Dr. Beckett unretires to share sports card stories, analyses, and opinions, based on his six decades of intensive experience.
Episodes
Monday Feb 17, 2025
Monday Feb 17, 2025
Dr. Beckett answers 11 listener-submitted questions, covering a range of topics including the popularity of Rocky Colavito, Star Company's design, Mr. Mint’s impact on the hobby, and the therapeutic value of collecting sports cards. Dr. Beckett offers thoughts on fitness, mortality, and the importance of getting cards graded. He also highlights unique collections such as indigenous NHL players' rookie cards.
00:49 Rocky Colavito Tribute
02:02 Bennett's Tribute
02:49 Star Company Card Design
05:35 Mr. Mint and Card Collecting Stories
08:28 Health and Downsizing in Collecting
10:07 Indigenous NHL Players Collection
11:26 Gold vs. Cards: Investment Insights
Friday Feb 14, 2025
Friday Feb 14, 2025
Dr. Beckett reflects on his enduring love for his wife Diane while drawing parallels with his passion for the sports card hobby. He also explores concepts such as 'completion compulsion' and the 'five love languages,' applying them both to personal relationships and the hobby.
01:43 Aspects of Love in Collecting
02:41 Psychology and Completion Compulsion
05:47 Luka, Mavs, and NBA Love
08:31 Five Love Languages and the Hobby
10:21 National Sports Collectors Convention
Wednesday Feb 12, 2025
Wednesday Feb 12, 2025
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein delve into the intricacies of sales tax in the sports card industry. From the challenges faced by card show organizers to the implications for dealers and consumers, they discuss the legal and practical aspects of sales tax collection as well as exploring the rising trend of cashless transactions and the potential impact on the hobby's charm and business practices.
01:05 Real-Life Examples and Implications
01:49 Promoters and Dealers: Compliance and Challenges
02:38 Consumer Perspective on Sales Tax
03:03 Tax Obligations for Players and Promoters
04:05 Future of Sales Tax and Digital Transactions
09:54 Cash vs. Credit: The Debate
Monday Feb 10, 2025
Monday Feb 10, 2025
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss the concept and benefits of trade nights: personal experiences, strategies for store owners, and the differences between trade nights and traditional card shows. The conversation highlights various aspects of organizing trade nights, including the increased foot traffic, sales opportunities, and the unique community atmosphere they create.
00:49 Benefits of Trade Nights for Stores
01:56 Challenges and Considerations for Trade Nights
03:34 Comparing Trade Nights and Card Shows
04:58 Personal Preferences and Trade Night Dynamics
08:04 Organizing and Promoting Trade Nights
12:05 Security and Logistics of Trade Nights
Friday Feb 07, 2025
Friday Feb 07, 2025
Dr. Beckett shares his thoughts on a variety of Panini hobby boxes he recently received: Prism Monopoly WNBA, Panini Prism NASCAR, and Panini Hoops. Dr. Beckett discusses the branding cooperation between Monopoly and Panini, the configuration and value of cards, as well as the popularity of different sports cards. He also highlights the accessibility and appeal of NASCAR drivers, the evolving landscape of women's sports cards, and the joy of opening new packs.
01:00 Unboxing the Prism Monopoly WNBA
02:03 Analyzing the Monopoly and Panini Collaboration
04:24 Exploring 2024 Panini Prism NASCAR
09:12 Thoughts on Women's Sports and Collecting
Wednesday Feb 05, 2025
Wednesday Feb 05, 2025
Dr. Beckett discusses various 2024 sports card boxes from Upper Deck, including Goodwin Champions, Black Diamond, and the first edition Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), sharing his thoughts on the products, their design, and the evolving sports card market, including the challenges of assigning value and the importance of recognizing both base and premium cards. He also touches on the intersection between hobby trends and broader cultural themes.
00:59 Philosophy of Collecting
01:25 Black Diamond Review
02:05 Challenges in Pricing and Collecting
08:00 PWHL First Edition Review
Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
Dr. Beckett discusses his voting process for the (Third Annual Class) 2025 Football Card Hall of Fame, highlighting changes to the induction process and sharing his insights on various candidates. He evaluates notable football cards, identifies his top picks and alternates, and reminisces about the historical significance of certain cards. Dr. Beckett also provides constructive feedback on the ballot criteria and offers suggestions for future improvements. To vote, go to:
00:26 Ballot Changes and Voting Criteria
02:22 Personal Reflections and Sentimental Choices
04:00 Voting Process and Final Thoughts
11:49 Modern and Ultra-Modern Considerations
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Dr. Beckett, long-time Mavericks season ticket holder, reacts to the shocking trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sharing insights into sports cards and the implications for both the Mavericks and Lakers, he discusses the roles of key players like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, the GM Nico Harrison’s decisions, and future prospects for both teams.
00:28 Frustration and Sports Card Insights
00:57 Luka's Trade and Team Dynamics
01:55 Ownership and Management Decisions
04:45 Trade Deadline Speculations
05:12 Impact on Sports Cards and Collectors
Friday Jan 31, 2025
Friday Jan 31, 2025
Dr. Beckett tackles 11 listener questions within a 15-minute timeframe. Topics include the popularity of Jason Williams, the importance of transfer portals in college sports, intellectual property concerns with Beckett Magazine, critiques of the Vintage magazine, the market for used card supplies, Action Packed cards, GameStop's card security, identifying iconic sports card images, and the impact of Ricky Henderson's passing on autographed card values.
00:33 Jason Williams: White Chocolate
02:28 Beckett Magazine Memories
03:22 Beckett's Future
04:35 Used Top Loaders Market
04:55 Trump and Tariffs
07:53 GameStop and Card Security
09:01 Iconic Baseball Card Poses
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Dr. Beckett discusses the distinctions between hobby and business in the world of sports cards. He explores how one's approach defines their engagement, whether it's purely for fun or for profit. Dr. Beckett shares personal anecdotes about his journey from a passionate collector to a business-minded dealer, highlighting the nuances of tax implications, emotional connections, cash flow, and market strategies. He concludes that many enthusiasts, including himself, navigate both realms, finding joy in both collecting and the business aspects.
01:08 Defining Hobby vs. Business
01:57 Passion vs. Profit
03:06 Financial Considerations
03:43 Buying, Selling, and Holding
07:51 Systems and Strategies