Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights
Episodes
643 - Interview: Ezra Levine, CEO of Collectable
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ezra describes his hobby ride including the founding and growth of the fractional trading platform, Collectable, which has garnered lots of attention ...
642 - More Executive Insights with Shreedhar Shah
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Shreedhar's discussion with me went longer than I thought, because we lost track of time - happens sometimes with two passionate collectors - thought ...
641 - Out-Takes on Panini, PSA, and Cooperstown from Hobby Hotline 121821
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I was on the Hobby Hotline show last Saturday morning with Jeremy Lee and Jason Dean Martin and these are some of the topics either brought up by rece...
640 - Early Beckett Magazine Contributors, with Pepper Hastings
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pepper (Beckett editorial employee #1) and I reminisce about the earliest days of our editorial/art package for Beckett Baseball Card Monthly and the ...
639 - Out-Takes on Fanatics and Grading with Mike Fruitman and Rob Veres
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After I thought our interview was over, Mike (Mike's Stadium Sportscards) and Rob (Burbank Sports Cards) had some more what if's - so here it is - gla...
638 - Grading with JP Cohen, Memory Lane
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
JP and I shared our perspectives on grading (and other issues) in the sports card hobby from our different vantage points. Thanks JP.
637 - Questions from Mike Fruitman and Rob Veres
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
No duel here, except perhaps between the two of them, as I answered their thoughtful sports card hobby questions - including what if's! - thanks guys!...
636 - Topps Box Battle: Archives vs. Heritage Minors
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Which you prefer depends on your holding period - I realized I am more of an Archives guy now - maybe has to do with my age and the fact that I person...
635 - Dueling Questions with Joel Belfer, Mint Condition
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joel came with some questions for me and some interesting answers to my questions - thanks Joel for your hard work on your weekly newsletter - an exce...
634 - Store Security Measures with Mike Fruitman and Rob Veres
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mike and Rob share their opinions on card shop security - and their practices - take precautions but remember people are more important than cards!
633 - Topps Box Battle: Gypsy Queen vs. Allen & Ginter
11 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I broke a box of each and decided which one I liked better depending on my collecting parameters. Both had redeeming value, but I preferred the comp...
632 - Early BGS Travel Stories, with Pepper Hastings
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pepper and I discuss the origin of Raw Card Reviews and Graded Card Reviews as well as other stories from the early days of BGS at home and on the roa...
631 - Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Buck O‘Neil, Bud Fowler, with Brad Askew
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad and I discuss these four brand new Baseball Hall of Famers elected by committee - any affect on their sports card and memorabilia may be modest f...
630 - Executive Insights with Shreedhar Shah
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Shreedhar and I are in different chapters of the same global organization for Presidents and CEO's of companies so we share a similar executive perspe...
629 - Tributes: Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso, with Brad Askew
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Newest Baseball Hall of Famers Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso are unfortunately no longer alive to celebrate their induction with their many fans. The...
628 - Five Listener Questions 4.0
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Another five sports card hobby questions from listeners to the podcast - send your questions to [email protected] - every question matters...
627 - Interview: JP Cohen, Memory Lane
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
JP has been assisting collectors with auctions and private sales for the past 21 years through his Memory Lane - I came away with a better understandi...
626 - Out-Takes on Corporate Presence from Hobby Hotline 111321
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John Newman and Rich Klein had thoughts about corporate presence at shows and in general greater visibility for the companies in our industry and I sh...
625 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 599-623
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first recap episode under the new format of every 25 episodes - in case you missed some or want a brief refresher - sometimes I clarify or...
624 - Soccer Cards/Stickers History, with Greg Landsdowne
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Greg is an author and journalist from the UK, and more importantly a soccer card/sticker enthusiast and collector - I encourage you to checkout both h...
623 - Origin: Joel Belfer, Mint Condition
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joel's Mint Condition weekly e-newsletter has become a must-read for me and I recommend it to you as well - here is Joel's sports card hobby origin st...
622 - Five Listener Questions 3.0
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Five different questions from sharp listeners about our sports card hobby - send your questions to [email protected] and thanks!
621 - Panini Soccer History, with Greg Landsdowne
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Greg and I zoomed from England - Greg's highly anticipated second book is just coming out now (today!) to help us understand the history of soccer car...
620 - Out-Takes from Sports Card Second
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jacob Burris had Brody The Kid, John Newman, and myself on his show last week and we talked about whatever Jacob wanted us to talk about - football se...
619 - Thanksgiving with Mike Fruitman and Rob Veres
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Popular LCS owners and sponsors Mike Fruitman (Mike's Stadium Sportscards) and Rob Veres (Burbank Sports Cards) join me for explicitly expressing what...
