Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights

Rich and I discuss the rise and fall of Wild Card, the card company known for their infamous striped cards.  Interestingly that innovation from the early '90's has not been copied.

We talk to Dane Coenen of Dynasty Breaks about his favorite set.  1993 Topps Finest Baseball marked a seismic turn toward higher end premium products, leading to all the amazing products of today.

Daryl McKay (co-founder of Sports Images, a leading distributor then, and now a business consultant) and I compare and contrast the Distributor landscape from 30 years ago to now, and conclude there are more similarities than differences.

A discussion of Honus Wagner - not just his notorious T206 card but also his playing and coaching career.

Dave and I lament the decrease in truly regional card and memorabilia shows, while being encouraged by the recent increase and proliferation of local card shows.

Dave and I discuss the National Sports Collectors Convention, most frequently held in Chicago, and speculate as to what other shows come close to the National's impact.

Eric Norton, popular host of Beckett Media's Fat Packs podcast and wrestling aficionado, helps me evaluate a newly-arrived group of 75 recent wrestling card complete sets I had won in a recent Huggins & Scott auction.

Geoff Wilson's excellent podcast, Sports Card Investors, recently featured an episode entitled "20 Things New Sports Card Investors Must Know."  We comment, largely affirming, his thoughts and explanations.  You can also find his written transcript at www.sportscardinvestor.com  as well as other helpful stuff.

Chris Carlin, Upper Deck's Senior Manager of Customer Experience shares his hobby journey, joining Upper Deck right out of college and working his way up. 

James and I discuss the current COMC experience as well as what's coming in terms of innovations.  Go to COMC.com to find out more.

Rich and I discuss the hypothetical situation whereby Heritage Auctions never moved into sports cards ; and Huggins and Scott Auctions perhaps stayed as a local-only live auction.  There would be a void - how would it be filled?

Joe Morgan, considered by Bill James as the best second baseman in history, had a long and storied career including many cards.  However his important role as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Baseball Hall of Fame has even more impact on our hobby and its future.

Bill Mazeroski is in the Hall of Fame because of his defensive prowess at second base as well as his historic walk-off home run in the 1960 World Series.  His cards are valued as a lower-demand hall of famer - but he had one of the most iconic memories of my childhood as I remember exactly where I was when he hit his home run!

Rob Veres (Burbank Sportscards) and I discuss strategies for effectively integrating a (very) large purchase of cards (such as the two pallets of cards he purchased at the National) into his already massive inventory.

For this first episode of the year I have decided to share some of my near-fatal heart attack story from back on October 6, 1996.  There were timely preparations the summer before in terms of my delegation, which kept this episode from being truly tragic for my family and friends as well as for the company (Beckett Publications) that had my name on it.  If you have indigestion, chest pressure, sho...

We recap and review the most recent 20 episodes, since many of our listeners do not listen to every episode in linear sequence.  If you have questions or suggestions about this podcast or sports card insights, please send them to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  so they can potentially be addressed for the benefit of all.

With so many (different) cards in existence doe sit seem strange that there are just a few that capture the fancy of the public.  Sales of cards in the long tail are also an indication of health and strength of the hobby.  The velocity or probability of sales of certain lower-demand cards can be an important contribution to overall profitability for a dealer or collector.

Free labor is not always free!  What you would do without compensation (for your hobby) is frequently a task you would have to pay someone to do for you, so is that still free labor?  Your true costs and true profit should perhaps take into account your "free" labor.

Strategies for when to sell a card you just bought for a good price are like opinions - everyone has one.  But there are no hard and fast rules or "best" strategies for when to sell - it is your call and there are too  many factors to know exactly.

Memories and reminiscences of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with respect to sports cards - if you want to share yours, just contact doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  with your short story.  Thanks and Happy New Year!  

Boxing Day is celebrated primarily in the UK and is not well understood in America.  Nevertheless some "boxing" stories are shared in the spirit of the season.

Christmas memories and reflections with respect to our hobby - if you would like to share yours, contact doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  with your story.

The normal thought is to buy the best condition or card you can afford - but at what cost - the "best" premium could be so outrageous as to be avoided as a bad deal - No one knows the future! 

Quantity discounts vs. quantity premiums.  Bottom line: Honesty is the best policy.  Say what you mean and do what you say and your business reputation and sales should grow.

Listener Kevin O'Keefe suggests that more expanded stats on card backs would contribute to greater math understanding in students and in adults.  I wholeheartedly agree, subject to readability.  Kevin also teed it up with an audio file he sent me at doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  putting his question in his own words.  Thank you Kevin!