Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights

Mike's chance to turn the tables on me with his hobby questions - but we both saw the hobby up close for the past three decades and more.

Some collectors keep better records than others - some know how much profit they have made on a collection they bought and others have no idea - be careful - the IRS may have ideas.

Jobs in the industry are now more available that they have ever been - we are all happy where we are, but see this as a good thing.

Ray had apparently saved up 45 years of questions going back to the earliest days of the organized sports card hobby in the Dallas area - fond reminiscences. 

Our extended conversation ran afield covering many topics of our shared experiences in the hobby and academic worlds.

Michael and I kept going - it was difficult to separate and segment our interview as it was flowing - thanks Michael for your sports card insights.

Among other topics I asked Mike about his experience in the '90's with Fleer before they went sideways - the brands and designs were really good, but what went wrong?

Dallas hobby veteran set collector Ray Cherry joins for his origin story as he has just recently retired from a long successful career in the security industry.

Brad and Rich were over here and Brad had saved up a number of sports card hobby questions for us - thanks Brad - and Rich too!

Clemente is a Journalism Professor in New York City at King's College and an avid soccer fan and collector - we had even more in common as you listen in to our discussion - thanks Clemente!