618 - Out-Takes on Security Measures from Hobby Hotline 111321
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last Saturday the crew from Hobby Hotline, including Rich Klein and John Newman, along with our call-in guests, discussed preventive security measures...
617 - Out-Takes on Music from Radar, Evan Toth, Part 2
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Evan and I continue on with our discussion of music vs. sports as collectibles - taken from his Radar podcast where he interviewed me - thanks Evan....
616 - Soccer Cards, with Torsten Bauer
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Soccer is extremely popular worldwide and especially in Germany where Torsten lives - when will soccer cards go into hyper-drive in America?
615 - Dueling Same Questions 2, with Rob Girard, Sports Card Therapist
20 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rob and I extended our sports card question and answer session to include his final question about balance in life and hobby life.
614 - Out-Takes on Rose and Bonds with Mike Moynihan, Baseball Collector
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
My baseball card vintage discussion with Mike turned toward our opinions on the Hall of Fame prospects of Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, and others.
613 -Out-Takes on Music from Radar, with Evan Toth
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Evan's podcast, Radar, interviewed me as a guest, and we drew parallels between record vinyl album collecting and sports card collecting. Thanks Eva...
612 - Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule), with Torsten Bauer
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Pareto Principle applies to sports cards! Torsten and I discuss how and why in our quest to better understand the sports card market.
611 - Dueling Same Questions with Rob Girard, Sports Card Therapist
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rob, the Sports Card Therapist, sent me an interesting list of hobby and life questions, which we both answered on this show - thanks Rob!
610 - 1962 Post Cereal Football, Part 2, with Robin Pauls
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Robin's exhaustive work on the intricacies of the 1962 Post football set is impressive - I wish I had access to his research back in the day (but it d...
609 - Interview: Jesse Craig, PWCC, Part 2
13 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
PWCC's Director of Development Jesse Craig fielded my questions and explained some of what made and makes PWCC formidable in the high-end auction and ...
608 - Out-Takes on Vintage from Mike Moynihan, Baseball Collector, Golden Age
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Guest appearing at Mike Moynihan's house for his YT channel - here are some excerpts of our vintage baseball card conversation.
607 - Interview: Jeremy Allen
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Caught up with Jeremy again at the latest Dallas Card Show at Watters Creek - Jeremy was (fractionally) serving four corporate clients all at the show...
606 - Out-Takes from Card Time, with Brad Bethune
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
These were some of Brad's sports card questions for me excerpted and taken from his show - check it out - Card Time.
605 - Voluntary (Self) Regulation, with Jason Granet
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wall Streeter Jason Granet has concerns about our hobby and our need and opportunity to regulate ourselves before other entities decide to do so for u...
604 - Dueling Questions 2, with Jacob Burris, Sports Cards Second
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Young Jacob and I continue asking each other questions about the hobby we both love - looking forward to meeting Jacob at the next National! Check o...
603 - 1962 Post Cereal Football, with Robin Pauls
06 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Robin Pauls has done extensive research on this very challenging set from almost 50 years ago - he literally wrote the book on these cards and how the...
602 - Interview: Jesse Craig, PWCC
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Craig, Director of Business Development, discusses the latest at PWCC as they are sharpening their auction platform in this dynamic sports card ...
601 - E Words, with Rich Klein
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rich and I riff on words beginning with E that contribute to a memorable podcast: energy, emotion, engagement, efficiency, experience, enthusiasm, etc...
600 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 579-598
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A brief recap of the past four weeks worth of episodes in case you missed some - additional insights or further reflections - thanks!
599 - Gini Coefficient of Inequality Applied to Cards, with Torsten Bauer
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
My German collecting friend Torsten Bauer and I discussed the esoteric parallels between the distribution and inequality of income and card values - T...
598 - Private Equity Inquiry
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I got a call from a private equity group inquiring about the investibility of our sports card hobby - as I am a pro bono consultant, I was happy to ob...
597 - Out-Takes on Top Tier QB‘s from Hobby Hotline 100921
30 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Matt Stafford - but NOT in that order!
596 - Hobby Vaults, with Rich Klein
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If "vault" is more broadly defined, there are many vaults in this great hobby - many safe places to keep your precious cards.
595 - Disincentives to Sell, with Jason Granet
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jason and I wanted to talk about regulation and aspect of chance and skill-based gambling, but our conversation meandered based on his Wall Street exp...
594 - DuelingQuestions with Jacob Burris, Sports Card Second
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thirteen-year-old Jacob Burris and I had a simulcast where we went back and forth with questions for each other - way to go Jacob!
593 - Out-Takes on Investment Grade from Mike Moynihan, Golden Age, Baseball Collector
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I drove over to Mike's house and he gave me the grand tour of his baseball card collection and "The Beast." Thanks Mike, look forward to having you ...
