Episodes

May 15, 2024

1221 - Dueling Questions with Chris Sewall

Dr. James Beckett interviews Chris Sewell, Baseball Card Collector Investor Dealer In That Order. Chris shares his transition from collecting to dealing full-time, and the inception of his YouTube channel to support his career in sports cards. He exp...

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May 13, 2024

1220 - Out-Takes on Topps Conference from Hobby Hotline 050424

Various crucial aspects of the sports card industry are examined, starting with the role of KPMG in auditing the fairness of case hits among bigger breakers, sparking a broad conversation on the perceived integrity within the distribution process. We...

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May 11, 2024

1219A - Panini Select vs. Panini Recon

In this special Saturday episode, Dr. Beckett celebrates his birthday unboxing basketball cards from Panini, comparing Recon and Select boxes. He discusses the pricing, the appeal of each brand, and the anticipated value from opening each type of box...

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May 10, 2024

1219 - My Dirty Jobs

In this special birthday episode, Dr. Beckett takes a personal dive into his life's journey, covers his early experiences, navigating through various challenging and enlightening jobs. He shares tales from his high school and college days, marked by ...

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May 8, 2024

1218 - Listener Questions on Grading, Alteration, and Restoration

The dialogue begins with debunking the myth that card grading is a scam, illustrating the rigorous checks, balances, and competitive nature of grading companies. Dr. Beckett emphasizes the importance of trust in these companies and how a grading syst...

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May 6, 2024

1217 - Non-Response

We explore the challenges inherent to large companies in maintaining effective communication and responsiveness to consumer inquiries and concerns. With an illustrative use of the starfish story, he portrays the significance and limitations of indivi...

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May 3, 2024

1216 - Ten Listener Questions

The episode kicks off with a discussion on the relationship between show dealers and buyers, highlighting preferences for pricing transparency and the strategic reasons some dealers choose not to display prices. Dr. Beckett shares personal anecdotes ...

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May 1, 2024

1215 - Nine Listener Questions 8.0

We discuss the nuanced evolution of rookie card significance, especially in the context of high-end releases and their accessibility to different economic segments of collectors. The conversation then shifts to the potential of a trading app for coll...

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April 29, 2024

1214 - Baseball Card Hall of Fame, with Ray Fonio, Ray from Philly

https://forms.gle/MPZdzJgWKNvZCtBa9 Analysis of the 2024 Baseball Card Hall of Fame Ballot with Dr. James Beckett and Ray from Philly providing insights into the historical context, aesthetic appeal, and rarity of these cards, alongside personal anec...

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April 26, 2024

1213 - Feedback on "Sensory Challenges"

The conversation extends to the therapeutic potential of card collecting for memory recall in retirement homes, and accessibility enhancements for collectors with impairments. Dr. Beckett also delves into the physical aspects of collecting, like endu...

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April 24, 2024

1212 - Feedback on "What Is a Card?"

In this episode, Dr. James Beckett delves deeper into the complex question of what exactly constitutes a sports card, spurring from earlier discussions and recent feedback from the community. Initially sparked by a listener's suggestion, the conversa...

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April 22, 2024

1211 - Out-Takes from Hobby Hotline 041324

This detailed discussion excerpted from Hobby Hotline with co-hosts Danny Black and Chris Carlin highlights the strategic movement within the collecting industry, focusing on the new partnership between eBay and Collectors facilitated by Ken Golden's...

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April 19, 2024

1210 - 50th Birthday, with Rich Klein

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 logi...

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April 17, 2024

1209 - Experiencing 10X, with Rich Klein

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 Fanat...

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April 15, 2024

1208 - Hobby Mt. Rushmore (Future)

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 …

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April 12, 2024

1207 - Hobby Mt. Rushmore (Past)

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 …

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April 10, 2024

1206 - Panini Multi-Sport Hobby Box Battle

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, expressin...

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April 8, 2024

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

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 confusin...

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April 5, 2024

1204 - Restoration Questions, with Brian Gray, Part 2

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 disc...

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April 3, 2024

1203 - Restoration Questions, with Brian Gray

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 …

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April 1, 2024

1202 - Small Nuggets in Plain Sight, with Brian Gray

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 th...

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March 29, 2024

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

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...

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March 27, 2024

1200 - Recap: Podcast Episodes 1176-1199

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 i...

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March 25, 2024

1199 - Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter

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 ...

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