Episodes

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 c...

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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 o...

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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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March 22, 2024

1198 - Rule of 72

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 a...

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March 20, 2024

1197 - Thumbtacks

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,...

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March 18, 2024

1196 - Listener Questions about My Card Wall

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 ...

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March 15, 2024

1195 - Listener Questions on YouTube Hobby Box Reveals

An array of listener questions and feedback originating from his YouTube channel, where he shares box opening videos. We touch on topics like the appreciation for the artistic effort behind sports card sets, notably Court Kings basketball, and shares...

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March 13, 2024

1194 - Listener Questions on RC Ramblings

Dr. Beckett reflects on his previous discussions with Victor Roman on the RC Ramblings episodes, delving into the nuances of what constitutes a 'junk wax' product and the transformative impact of grading on card values. Listeners are introduced to ec...

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March 11, 2024

1193 - Nine Listener Questions 7.0

A wide array of listener questions are addressed, covering topics from the intricacies of trading on COMC, spotting celebrities on sports cards, to the aesthetic considerations of slab uniformity in collections. Discussions extend to the impact of pe...

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March 8, 2024

1192 - Dueling Questions with Joe Orlando, Part 3

The final part of this insightful and engaging conversation, we reflect on the evolution of card manufacturing since the 1980s and discuss the potential impacts of ongoing changes within the sector. A primary topic of discussion is the entry of Fanat...

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March 6, 2024

1191 - Dueling Questions with Joe Orlando, Part 2

We start with an exploration of our personal journeys through sports card collecting including their collecting methods and preferences, from set collecting to chasing color variations and autographs. They also walk through how their professional bac...

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March 4, 2024

1190 - Out-Takes on PSA/SGC from Hobby Hotline 030224

Dr. James Beckett, alongside Hobby Hotline co-hosts Danny Black and Victor Roman, explores the repercussions of PSA's acquisition of SGC in the sports card collecting and grading industry, analyzing it as a strategic business move reflective of the h...

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March 1, 2024

1189 - Dueling Questions with Joe Orlando, Heritage

Dr. James Beckett and Joe Orlando, respected industry veteran and former CEO of PSA, discuss the dynamic evolution, emerging trends, and future outlook of the sports card and collectibles industry. Touching on the exponential growth from the 1980s to...

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Feb. 28, 2024

1188 - Dollar Box Travels, with Rich Klein

We delve into the enticing prospect of attending the Philadelphia sports card show to graze through the dollar boxes in search of nuggets. We offer advice and insights to our friend Kyle, who is contemplating his own attendance at the show. We touch ...

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Feb. 26, 2024

1187 - 2023-24 Panini Prizm Premier League Soccer Box Analysis

We begin with sharing thoughts on soccer as a collectable sport and its potential to rise in popularity. We dissect the concept of a 'flagship' brand using Panini Prism as an example and discuss the importance of base sets in a flagship product, espe...

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Feb. 23, 2024

1186 - Odds and Bronny

We delve into the concept of odds and probability, particularly in the realm of sports card investments. As a trained statistician, Dr. Beckett emphasizes that the notion of probability is seldom a coin flip, direct 50-50 scenario.  He cautions again...

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Feb. 21, 2024

1185 - 2023 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Hobby Box

Details of the 2023 Goodwin Champions Hobby Box by Upper Deck. The product includes a mix of different sports cards, establishing an eclectic appeal, and each pack of 18 cards is configured with the middle card usually the best. The set is suitable f...

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Feb. 19, 2024

1184 - What Is a Sports Card? (with Rich Klein)

We ponder the question: What truly defines a sports card? We analyze a range of factors like material composition, size variations, and unique shapes that challenge the traditional notion of what constitutes a card. We question whether items like new...

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