592 - Out-Takes on Track Cards from Cloud 259 with Brenn Jones, Part 2
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I was a guest on Brenn's Cloud 259 podcast. Brenn's a collector and has hopes that track cards can really catch on. These are excerpts from his po...
591 - Free is not always Free, with Rich Klein
23 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most gifts and freebies are to be accepted - but is there a catch? - especially in the sports card hobby?
590 - 1998 Pacific, Omega, and Paramount Baseball with Rich Klein
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pacific's Founder Mike Cramer shared with Rich and me the actual production summary spreadsheets for these three baseball card products - very interes...
589 - Out-Takes on Kids COVID from Hobby Hotline 100921
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Bethune and Jeff Dinson were my co-hosts on Hobby Hotline this month and one of the questions was about the hopefully positive impact of kid's ge...
588 - Basketball Dueling Questions 2.0 with Kyle, Wax Museum
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Actually a continuation of the basketball-related questions that Kyle and I started last week - check out Kyle's Wax Museum podcast for all things bas...
587 - Out-Takes on Track Cards from Cloud 259 with Brenn Jones
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Will track and field cards ever be mainstream? That's how Brenn and I started and we took off from there with what it would take for that to happen ...
586 - Keating Questions 2.0 with John Keating, That Seventies Card Show
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John sent me some questions ahead plus he had a few spontaneous questions as well for us to discuss - enjoyed the interaction with a guy who really lo...
585 - Football Dollar Box Finds (A-D)
16 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a few players and the process I go through when rifling quickly through a football dollar box - the better the player, the more lenient I am, w...
584 - Dueling Questions 3, with Steve Grad, Pawn Stars and Beckett Authentications
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Steve and I both had a few more questions left and so we tackled them - your questions for me or others, just send to [email protected] an...
583 - Out-Takes on the ‘70‘s from John Keating‘s That Seventies Card Show
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John had a number of eclectic questions for me about collecting in the seventies for his excellent topical podcast - his specialty - distant memories ...
582 - Interview: BlakeDOWN, Topps Project 70
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Blake is 9 1/2 and has his own YouTube channel - I enjoyed his ambitious take on Topps Project 70 and the 51 artists engaged, which is the current foc...
581 - Bethune Questions for Rich Klein and Me
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad (TXCardDude) turned the tables on Rich and me, and asked us both some candid questions that elicited some interesting responses.
580 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 559-578
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A brief recap of the past four weeks of episodes in case you missed or hurried through some of them - if you have a topic that we should cover, please...
579B - IG Question on Transparency and Conflicts of Interest
09 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There were 14 questions (distilled into one) centering around the dilemma of transparency and conflicts of interest in dealing cards while being an in...
579A - Seven Listener Questions 3.0
09 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seven more questions or comments about this podcast and the sports card hobby - send yours to [email protected] and thank you very much.
579 - Strong Hobby Friendships
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I had a deeper discussion with four of my friends and former colleagues now at Panini, Tracy Hackler, David Porter, Rob Springs, and Tim Trout. Frie...
578 - Out-Takes on Industry Summit from Hobby Hotline 091821
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Drew Herndon, Sam Shuford and I (co-hosts this week of Hobby Hotline) field questions about this year's Industry Summit in Las Vegas - we wish we woul...
577 - What If‘s 10/6/96: BGS?
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What if there had been a different (fatal) outcome exactly 25 years ago? How would Beckett Publications have been affected and specifically BGS at i...
576 - Interview: Bob Brill, Part 2, with Rich Klein
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rich and I hear the rest of Bob's story - including his radio and writing and PR careers, local card shop, collection brokering, and his short-lived g...
575 - Retrospective and Stretching (Tom Brady)
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I reprise my episode from two years ago on my wife's birthday and her contributions to this podcast - including her question about GOAT's - Tom Brad...
574B - Out-Takes on Early ‘80‘s from That Seventies Card Show, John Keating
02 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John and I discuss the decades immediately after and before his favorite, the 1970's that he deals with in depth in his excellent podcast, That Sevent...
574A - Interview: Sam Shuford, Women of the Hobby, Part 2
02 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The overtime discussion between Sam and me about her vision for involving more women in our great hobby of sports card collecting.
574 - Interview: Sam Shuford, Women of the Hobby
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sam and I discuss her origin story as well as her efforts to connect and attract women into our great hobby of sports card collecting - follow her on ...
573 - 1998 Topps TEK Baseball
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I won two boxes of this innovative and overlooked product in the latest Huggins and Scott Auction - I opened the box and got almost exactly what I pre...
