Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights

Last week's Hobby Hotline show was packed as usual - you should check the show out on its entirety - every week it's different topics and frequently listener driven, which I like.

Brief recap and/or amplification of the previous 25 episodes including any second thoughts I may or may not have on the content - let me know what you like - doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  and thanks! 

TCMA put out several types of interesting sets, old-timers, minor leaguers, etc.  Very collectable now, but Rich and I discuss those early forgotten days.  Thanks Rich.

Most of last Saturday's call-in live show centered on Albert Pujpls 700th homer the day before and what was going to happen to "the ball" and his cards.

Rich and I reminisce about base-stealer extraordinaire Maury Wills and his best cards, several of which are quite challenging - Maury made the game more exciting!

Send your questions or comments to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  and hopefully I can address them in a future episode - thanks!

My seventh installment of seven questions answered about the sports cards hobby and this podcast from my listening friends.

Lately on more than one occasion I have bought the whole dollar box - you bring the cards home and then the fun (and work) begins.

It's my dad's 97th birthday today - we're having dinner with him and my mom this evening - but reminded me how I came to ponder the hobby phenomenon of high numbers.

With all the recent publicity and world record prices for cards, I have seen a big uptick in friends calling me about wanting to sell their sports card collections for big bucks.

I won the lot in their latest auction and had great fun opening 60 blasters, hangers, and jumbos.  I got a big surprise in one of the packs - that's why we all love opening packs!

The third and final part of our enjoyable conversation.  Look forward to seeing him (and many of you) at the National in Chicago next summer (2023).

The final (for now) exchange of sports card hobby questions between Michael and me - we are both looking for constructive ways to make the hobby better.

Mike's chance to turn the tables on me with his hobby questions - but we both saw the hobby up close for the past three decades and more.

Some collectors keep better records than others - some know how much profit they have made on a collection they bought and others have no idea - be careful - the IRS may have ideas.

Jobs in the industry are now more available that they have ever been - we are all happy where we are, but see this as a good thing.

Ray had apparently saved up 45 years of questions going back to the earliest days of the organized sports card hobby in the Dallas area - fond reminiscences. 

Our extended conversation ran afield covering many topics of our shared experiences in the hobby and academic worlds.

Michael and I kept going - it was difficult to separate and segment our interview as it was flowing - thanks Michael for your sports card insights.

Among other topics I asked Mike about his experience in the '90's with Fleer before they went sideways - the brands and designs were really good, but what went wrong?

Dallas hobby veteran set collector Ray Cherry joins for his origin story as he has just recently retired from a long successful career in the security industry.

Brad and Rich were over here and Brad had saved up a number of sports card hobby questions for us - thanks Brad - and Rich too!

Clemente is a Journalism Professor in New York City at King's College and an avid soccer fan and collector - we had even more in common as you listen in to our discussion - thanks Clemente!

I typically enjoy interviewing other content creators - Michael has also commented on my content (as well as others) - we had free-wheeling exchange about what's right and wrong about the hobby.

Mike and I sat down (over Zoom) and discussed his success path in the hobby having worn the many hats that the really good hobby executives have either experienced or have on their leadership teams - thanks Mike.