Dr. Beckett unretires to share sports card stories, analyses, and opinions, based on his six decades of intensive experience.
Episodes
Monday Sep 02, 2024
Monday Sep 02, 2024
Dr. Beckett addresses criticisms, shares insights, and provides historical context on the licensing and market dynamics of major card companies like Topps and Fleer, contrasted with the Star Company. Using a provocative analogy, he illustrates the ongoing debates and the importance of brand value over licensing status and robust distribution.
01:08 Branding vs. Licensing: The Importance of Brand Value
03:51 The Fleer Era: Basketball Cards and Licensing Challenges
06:47 Licensing Complexities: Comparing Star and Major Card Companies
10:08 Marketing and Distribution: The Star Company’s Shortcomings
11:03 Licensing Insights: Personal Experiences and Industry Standards
15:35 Ten Reasons Why the Jordan 101 is an XRC, Not an RC
Friday Aug 30, 2024
Friday Aug 30, 2024
Dr. Beckett concludes his long conversation with Star aficionados Dave Dzendzel, Steve Taft, and Ryan Jessup. They delve into the intricacies and controversies surrounding the Star Company, its cards, particularly those featuring Michael Jordan, and their historical context within the sports card market. The discussion touches upon issues of legitimacy, grading standards, and market perceptions, providing valuable insights into the dynamics and skepticism prevalent in the sports card hobby.
01:21 The Star Company and Type Twos
02:31 PSA and Grading Controversies
06:28 Star Company Pricing and Market Perception
08:42 Basketball Card Market Evolution
15:35 Debating the True Rookie Card
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Join Dr. James Beckett in the second part of an in-depth discussion with Dave Dzendzel, Steve Taft, and Ryan Jessup about the Star Company's impact on the hobby. They explore the controversies surrounding the classification of rookie cards, particularly focusing on industry standards, historical context, and the nuanced differences between RCs (Rookie Cards) and XRCs (Extended Rookie Cards). The discussion also touches on how the timing and manufacturing methods of the Star Company influenced their perception in the market, and the implications of these classifications on the value and collectability of specific cards, including the iconic Michael Jordan cards.
00:50 Early Magazine Classifications
02:05 Debate on Rookie Card Definitions
05:27 Star Company's Business Model
10:50 Challenges and Perceptions of Star Company
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