Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights

Some random sports card hobby thoughts, resolutions, directions, and insights for the coming year - Let's make 2022 the best year yet.

A brief recap of the past 25 episodes over the last month in case you missed some - plus I sometimes think of some additional insights to share.  Thanks!

John Madden at 85 has passed - iconic in American sports in several ways, outstanding NFL coach, popular broadcaster, and his Madden video game longevity.  Thanks for making football entertaining for all.

Co-founder Ezra Levine explains why he is so bullish on our industry and this upcoming high-end trade event in Las Vegas at the end of January.  Encouraged by the early indications of key participants.

Jeremy Lee and Jason Dean Martin had wide ranging discussions of these sports card hobby topics - excerpted from the live call-in Hobby Hotline video show last Saturday morning. 

Pepper represented our company (well) at this amazing never-repeated hobby event years ago with prime Tiger Woods - Pepper shares his insights - you will wish the sports card hobby had more events like that.  Thanks Upper Deck!

Some thoughts on this joyous season and how we express it - we have much to be thankful for - and yet we are all hoping 2022 will be even better.

JP had some extemporaneous questions for me about the sports card hobby we both love - especially vintage baseball - thanks JP.

Ezra describes his hobby ride including the founding and growth of the fractional trading platform, Collectable, which has garnered lots of attention from individual and institutional investors. 

Shreedhar's discussion with me went longer than I thought, because we lost track of time - happens sometimes with two passionate collectors - thought these interchanges were worth sharing - thanks Shreedhar!

I was on the Hobby Hotline show last Saturday morning with Jeremy Lee and Jason Dean Martin and these are some of the topics either brought up by recent events or from the live audience - thanks everyone.

Pepper (Beckett editorial employee #1) and I reminisce about the earliest days of our editorial/art package for Beckett Baseball Card Monthly and the many strong contributors inside and outside the company, who were instrumental in building our brand.

After I thought our interview was over, Mike (Mike's Stadium Sportscards) and Rob (Burbank Sports Cards) had some more what if's - so here it is - glad I kept the recorder going - thanks guys!

JP and I shared our perspectives on grading (and other issues) in the sports card hobby from our different vantage points.  Thanks JP.

No duel here, except perhaps between the two of them, as I answered their thoughtful sports card hobby questions - including what if's! - thanks guys!

Which you prefer depends on your holding period - I realized I am more of an Archives guy now - maybe has to do with my age and the fact that I personally remember all the original designs of Topps cards - thanks Emily Kless of Topps and Dane Coenen of Dynasty Breaks for providing boxes. 

Joel came with some questions for me and some interesting answers to my questions - thanks Joel for your hard work on your weekly newsletter - an excellent five-minute read.

Mike and Rob share their opinions on card shop security - and their practices - take precautions but remember people are more important than cards!

I broke a box of each and decided which one I liked better depending on my collecting parameters.  Both had redeeming value, but I preferred the complexity of A&G - thanks Emily Kless at Topps for the enjoyable experience, 

Pepper and I discuss the origin of Raw Card Reviews and Graded Card Reviews as well as other stories from the early days of BGS at home and on the road.

Brad and I discuss these four brand new Baseball Hall of Famers elected by committee - any affect on their sports card and memorabilia may be modest for the first two, in spite of their career exploits.

Shreedhar and I are in different chapters of the same global organization for Presidents and CEO's of companies so we share a similar executive perspective on the state of the sports card industry.

Newest Baseball Hall of Famers Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso are unfortunately no longer alive to celebrate their induction with their many fans.  Their card values are positively influenced by their election, Minoso more so than Hodges. 

Another five sports card hobby questions from listeners to the podcast - send your questions to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  - every question matters - and I hope to either address your idea directly or weave it into a future episode - thanks.

JP has been assisting collectors with auctions and private sales for the past 21 years through his Memory Lane - I came away with a better understanding of his business.  Thanks JP.