Videos

April 21, 2024

1055 - Video: Card Wall, L.Johnson to B.Jones

Notable sports cards, beginning with an autographed Larry Johnson card. He shares his experiences and expert evaluations, including a closer look at an autographed Magic Johnson card. Beckett's personal collection showcases a diverse range of interests from various sports and eras, including a rare 1949 Bazooka wrapper featuring Walter Johnson…

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April 21, 2024

1054 - Video: Card Wall, Jensen to J.Johnson

The complexity of choosing between Derek Jeter cards, where Beckett shares his preference for a lesser-known but personally valued card over Jeter's rookie card, touching upon aspects like card orientation and special editions. Beckett also navigates through stories of lesser-known athletes and their contributions, blending personal anecdotes with historical insights.…

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April 21, 2024

1053 - Video: Card Wall, R.Jackson to Jennings

Dr. Beckett revisits his first-ever card, Spook Jacobs from a 1956 Topps pack, recollecting a childhood memory that introduced him to card collecting. LeBron James's rookie card, but which one? And he briefly touches on Bronny James's potential in the NBA. Justin Jefferson and Jim Jeffries cards underscore Dr. Beckett's…

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April 21, 2024

1052 - Video: Card Wall, Hutchinson to P.Jackson

Insights and historical context for each selected card from the Card Wall. Special attention is given to cards like Ichiro Suzuki's early BBM Baseball Magazine card, questioning the conventional definition of rookie cards, and notable mentions such as Michael Irvin's unusual test card and Bo Jackson's football rookie card. Also…

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April 19, 2024

1210 - 50th Birthday, with Rich Klein

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-kcfzh-15ca5ea At Rich's request, Dr. James Beckett, delves into his personal leadership journey, particularly focusing on the initiative he took around his 50th birthday in 1999 to meet one-on-one with each of his approximately 150 employees. He discusses the logistics and the impact of these meetings, set against the…

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April 17, 2024

1209 - Experiencing 10X, with Rich Klein

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-xd38h-15ca5c9 The discussion kicks off with Rich's recent purchase of a Heritage high number box for less than its original cost, leading into a broader conversation about market fluctuations, notably concerning Fanatics' large production volumes. We examine Fanatics' aggressive approach to testing the market, contrasting it with a more…

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April 15, 2024

1208 - Hobby Mt. Rushmore (Future)

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-dbpvb-15cff7a A future 'Mount Rushmore' for the card collecting world, exploring who might be immortalized in stone in the distant future. This episode focuses on contributors, all of whom are very much alive, with many in their primes, with more excellence from them likely on the horizon. Dr. Beckett's…

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April 12, 2024

1207 - Hobby Mt. Rushmore (Past)

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-7kh96-15cff4f A thoughtful exploration of a 'Mount Rushmore' dedicated to influential figures within the sports card hobby, with a clear distinction made between individuals who are still living and those who have passed away. Dr. Beckett draws an analogy to the concept of a 'small hall' of fame, highlighting…

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April 10, 2024

1206 - Panini Multi-Sport Hobby Box Battle

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-28hnz-15cb9b0 Three different Panini sports card hobby boxes, baseball, football, and racing. Starting with the 2023 Panini Elite Extra Edition Baseball box, Dr. Beckett shares his enthusiasm for prospect cards and the significance of early player cards, expressing a strong appeal for cards of minor league and college players…

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April 8, 2024

1205 - Upper Deck Hockey Hobby Box Battle (Bedard?)

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-26zk5-15cb987 Four unique hockey card products from Upper Deck, beginning with 2022-23 Parkhurst Champions, praised for its blend of veterans, legends, and rookies, despite its lack of premium feel. Then 2022/23 Upper Deck Clear Cut is scrutinized for its confusing release year and the unusual gamble of obtaining a…

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April 5, 2024

1204 - Restoration Questions, with Brian Gray, Part 2

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-ghje7-15ca46f Pressing issues surrounding card grading, authentication, and restoration. They debate the merits and ethics of card restoration, highlighting how altered cards are currently processed and perceived by grading companies and collectors alike. The discussion also explores the future of card grading, suggesting technological solutions for tracking a card's…

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April 3, 2024

1203 - Restoration Questions, with Brian Gray

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-ma29x-15ca324 The ethics of card restoration, the practice of altering cards for grading purposes, and the challenges faced in detecting such modifications. Dr. Beckett presents his views on the widening gap in card prices due to grading and shares his expertise on improving detection methods to maintain the integrity…

