Dr. Beckett unretires to share sports card stories, analyses, and opinions, based on his six decades of intensive experience.
Episodes
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein delve into the unique aspects of the sports card industry, profit centers, and the challenges of balancing overhead and sales-oriented divisions. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding direct and indirect costs, the intricacies of making internal departments profitable, and the broader industry trends. They also touch upon Beckett’s past business decisions, the impact of a changing market, and potential future growth strategies. Additionally, the episode covers the successes and strategies of industry players like Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, Heritage Auctions, and COMC.
00:37 Scaling Business: Challenges and Strategies
01:21 Profit Centers and Cost Allocation
03:39 Variable Costs and Economies of Scale
06:08 Public vs. Private: Funding and Expansion
07:53 Leadership and Company Culture
Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss the burgeoning sports card show scene in Dallas, highlighting the competitive landscape with various small and large events. They explore how fanatics could potentially influence the market, the significance of smaller shows, and how Kyle's Dallas Card Show has adapted and thrived. They also touch on the logistics of running shows, the importance of adapting to changes, and the role of autograph guests in drawing crowds.
01:19 Small Shows and Their Importance
03:07 Challenges and Strategies for Show Promoters
05:25 Fanatics' Influence and Future of Shows
09:54 Collector Dealers and Pop-Up Shows
11:40 Autographs and Dealer Dynamics
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Dr. Beckett shares personal reflections on Henderson's remarkable career and his impact on the sports card hobby. The discussion covers Henderson's achievements, including his unbreakable stolen base record and his significance in the vintage card market. Additionally, insights are offered into the practice of valuing sports cards and how Henderson's cards have been affected by his passing.
01:19 Greatest Living Ballplayer Debate
01:45 Ricky Henderson's Stolen Base Record
02:00 Vintage vs. Modern Cards Debate
04:18 Ricky Henderson's Trading and Team History
05:11 Ricky Henderson's Playing Style and Achievements
Friday Dec 20, 2024
Friday Dec 20, 2024
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein share their different 'unique' approaches and success stories, comparing outcomes from different shows. They delve into assessing card values, the enjoyment of collecting, and the economics of buying boxes versus individual cards. Rich also touches on finding hidden gems, including autographed cards, and the nuances of authenticating them.
00:13 Rich's Approach to Dollar Boxes
00:52 Evaluating Card Purchases
03:37 Buying and Selling Strategies
07:07 Hypothetical Scenarios and Real-Life Examples
13:35 Autographs and Authentication
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Dr. Beckett celebrates the release of the 2024 Panini Prism football hobby box. He discusses the contents and value of the box, its detailed labeling, and the impact of CT scanning on card collecting. He also provides insights on the dynamics between purchasing and breaking card boxes, and what collectors can expect from Panini Prism, considered the flagship product of Panini.
01:34 CT Scanning and Box Content
02:49 Panini Prism as a Flagship Product
03:47 Personal Experience and Market Insights
07:09 Secondary Market and Buying Strategy
Monday Dec 16, 2024
Monday Dec 16, 2024
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein pay tribute to recently deceased baseball legend Rocky Colavito. They discuss his career highlights, impact on the Cleveland Indians, and his card collecting legacy. They delve into the 'curse of Cleveland,' his popularity, and speculate on how his career might have differed in other teams or eras. The chat covers his regional popularity and comparison with other baseball greats.
00:13 Rocky Colavito: Early Career and Trade
00:50 Card Collecting and Popularity
04:28 Hypothetical Career Scenarios
06:03 Trade Analysis and Impact
11:24 Hall of Fame Discussion
Friday Dec 13, 2024
Friday Dec 13, 2024
Dr. Beckett addresses listener questions and comments on the implications of international licensing, issues surrounding the Star Company and their unique license, the intricacies of rookie cards versus extended rookie cards (XRCs), and insights into the market dynamics from the 1980s to today.
00:21 International NBA Card Issues
01:10 Star Company Licensing and Context
02:04 Demand and Marketing in Basketball Cards
03:46 John Stockton and Rookie Card Definitions
05:51 XRC vs RC Debate
08:38 Star Company Photography and Design
09:44 Extended Sets and Licensing Issues
11:20 Market Perception of Star Cards
Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Dr. Beckett discusses the upcoming 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame potential class and analyzes how these selections could impact the sports card market. He also examines the Veterans Committee’s role and shares his thoughts on various players' chances and historical significance.
01:25 Veterans Committee and Their Influence
02:39 Alphabetical Breakdown of Candidates
03:58 In-Depth Analysis of Key Candidates
10:27 Final Thoughts and Card Market Impact
Monday Dec 09, 2024
Monday Dec 09, 2024
Dr. Beckett reviews two sports card products from Panini: the 2024 Mosaic Football and the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Basketball. He compares the features, price points, and card contents of both products, sharing his findings and thoughts on the value and collectability of the cards. Dr. Beckett also discusses the broader implications of hobby behavior and market factors, including the potential for grading base cards of top rookies.
00:28 Unboxing Panini Mosaic 2024 Football
02:11 Analyzing the Value of Mosaic Cards
04:20 Unboxing Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
08:36 Reviewing the EuroLeague Cards
Friday Dec 06, 2024
Friday Dec 06, 2024
Dr. Beckett shares his experience helping a good friend sell a vast sports card and memorabilia collection. He navigates through offers, auction houses, and consignment options, ultimately securing a favorable outcome. Dr. Beckett discusses the challenges and strategies involved. This personal journey highlights important lessons for collectors and sellers alike, emphasizing the importance of patience, proper authentication, and strategic planning in maximizing collection sales.
00:23 The Collection and Initial Offer
01:30 Auction House Experience
02:42 Handling the Remaining Collection
03:55 Consignment Strategy
05:50 Final Decisions and Reflections