change are explored, considering aspects like collectability, market impact, and implications for sports card manufacturers, supplies, and collectors. Additionally, the conversation touches on potential consequences of Fanatics' growing influence and control in the sports card industry and the broader implications of major shifts in sports card formatting, including collector behavior and the industry's evolution.
00:35 Hypothetical Scenario: All Basketball Cards as Tall Boys
01:46 Legal and Market Implications of Changing Card Sizes
06:20 Considering the Future of Sports Cards and Collectibility
12:50 Fanatics and the Future of Sports Card Licensing
Wednesday May 15, 2024
Wednesday May 15, 2024
Dr. James Beckett interviews Chris Sewell, Baseball Card Collector Investor Dealer In That Order. Chris shares his transition from collecting to dealing full-time, and the inception of his YouTube channel to support his career in sports cards. He explains the importance of the sequence collector, investor, dealer in his journey and discusses his approach to each role. The conversation also delves into the methodology behind Beckett's pricing guides in the pre-digital era, including the extensive process of data collection and analysis through dealer input and shows attendance, highlighting the transition from manual to automated systems in the industry. Chris and Dr. Beckett explore the nuances between collectors, investors, dealers, and flippers, elucidating how personal interests and market trends influence decisions within the hobby.
00:56 The Evolution of a Baseball Card Enthusiast
02:29 Defining Collectors, Dealers, and Investors
03:45 The Joy and Strategy of Card Collecting and Dealing
09:27 Challenges and Evolution of Data Collection in Card Pricing