Episodes

Dec. 31, 2025

1478 - End of Year Observations

Dr. Beckett offers his reflections on the past year in the hobby, shares his plans to continue the podcast and his intention to be more aggressive in interviewing notable figures in the sports card world. He talks about his i...

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Dec. 29, 2025

1477 - Mentoring, with Rich Klein

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss the importance of mentorship in the sports card hobby. They respond to a listener's query about finding mentors for effective card show dealing and online selling. The conversation covers pr...

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Dec. 26, 2025

1476 - Out-Takes on Beckett Sale from Hobby Hotline 122025

Dr. Beckett delves into the recent acquisition of Beckett by Collectors in response to questions during the weekly live Hobby Hotline program also featuring John Newman, Victor Roman, Chris Harris, and Rich Klein. Dr. Beckett...

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Dec. 24, 2025

1475 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 1451-1474

Dr. Beckett recaps episodes 1451 to 1474 covering interviews and discussions. Dr. Beckett reflects on the past, present, and future of the hobby, all while addressing tough topics constructively. 00:25 Innovations in the 90s ...

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Dec. 22, 2025

1474 - 1990's Innovations, inspired by Darin Ostrom

Dr. Beckett reviews Darin Ostrom's draft manuscript on 'Sports Card Innovations in the Nineties'. Dr. Beckett discusses various aspects of the book, such as the history and evolution of sports cards, including notable compani...

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Dec. 19, 2025

1473 - Eleven Listener Questions 7.0

Dr. Beckett tackles a diverse range of listener questions. Topics include the ups and downs of market cycles, the pros and cons of having more or fewer employees, the significance of favorite card covers, and what defines a s...

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Dec. 17, 2025

1472 - Beckett/BGS Acquired by Collectors/PSA

Dr. Beckett dives into the unexpected but monumental news of PSA acquiring BGS and other Beckett entities. In this episode, Dr. Beckett discusses the immediate impact on the sports card hobby, shares personal anecdotes from h...

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Dec. 15, 2025

1471 - Team Card Collecting, with Rich Klein

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss collecting strategies, particularly focusing on budgeting for sports card collectors. They explore different approaches, such as acquiring a large number of inexpensive cards versus investin...

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Dec. 12, 2025

1470 - Ramblings with Rich Klein, 12.0

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss various aspects of the sports card hobby, including the complexity of bringing in partners for established card stores, managing inventory and cash flow, and the dynamics of selling singles ...

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Dec. 10, 2025

1469 - Hobby History, with Rich Klein, Part 2

Rich Klein joins Dr. Beckett to further delve into the history of sports card collecting, focusing on the transformative 1980s. They discuss the significant contributions of various publications and the strategies Beckett emp...

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Dec. 8, 2025

1468 - Hobby History, with Rich Klein

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein dive into the significance of hobby history books for the sports card community. They discuss various existing and upcoming publications, the importance of documenting hobby history accurately, and ...

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Dec. 5, 2025

1467 - 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists

Dr. Beckett dives into the recently announced finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. This episode not only covers the potential inductees, including players, coaches, and contributors, but also examines th...

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Dec. 3, 2025

1466 - Security, Part 2 (Hobby Dinner Convo)

Join Dr. Beckett and a roundtable of industry experts over dinner discuss the evolution of sports card manufacturing, historical trends, consumer preferences, and the integration of digital innovations like blockchain. Dive d...

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Dec. 1, 2025

1465 - Security (Hobby Dinner Convo)

Dr. Beckett and esteemed guests delve into the evolution, challenges, and security of sports cards. Topics include the importance of security measures like holograms and blockchain technology, the role of grading companies, a...

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Nov. 28, 2025

1464 - Non-Physical Cards (Hobby Dinner Convo)

Dr. Beckett and guests delve into the evolving landscape of sports card collecting. They discuss the potential growth of non-physical sports collectibles, the financial and enjoyment aspects of digital cards, and the implicat...

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Nov. 26, 2025

1463 - New Products

Dr. Beckett unboxes and reviews several new Panini products, including Panini Certified Football, Phoenix Football, and Absolute Football, as well as the new Panini Combat Anthology. Lastly, he shares his experiences as a Dal...

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Nov. 24, 2025

1462 - BB HOF Contemporary Ballot, Part 2 (Hobby Dinner Convo)

Dr. Beckett and an esteemed group of sports card collectors over dinner discuss their opinions about the upcoming BB HOF contemporary ballot. 01:46 Discussion on Hall of Fame Voting 03:51 Steroids and Baseball 11:48 Pete Rose...

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Nov. 21, 2025

1461 - BB HOF Contemporary Ballot (Hobby Dinner Convo)

Dr. Beckett and a group of distinguished hobbyists discuss over dinner the recently announced contemporary BB Hall of Fame ballot including both controversial and sympathetic figures. The conversation delves into the complexi...

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Nov. 19, 2025

1460 - Conversation with Rob Veres, Burbank Sports Cards, Part 2

Dr. James Beckett chats with longtime friend and industry expert Rob Veres about the evolution of sports card collecting. They touch on pivotal changes, like PSA's integration into retail spaces, the significance of AI in str...

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Nov. 17, 2025

1459 - Conversation with Rob Veres, Burbank Sports Cards

Join Dr. Beckett for an insightful conversation with industry icon Rob Veres, discussing everything from the current costs in the hobby to the strategies for ensuring collectors find their treasured cards. They delve into the...

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Nov. 14, 2025

1458 - Out-Takes from Jason, Professor Sportscards, Part 2

Dr. Beckett answers more questions from Jason aka Professor Sportscards on navigating the hobby, including the importance of a well-rounded education, recognizing market manipulation, and understanding the ebb and flow of car...

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Nov. 12, 2025

1457 - More Shill Enforcement

Dr. Beckett delves into the controversial topic of shill bidding in the sports card hobby. He explains the illegal practice, differentiates between defensive and offensive shill bidding, and shares personal insights and anecd...

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Nov. 10, 2025

1456 - Out-Takes from Jason, Professor Sportscards

Dr. Beckett joins Jason on his Professor Sportscards YouTube channel to explore Jason's various pressing issues in the sports card industry. Dr. Beckett shares his experience, tracing back to his early days in the 1970s, and ...

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Nov. 7, 2025

1455 - Defending PSA

Dr. Beckett explores the controversial topic of PSA's upcharges for card grading. Offering a unique perspective as a former competitor with foundational experience in grading, he breaks down why these additional fees might ac...

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