Episodes

Sept. 14, 2021

561 - Smaller Card Shows, with Brad Bethune and Rich Klein

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 shows, Rich recently, and me long ago).

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Sept. 13, 2021

560 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 539-558

A brief recap of the past four weeks of daily episodes in case you need a refresher.  Send your episode ideas to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com and thanks for listening!

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Sept. 11, 2021

559B - Seven Existential Hobby Threats

Collectors are frequently asking me about investment risk with sports cards - here today on the exact 20th anniversary of 9/11 are seven macro (potentially apochalytic) trends that could significantly affect our hobby (at least the way we have always kno...

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Sept. 11, 2021

559A - Out-Takes from Dallas Sports Commission Mic Drop

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 with our hobby and sports card insights.

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Sept. 10, 2021

559 - Tribute: Ben Ecklar

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 been at Panini for the past many years, after leaving our company.  He will be missed not just for his ...

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Sept. 9, 2021

558 - Notable Non-Rookie Cards of the Fifties, with Rich Klein

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 come.

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Sept. 8, 2021

557 - Content Convo 2: Investment Semantics

Do pure collectors recoil at the word investment - is there a stigma - most, but not all, hobbyists consider sports cards and memorabilia an alternative investment.

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Sept. 7, 2021

556 - Content Convo 2: Base and Parallel Rookie Cards

Many think there are too many parallels these days.  Victor Roman, Rookie Card Specialist, asked the group to re-consider whether the parallels of the base RC should also be considered RC's or as merely rookie year cards, like inserts.

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Sept. 6, 2021

555 - Content Convo 2: Future of Marketplaces

The big Fanatics news and shake-up in the sports cards category will certainly affect the existing marketplaces where cards are bought and sold.

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Sept. 4, 2021

554B - Six Listener Questions 8.0

Listeners do not run out questions - some interesting and eclectic ones this time - send yours to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com and thanks!

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Sept. 4, 2021

554A - Out-Takes with Andy Friedman, Topps Spotlight 70

Andy and I continued our wide-ranging conversation, about the hobby and other tangential considerations that might surprise you.  Thanks again, Andy, for sharing your story!

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Sept. 3, 2021

554 - Andy Friedman, Topps Spotlight 70

Andy (accomplished artist, writer, musician) describes the artistic freedom given him by Topps in approaching and executing his 70-year retrospective of the graphic imagery of Topps through the years - thanks Andy!

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Sept. 2, 2021

553 - Content Convo 2: Future of Manufacturers

Our group of hobby content creators discussed the future of card manufacturers and how we think the recent Fanatics news might affect them and others in the hobby ecosystem.

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Sept. 1, 2021

552 - Content Convo 2: Intros and Stickiness

The hobby content creators dinner at the Watters Creek show on Saturday Aug 28th immediately after the show - here are the self intros of the attendees and as well as their take on stickiness as it applies to their hobby content.  Thanks to all!

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Aug. 31, 2021

551 - Basketball Dueling Questions with Adam Gray, Basketball Card Fa…

Basketball questions only for this dueling questions battle with Adam Gray.  Any ideas you have for episode topics - send to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com and thanks!

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Aug. 30, 2021

550 - Dueling Questions with Nat Turner, PSA, Part 2

The rest of the questions from Nat and to Nat about our great hobby and how we see it and have seen it in our experiences.

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Aug. 28, 2021

549B - Six Listener Questions 7.0

Another six listener questions on a variety of hobby subjects - lots of big happenings these days - exciting to be in the greatest hobby in the world.

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Aug. 28, 2021

549A - Out-Takes on Collecting Activities from Breaking Cardboard

John (Sports Card Nation) and Corey (YamWax) both asked me some penetrating questions about how I and others collect or have collected over the decades - thanks John and Corey!

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Aug. 27, 2021

549 - Out-Takes on Legacy Stories from Breaking Cardboard

John Newman's new monthly live show debuted with Corey of YamWax as co-host and myself as guest - we had a great time talking hobby for an hour - here's a few excerpts and thanks John and Corey!

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Aug. 26, 2021

548 - Basketball Dueling Questions with Kyle, Wax Museum

Kyle's Wax Museum podcast is one of my favorite regular listens - here Kyle and I bounce basketball hobby questions off each other.

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Aug. 25, 2021

547 - Interview: Bob Brill, with Rich Klein

Bob Brill's Brill Report was a must-read back in the 1990's, plus Bob did so many other innovative things in the organized hobby - we hear directly from Bob about his interesting journey.

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Aug. 24, 2021

546 - Dan Ertle, CBCS

Dan Ertle shares his (non-sport and comic book) collecting story and how CBCS has blended into the outstanding Beckett Media team of graders and authenticators.

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Aug. 23, 2021

545 - Dueling Questions with Nat Turner, PSA

Questions to and from Nat Turner, collector extraordinaire, and owner/CEO of PSA/Collectors Universe.

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Aug. 22, 2021

544C - Out-Takes on Fanatics from Hobby Hotline 082121

Fanatics will be taking over for Topps in 2025 as the sole licensee for the  baseball card category.  This morning on Hobby Hotline I was joined by nine other co-hosts for this live timely call-in show - an hour and a half distilled into ten minutes - ch...

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