Dr. Beckett unretires to share sports card stories, analyses, and opinions, based on his six decades of intensive experience.
Episodes
Monday Aug 26, 2024
Monday Aug 26, 2024
Join Dr. James Beckett in this high-level discussion surrounding the Star Company, featuring passionate insights from Steve Taft, Dave Dzendzel, and Ryan Jessup. We explore the intricacies of the hobby, the historical context of card distribution, and the significance of rookie card classifications. Dr. Beckett shares personal anecdotes, defends his classification decisions, and reflects on the evolving nature of the hobby.
00:21 Discussion on the Star Company and Jordan XRC
03:35 The Role of Dealers and Collectors in the Hobby
09:32 National Distribution and Availability Debate
15:06 Rookie Card Classifications and Market Impact
Sunday Aug 25, 2024
Sunday Aug 25, 2024
Dr. Beckett pays tribute to his late mother following her recent memorial service. He shares lessons learned from his mom, blending them with insights into the world of sports card collecting. Dr. Beckett reflects on his upbringing, his mother's industrious and kind nature, and how these qualities have influenced his own life and career.
00:20 Tribute to My Mom: Memorial Service Reflections
02:24 Life Lessons from My Mom
07:43 The Importance of Attitude, Altitude, and Alignment
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Friday Aug 23, 2024
They explore the distinctions between the golf and soccer card markets, the evolving landscape of the hobby, and the role of printed price guides versus online tools. Dr. Beckett reflects on his own journey, the challenges of maintaining a card collection, and the dynamics of selling and buying at card shows. They discuss nostalgia in printed price guides and the evolution of market trends in the sports card industry. Additionally, they touch on production numbers, the importance of knowing remaining card populations, and the impact of movies and video in the card collecting world.
01:32 The Evolution of Print and Digital Price Guides
03:55 Dr. Beckett's Personal Collection Strategy
06:33 Historical Insights on Production Numbers
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Dr. Beckett invites Chris Burak, a dedicated collector, to discuss various topics around sports card collecting. They delve into challenges with subscription copies, frustrations with the junk wax era, and the comparison between soccer and golf card markets. The quantification of the overproduction of sports cards is also explored.
01:14 Chris Burak's Questions and Background
01:41 Subscription Copies and Mailing Issues
04:47 The Junk Wax Era Frustration
08:55 Soccer Cards and Market Dynamics
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Dr. James Beckett explores the dynamics of sharing his podcast episodes on YouTube, discussing the benefits and challenges of using video and audio formats. He delves into personal stories related to his card collection, including interactions with Tom Landry and the importance of legible autographs on sports cards.
01:42 Personal Stories and Card Wall
02:51 Card Design Preferences
04:27 Jerry Jones and Economic Impact
05:47 The Kilt Photo and Display Tips
07:32 Feedback and Video Quality
Friday Aug 16, 2024
Friday Aug 16, 2024
Dr. Beckett tackles ten listener questions sourced from various emails, social media comments, and interactions at shows. Topics range from the appeal of Hostess Cards and the joy of sorting vs. selling to the intricacies of subleasing booths at shows and the influence of media personalities on getting National booth spots.
00:33 Hostess Card Episode and Listener Reactions
01:00 Collector, Investor, Dealer Dynamics
03:48 Influencers and Getting Booths at the National
04:29 Retail Strategies and Card Booth Setup
06:25 Timing of Buying and Selling Cards
07:10 The Value of Cards and Family Stories
Wednesday Aug 14, 2024
Wednesday Aug 14, 2024
Dr. Beckett dives into the realm of card breaking, drawing parallels between the process and the hit TV show 'Breaking Bad.' He discusses the economics behind card breaking, the similarities in the speculative nature of both activities, and the importance of honesty and transparency. Dr. Beckett also touches on the concept of repacks, the role of expected value, and the importance of building trust within the community.
01:00 The Economics of Card Breaking
02:42 Challenges and Risks in Card Breaking
07:02 The Role of Transparency in Card Breaking
Monday Aug 12, 2024
Monday Aug 12, 2024
Dr. Beckett reflects and discusses the importance of having a good wingman in the sports card hobby. He shares stories of his own wingmen, like Rich Klein, Brad Askew, Gabe Haro, Mark Harwell, and Joe Galindo, and offers ten suggestions for being an effective and supportive wingman. Covering everything from staying focused on the main goal to encouraging honesty and avoiding envy, this episode provides valuable insights into building strong, supportive relationships within the hobby.
00:33 The Role of a Wingman
01:30 Personal Wingman Stories
02:14 Staying Focused and Honest
06:24 Generational Respect and Handling Wrongs
08:19 Honesty and Integrity
11:09 Avoiding Envy and Jealousy
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
Dr. Beckett contrasts the recently received Connor Bedard box set from Upper Deck with the Caitlin Clark product from Panini. He discusses the contents of the Connor Bedard box, including the challenges of obtaining autographed cards, the market demand, and the unique approaches by Upper Deck compared to other companies like Panini and Topps. Dr. Beckett shares his personal experiences and thoughts on collecting, the significance of potential superstar athletes, and the future value of such box sets. Additionally, he discusses possible improvements and ideas for future sets, such as the inclusion of combo cards and bilingual versions.
01:13 Analyzing the Box Set Contents and Market Value
02:12 Comparing Connor Bedard and Caitlin Clark
02:40 Discussion on Autograph Odds and Market Trends
04:45 Upper Deck's Strategy and Product Comparison
06:11 Suggestions for Future Box Sets
Friday Aug 09, 2024
Friday Aug 09, 2024
Dr. Beckett addresses listener questions revolving around the concept of a 'Mount Rushmore' for various aspects of the sports card hobby. The discussion includes notable figures such as Ed Broder, Lionel Carter, Charlie Conlon, Lud Denny, Renata Galasso, George Johnson, Kevin Savage, among others, highlighting their significant contributions. Dr. Beckett also shares personal anecdotes and sheds light on the impact of these and other individuals on the sports card collecting world.
00:43 Writing a Book About the Hobby
05:21 Walter Diemer and Fleer Dubble Bubble
09:12 Mickey Mantle's Extraordinary Value