572 - 1976 and 1977 Topps Baseball, with Rich Klein
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rich and I discuss our experiences and understandings of the 1976 and 1977 Topps baseball sets, when Topps was the only (baseball) game in town.
571 - Hobby Hiatus with Brad Bethune and Rich Klein
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How hiatus is defined matters as Rich, Brad, and I discovered. Thinking of gears like a car, hiatus does not have to mean being in reverse or neutra...
570 - Basketball Dueling Questions 2.0 with Adam Gray, Basketball Card Fanatic
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Adam and I could not fit our competing questions within 15 minutes, so here is the rest of our interchange - thanks Adam for your questions.
569B - Seven Listener Questions 2.0
25 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seven more questions about our great hobby of collecting sports cards - it seems they are picking up - which is fine - I want to talk about things you...
569A - Out-Takes on Co-Op LCS from Hobby Hotline 091821
25 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I co-hosted Hobby Hotline last Saturday along with Drew Herndon and Sam Shuford - toward the end of the show we discussed the interesting implications...
569 - Out-Takes on Education from Wax Museum Kyle
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle asked me to be on his Wax Museum show, and the theme of his questions and our discussion was education, inside and outside the hobby. Thanks Ky...
568 - Fernando Valenzuela, with Victor Roman Sr.
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fernando Mania was a huge in 1981 and the early 1980's - Victor, the Rookie Card Specialist, and I experienced it (differently) - however Fernando's R...
567 - Bulk Buying and Selling with Tanner Jones
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Not everyone likes to buy a pig in a poke - a large unsorted diverse collection - could be many different sports and span many different years or even...
566 - Interview: Kyle Johnson, COMC Marketing Manager
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle Johnson discusses his on-boarding as a remote employee of COMC and how he is looking forward to the resumption of show travel for his marketing e...
565 - Dueling Questions 2, with Steve Grad, Pawn Stars and Beckett Authentications
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Grad and I go a second round of Dueling Questions - mine more about his specialty and his about my reminiscences and possible regrets. If you ...
564B - Seven Listener Questions
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seven hobby and sports card questions have arrived and are dealt with briefly - send your questions to [email protected] and thank you for...
564A - 2020-21 Upper Deck Hockey Box Battle
18 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Four interesting products - which would you chose if you had $100 to spend? Alexis LaFreniere, Star Rookies, UD Extended, or Trilogy? I am a law-abi...
564 - Rookie Card Dueling Questions with Victor Roman Sr.
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Victor, the Rookie Card Specialist and All-Time Greats blogger, and I trade questions back and forth exclusively about rookie cards, especially their ...
563 - Executive Proofs with Tanner Jones
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tanner and I share our understanding of these elusive collectible cards - their origin, distribution, and rarity - definitely not pack-pulled.
562 - Out-Takes on Economics from About The Cards
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stefan and Angela Loeffler and Ben Wilson asked me to guest for an hour on their weekly show, About The Cards. Ben Wilson had apparently been saving...
561 - Smaller Card Shows, with Brad Bethune and Rich Klein
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad had just returned from setting up at a much smaller card show and related his experiences with Rich and me (who have set up and promoted smaller ...
560 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 539-558
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A brief recap of the past four weeks of daily episodes in case you need a refresher. Send your episode ideas to [email protected] and th...
559B - Seven Existential Hobby Threats
11 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Collectors are frequently asking me about investment risk with sports cards - here today on the exact 20th anniversary of 9/11 are seven macro (potent...
559A - Out-Takes from Dallas Sports Commission Mic Drop
11 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Sullivan and Monica Paul had me as a guest on their weekly Mic Drop podcast from the Dallas Sports Commission - here are the portions that dealt...
559 - Tribute: Ben Ecklar
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Ecklar came to Beckett Publications in 1994, probably his first full-time job, and continuously helped build our hobby to what it is today, having...
558 - Notable Non-Rookie Cards of the Fifties, with Rich Klein
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Listener Corey Barnes suggested Rich and I discuss notable non-rookie cards over the decades - we start with 1952 Topps and work our way up - more to ...
557 - Content Convo 2: Investment Semantics
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do pure collectors recoil at the word investment - is there a stigma - most, but not all, hobbyists consider sports cards and memorabilia an alternati...
556 - Content Convo 2: Base and Parallel Rookie Cards
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many think there are too many parallels these days. Victor Roman, Rookie Card Specialist, asked the group to re-consider whether the parallels of th...
555 - Content Convo 2: Future of Marketplaces
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The big Fanatics news and shake-up in the sports cards category will certainly affect the existing marketplaces where cards are bought and sold.
554B - Six Listener Questions 8.0
04 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Listeners do not run out questions - some interesting and eclectic ones this time - send yours to [email protected] and thanks!