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April 1, 2024

1202 - Small Nuggets in Plain Sight, with Brian Gray

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-abmzk-15ca306 Exploring the nuanced strategies for unearthing hidden gems within the sports card market. Both speakers employ a type of contrarian approach to collecting, specifically by showing interest in cards that the majority of the market overlooks due to their low cost. They challenge the prevailing market trends that…

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March 29, 2024

1201 - Founder's Half-Life, with Brian Gray

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-5nnxp-15c341c Dr. James Beckett and Brian Gray, formerly of Leaf, delve deep into the concept of corporate culture in the sports card industry, focusing on the persisting influence of company founders even after they've left. They explore how the cultural imprints of iconic figures like Richard McWilliam of Upper…

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March 27, 2024

1200 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 1176-1199

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-gevy8-15bf238 Recap of episodes 1176 to 1199 from the 'Sports Card Insights' podcast, showcasing a rich array of topics within the sports card collecting hobby. The episodes cover discussions on vintage collectibles, the intricacies of card grading, and insights into football cards, including Beckett's participation in the Football Card…

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March 27, 2024

1051 - 2023 Panini Zenith Football Hobby Box Reveal

This premium box, priced at around $400, contains a single pack of six exclusive cards, including two autographs—one being a patch autograph—and a selection of one rookie card, one base card, and two inserts, highlighting a peculiar emphasis on inserts over base cards. Amidst the unboxing, Dr. Beckett shares his…

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March 27, 2024

1050 - Video: 2023 Panini Limited Football Hobby Box Reveal

An insightful review of the 2023 Panini Limited football hobby box, detailing its market price range of $350-$400 and the guaranteed content of two autographs and one memorabilia card within the box of three packs. Beyond examination of the box's contents, Dr. Beckett contemplates the history and branding evolution from…

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March 27, 2024

1049 - Video: 2023 Panini Illusions Football Hobby Box Reveal

Retailing at approximately $400, this box includes 10 packs, each containing five cards, which collectively promise an average yield of three autographs and two memorabilia cards. Dr. Beckett outlines the box's contents with a detailed examination of specific cards, assessing the potential value and performance of players such as Aiden…

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March 27, 2024

1048 - Video: 2023-24 Panini Elite Basketball Hobby Box Reveal

2023-24 Panini Elite Box, prominently featuring Luka Doncic on the cover, six packs per box and eight cards per pack, summing up to 48 cards, with notable inclusions being two autographs and a series of inserts and parallel inserts highlighting rookies and veterans. 01:31 Diving Into the Packs: The Unveiling…

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March 27, 2024

1047 - Video: 2023 Panini Spectra Football Hobby Box Reveal

2023 Panini Spectra Football card box, prominently featuring Anthony Richardson on its cover. Promising four autographs and four memorabilia cards out of the total 16 cards. I highlight a hiccup with Google's search functionality, which amusingly fails to prioritize sports cards in its results, despite my active involvement in the…

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March 25, 2024

1199 - Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-sfagh-15bf216 Scandal involving Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, accused of incurring substantial gambling debts. Dr. Beckett ponders the possibility of the gambling accusations being shifted towards the purchasing and investing in sports cards, particularly those of Ohtani, highlighting the thin line between gambling and informed speculation in the hobby. Further, he…

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March 22, 2024

1198 - Rule of 72

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-ghse9-15b98c1 Balance between passion and pragmatism? Addressing the often ambiguous line between collecting for pleasure and investing for profit, underscoring that both can coexist with the right insight and strategy. Highlighting the implications of inflation and the significance of surpassing a 5% annual return, the benchmark of risk-free investments,…

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March 20, 2024

1197 - Thumbtacks

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-shy6v-15aac25 We delve into the realm of sports card alterations, distinguishing between deceptive modern alterations and childish alterations from the past, such as thumbtacks or tape on cards during the 1950s and 1960s. While altered cards are indeed worth less, they should not be considered worthless. In fact, in…

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March 18, 2024

1196 - Listener Questions about My Card Wall

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-ih7yd-159aeb3 He shares an interesting perspective on binge-watching his content, a habit he personally enjoys and believes adds momentum and enjoyment to consuming media. Viewers' comments spark discussions on various topics, from the binge-ability of his videos to specific interesting cards like the Vern Gagne wrestling card and a…

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