Episodes

Nov. 23, 2019

097A - Investment Fallacies: Full-Time Best?

Full-time is not necessarily better or more profitable than part-time when it comes to this hobby/industry.

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Nov. 22, 2019

097 - Investment Fallacies: Supply OR Demand

I make the case that, in this hobby/industry, Demand is more important than Supply!

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Nov. 21, 2019

096 - LCS: Mike Fruitman

Sponsor Mike Fruitman joins for a discussion of what's going on in his local card shop in Aurora, CO, Mike's Stadium Sportscards.

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Nov. 20, 2019

095 - Interview: Topps 2020 Planning (with Emily Kless)

Emily Kless (Topps Communications Manager) lets us in on some of Topps 2020 planning in this phone interview.

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Nov. 19, 2019

094 - Player: Walter Payton (with Dave Sliepka)

We look at HOF running back Walter Payton, Dave Sliepka's favorite football player, and his cards, autographs, and memorabilia.

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Nov. 18, 2019

093 - Then and Now: SCD and Krause Publications (with Kevin Isaacson)

Kevin Isaacson and I have a phone chat (with him in Hawaii!) discussing the "then and now" aspects of SCD and Krause Publications from before Kevin got there in the mid-90's until now.

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Nov. 15, 2019

092 - Then and Now: Wrestling Cards (with Eric Norton)

Eric and I discuss professional wrestling and wrestling cards - when we were kids, up through now.

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Nov. 14, 2019

091 - Investment Fallacies: Buy Low, Sell High

Advice to "Buy Low and Sell High" sounds foolproof but there are counter-examples.

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Nov. 13, 2019

090 - Then and Now: Beckett Card Pricing with Brian Fleischer

Brian Fleischer, Manager of Beckett Media's Card Pricing team and Senior Market Analyst, compares and contrasts the evolution of card pricing processes and technology over the past sixteen years.  We discuss the early strong contributors, many of whom ar...

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Nov. 12, 2019

089 - Tribute: Larry and Jeff Fritsch (with Pepper Hastings)

Pepper Hastings and I discuss our visit(s) up to Stevens Point, Wisconsin back in the day to meet with Larry and Jeff about their millions of cards - their setup was truly one of the seven wonders of the collecting world.  Larry and Jeff are dearly misse...

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Nov. 11, 2019

088 - Origin: Veteran's Day (Lt. Beckett)

My Army officer personal story and how it intersected with my card collecting passion back in the day.

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Nov. 8, 2019

087 - Origin: BAS (Beckett Authentication Services) with Jeromy Murray

Jeromy and I discuss Beckett Media's big move into authenticating with the global launch of Beckett Authentication Services a few years ago.  Jeromy is Beckett Media's VP over grading and authentication.

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Nov. 7, 2019

086 - Catalog: Huggins & Scott November 14 Auction Review

A review of Huggins & Scott's Auction closing November 14, 2019.  I enjoy perusing the eclectic lots (2023 lots!), some of which I will be bidding on!

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Nov. 6, 2019

085 - Tribute: Mike Gordon (with Rich Klein)

A Tribute to Mike Gordon, a key contributor to our industry, show dealer, store owner, and co-promoter of the 1984 National Sports Collectors Convention in Parsippany, New Jersey.  If you have any comments or questions about this or any other episode, se...

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Nov. 5, 2019

084 - Origin: Andy Broome, Senior Vintage Grader at BGS

Andy and I discuss his hobby history and why he is so passionate about grading and authentication and vintage cards.  Long ago Andy was the principal grader for a smaller grading company - we respected Andy so much, we bought the company!  Andy is now th...

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Nov. 4, 2019

083 - Players: Luis Aparicio and Luke Appling

A look at two old-time Chicago White Sox shortstops - alphabetically adjacent in the Baseball Hall of Fame, coincidentally with the same initials!  For comments or questions about this or any other episode, try doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com.

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Nov. 1, 2019

082 - Sponsor Review: Our Podcast Sponsors (with Eric Norton)

Eric and I discuss each of this podcast's sponsors (Beckett Media, COMC, Burbank Sportscards, Mike's Stadium Sportscards, Heritage Auctions, Huggins & Scott Auctions, Panini, Topps, and Upper Deck) and his workings with them, and their positives from his...

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Oct. 31, 2019

081 - Tribute: Gloria Rothstein (with Rich Klein)

Gloria Rothstein, founder of the long-running, very successful card shows in White Plains and other East Coast venues, brought excellence and professionalism to our hobby, as Rich Klein and I reminisce about our experiences there over the years.

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Oct. 30, 2019

080 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 039-058

I recap the highlights of the past 20 episodes ... in case you missed some.  As some of you may know, I listen to podcasts at 1.5X speed or faster, and you can too, as most podcast listening apps have that capability.  Easier to catch up!

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Oct. 29, 2019

079 - Origin: Kevin Isaacson (industry consultant)

We trace Kevin's hobby journey from Krause Publications up through his many consultant engagements, including a long stint with eBay.

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Oct. 28, 2019

078 - Interview: Emily Kless (Topps Communications Manager)

Emily and I have a phone conversation about her background and important role at Topps.

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Oct. 25, 2019

077 - Interview: James C.M. Beckett (My 13-year-old nephew)

A first-person (past) hobby experience from my very sharp nephew.

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Oct. 23, 2019

075 - Then and Now: Pepper Hastings

Pepper and I talk about the early days of Beckett Publications contrasted with later days, spanning more than two decades, including the true story of the midnight disposal of damaged copies of the inaugural issue #1 of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly.  Ou...

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