Episodes

March 6, 2023

934 - Basketball Card Fanatic Interview, with Adam Gray

Adam had asked me to answer his basketball specific questions for publication in his excellent monthly publication, Basketball Card Fanatic.  The issue and article have now appeared - you should subscribe digitally or physically - the article itself ...

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March 3, 2023

933 - Out-Takes on Prospecting and HOF from Hobby Hotline 020423

Danny Black and Logan Ward joined me on this hour-long original episode of Hobby Hotline from which this has been edited down to less than 15 minutes - be sure to catch Hobby Hotline when it comes out on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

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March 1, 2023

932 - Dueling Questions, with Bobby Baseball

Bobby had teed up his first (excellent) historical question for me in advance so I could be thinking about it, but after that we both went free form - advanced collectors usually have advanced questions - Thanks Bobby!

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Feb. 27, 2023

931 - Dueling Questions, Keith Hower, Panini Basketball Brand Manager

Keith had been saving a question/answer/story for just this opportunity - in the end we both gently shot down each other's story as way more fiction than fact - thanks Keith.

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Feb. 24, 2023

930 - Out-Takes from Victor Roman’s Rookie Card Specialist, Part 2

This is the last part of Victor's interview of me regarding all things "Rookie Card" - check out his YT channel for more depth - I expect these definitions will continue to evolve - don't assume the way it is, is the way it will always be.

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Feb. 22, 2023

929 - Out-Takes from Victor Roman’s Rookie Card Specialist

Victor interviewed me for an hour about rookie cards, his favorite topic and research area.  One of the advantages of being older now is that I was there and present when some important decisions were made.

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Feb. 20, 2023

928 - Origin: Bobby Baseball

I interviewed Bobby Baseball (not his real name) and heard first hand about his fabulous collection - but coincidentally, some of the ways he goes about it, are similar to how I hobby - very interesting.

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Feb. 17, 2023

927 - Tribute: Bill Huggins, Huggins & Scott Auctions

My friend Bill Huggins passed away on Valentine's Day from heart failure - very sad day for me - his auction however will live on keeping the same identity that Bill established so well.  Sincerest condolences to Nancy, Ricky and Allison.

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Feb. 15, 2023

926 - Origin: Keith Hower, Panini Basketball Brand Manager

Keith shares his hobby origin story beginning with working in a card shop before joining Beckett Publications for twelve years and now Panini for twelve years - thanks Keith!

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Feb. 13, 2023

925 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 899-923

The last two months of thrice-weekly episodes quickly summarized or commented on based on the passage of time - most episodes are intended to be evergreen, but many necessarily are not.  Send your episode ideas to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com and tha...

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Feb. 10, 2023

924 - Upper Deck SP over the years

I opened a couple of this year's Upper Deck SP boxes and reminisce about the origins of the SP brand and its extensions and coverage across various sports.  My choice was surprising even to me.

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Feb. 8, 2023

923 - Panini Football Box Battle

I opened three boxes of different brands of this year's Panini football cards - the distinguishing feature was that each box had 15 or less cards - certainly helping me with my desire to have less cards each year.  Thanks Panini!

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Feb. 6, 2023

922 - Origin: Matt Galvin, Young T206 Collector

Matt came over a couple of Saturdays ago and we turned on the recorder - Rich Klein as well as Stephan and Angela Loeffler were here too - to find out how and why Matt is pursuing T206's as he has successfully launched with his young family.

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Feb. 3, 2023

921 - Out-takes on Grading and GemRate from Hobby Hotline 010723

Ryan Stuczinski, founder of GemRate, actually dropped in virtually to join my co-hosts John Newman and Victor Roman for this weekly rotational live call-in show and so we took advantage by drilling deeper on what's going on in grading.

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Feb. 1, 2023

920 - Football Card Hall of Fame, Part 2

The second part of my conversation with the Hall's founders, Ray Fonio, Bart Batholomew, and Scott Nathan.  Just google Football Card Hall of Fame to find out more and vote (before Feb 9th) - and thanks guys!

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Jan. 30, 2023

919 - Football Card Hall of Fame

Ray Fonio, Bart Bartholomew, and Scott Nathan join me to review the inaugural candidates for their Football Card Hall of Fame - the ten cards selected based on your votes will be announced on February 11th - I voted and you should too if you love foo...

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Jan. 27, 2023

918 - Sale Anniversary Thoughts from Card Mensches, Part 2

Yesterday was the eighteenth anniversary of Beckett Publications being sold.  So  much has happened since.  John Newman and Danny Black ask me about feelings, regrets, and what-if's.  You can see the full video interview on their channel.  Thanks!

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Jan. 25, 2023

917 - Sale Anniversary Thoughts from Card Mensches

Danny Black and John Newman invited me on their Card Mensches show to discuss my retrospective thoughts on (18 years ago) selling the company I founded and which still bears my name.

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Jan. 23, 2023

916 - Adam Gray on the PWCC Iconic 100, Part 2

Adam and I spent time on the ins and outs of the survey itself as well as the results, which have been broadly published and are indeed provocative, although Adam explains how the results are representative of the opinions of those surveyed.  Thanks ...

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Jan. 20, 2023

915 - Fixing NFT’s, with Patrick Ryan

Patrick and I have a wide-ranging conversation primarily about the future.  As entrepreneurs we think about how things could be different and how we should respond to the opportunities.

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Jan. 18, 2023

914 - Selling Platforms, with Mike Sommer, Wax Pack Hero

After acquiring a larger collection, even priced right, what are the appropriate selling platforms for getting the excess cards into the hands of someone who is eager to pay for and receive them?  Every card has an eventual home.

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Jan. 16, 2023

913 - Skepi Questions

Long-time contributor Skepi (not his real name) sent me a bunch of interesting hobby questions - I answered many of them in this episode but reserved several for the next time Skepi guests in person - thanks Skepi!

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Jan. 13, 2023

912 - Origin: Patrick Ryan

Patrick shares his hobby origin story and how he has amassed a terrific collection and he is not done as he has lofty goals that are exciting and are a huge motivator for him, and correlate with his successful entrepreneurial career.

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Jan. 11, 2023

911 - Steve Taft on Star Co. Basketball, Part 1, with Rich Klein

Steve, Rich, and I have talked basketball cards seemingly every year at the National for decades.  Steve has the inside scoop and has always been willing to share - thanks Steve!

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