Dr. Beckett recaps episodes 1501–1524, thanking sponsors and highlighting key topics: tributes to Pirates Roy Face and Bill Mazeroski; ramblings on hockey, golf, and Non-Sport Update; Hobby Hotline outtakes on the Pokémon Ill...
Dr. Beckett previews his upcoming Toronto Sports Card Expo trip with advice from longtime attendee Ken Capel, comparing the show to U.S. events and noting its heavy hockey focus, expanded post-pandemic size, abundant $1–$2 bo...
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss a listener question from Stephen Britton about what “high number” cards are, how to identify them, and why they can be tougher and more desirable. They explain that the term mainly applies t...
Dr. Beckett discusses COMC in a positive ramblings episode while reacting to COMC’s fee increases and how higher per-card pick/pack “shipping” costs change the economics of low-dollar cards, encouraging more in-ecosystem vaul...
Dr. Beckett shares a hockey ramblings sparked by receiving an Upper Deck National Hockey Card Day kit and an Allure box, plus opening the New York Rangers Centennial Set tin (the last of the Original Six for him). He discusse...
Dr. Beckett recaps last Saturday's Hobby Hotline live call-in discussion with John Coffman, Chris Carlin, and Joey, focusing on how COVID kick-started the hobby and how Fanatics’ acquisition of Topps and PSA’s growth under Na...
Dr. Beckett discusses a recent surge in suspiciously similar email autograph requests, offering his mailing address for listeners who want an autograph and noting his longtime experience with through-the-mail requests. He sha...
Longtime (but now retired) card dealer Gervise Ford reflects on the 1970s hobby before price guides, when most transactions were trades and even complete 1961 Topps high-number sets could be had for $20. He recalls selling of...
Two longtime hobbyists look back on starting a small weekend card shop in Dallas, moving to a bigger location, and deciding to open a full-time store with Wayne Grove as a knowledgeable managing partner who could run the shop...
Two longtime friends reminisce about how a one-shot 1969 classified ad in the SMU campus paper connected them and changed lives, leading to trades, softball games, and deeper involvement in the national baseball card hobby. T...
Dr. Beckett reviews a Panini mail day featuring 2025-26 EuroLeague Contenders Basketball and 2025 Prizm Black Football, noting value, inserts/parallels, and how products will be viewed years later based on the year/copyright ...
Dr. Beckett addresses a question about “offensive” shill bidding, expanding the discussion to market manipulation as cards are treated like stocks and collectors take “positions” in multiple copies. He explains defensive mani...
Dr. Beckett responds to Mike Lach’s question about why grading companies don’t apply an MK (mark) qualifier to post-production, in-person on-card autographs. He explains PSA’s early-1990s introduction of qualifiers (OC, MC, S...
Dr. Beckett out-takes the recent Hobby Hotline segment with Adam Palmer and Victor Roman, focusing on Whatnot’s legal trouble over alleged backend practices tied to breaking, repacking, and quasi-gambling mechanics that may e...
Dr. Beckett recaps attending all four days of the Watters Creek Show, noting it was slightly less crowded than the peak January show but still one of the best, and praises Kyle’s promotion work. He describes his approach to w...
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss why 1984 Donruss surged to the top of the baseball card market after trailing Topps in 1981–83 in response to a question from notable hobby contributor Skep1. They explore whether the set wa...
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss the Beckett Online Price Guide (OPG) and how collectors can get value from it even when some pricing is imperfect. Using an email from Austin Goodman as a prompt, they explain that the OPG’s...
Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss strategies for buying card collections and “shoebox” lots when time is limited and you can’t comp every card. They compare top-down approaches that quickly pull out the biggest hits and trea...
Dr. Beckett discusses opening three new Upper Deck hockey products, emphasizing he seeks “good” pulls rather than only “great” hits. He highlights 2025–26 O-Pee-Chee’s 600-card base set, inserts, and differential scarcity in ...
Dr. Beckett hosts Josh Luber about his 136 page white paper on “BlindBoxification”. They debate Shohei Ohtani’s “GOAT” case in comparison to Babe Ruth, including Ruth’s influence on Japanese baseball, and discuss hobby myths ...
Dr. Beckett interviews Josh Luber, discussing Luber’s 136-page book on “BlindBoxification”, covering transparency versus mystery in the hobby, hybrid product concepts, and Panini’s outlook without full licensing. Beckett high...
Dr. Beckett hosts a conversation with Josh Luber about Luber’s long “BlindBoxification” white paper (136 pages) and the broader trend of blind-box style products in sports cards and beyond. Luber discusses the paper as a conv...
Dr. Beckett shares outtakes from a Hobby Hotline appearance with Lauren Schafer and John Newman. The main discussion focuses on Panini’s future as Fanatics/Topps will control basketball and football licenses, leaving Panini p...
Dr. Beckett responds to criticism he heard on other shows by sharing context from the selection process. He explains the list is tied to the 2026 Topps flagship baseball product and will appear as redemption cards, which infl...