Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights

Rich and I discuss the merits of having a second, non-duplicitous photo on the front of the card as an additional creative element.

Rich and I discuss how prominent the player's position should be on the card, if at all!  

Rich and I discuss why vertically oriented cards are more popular and present better in slabs than horizontally designed cards.

How prominent should the team name be on the card front.  Does the particular sport matter in this consideration?

Rich and I begin a series of episodes discussing our opinions on card design preferences, beginning with a discussion of the now-standard size, 2 1/2" by 3 1/2".

I take a look back at the past twenty episodes, adding and clarifying what was talked about, in part based on your feedback.  Any feedback can be sent to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com  - thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to you - no episode tomorrow - but back on Friday! 

Sponsor Bill Huggins of Huggins & Scott Auctions joins me for a discussion of his origins within the sports collectibles industry as a collector, dealer, shop owner, and auctioneer - since 1979.

I sat down with Jimmy Fisher, part-time dealer from Tulsa, at the beginning of the last day (Sunday) of the three-day show here in the Dallas area, and we discussed his collecting journey as well as his dealing philosophies, which ironically are very much in line with what my recent "investment fallacies" episodes have suggested.  

Counter-instinctively, "Profit Maximization" is not always the best tactic or strategy, especially for long-term success in this hobby/industry.  Questions or comments about this or any other episode - please contact me at doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com

Full-time is not necessarily better or more profitable than part-time when it comes to this hobby/industry.

I make the case that, in this hobby/industry, Demand is more important than Supply!

Sponsor Mike Fruitman joins for a discussion of what's going on in his local card shop in Aurora, CO, Mike's Stadium Sportscards.

Emily Kless (Topps Communications Manager) lets us in on some of Topps 2020 planning in this phone interview.  

We look at HOF running back Walter Payton, Dave Sliepka's favorite football player, and his cards, autographs, and memorabilia.

Kevin Isaacson and I have a phone chat (with him in Hawaii!) discussing the "then and now" aspects of SCD and Krause Publications from before Kevin got there in the mid-90's until now.

Eric and I discuss professional wrestling and wrestling cards - when we were kids, up through now.

Advice to "Buy Low and Sell High" sounds foolproof but there are counter-examples.

Brian Fleischer, Manager of Beckett Media's Card Pricing team and Senior Market Analyst, compares and contrasts the evolution of card pricing processes and technology over the past sixteen years.  We discuss the early strong contributors, many of whom are in significant positions throughout the hobby at other leading companies. 

Pepper Hastings and I discuss our visit(s) up to Stevens Point, Wisconsin back in the day to meet with Larry and Jeff about their millions of cards - their setup was truly one of the seven wonders of the collecting world.  Larry and Jeff are dearly missed, both having suffered untimely deaths to cancer (Larry in 2007) and heart disease (Jeff in 2017). 

My Army officer personal story and how it intersected with my card collecting passion back in the day.

Jeromy and I discuss Beckett Media's big move into authenticating with the global launch of Beckett Authentication Services a few years ago.  Jeromy is Beckett Media's VP over grading and authentication.

A review of Huggins & Scott's Auction closing November 14, 2019.  I enjoy perusing the eclectic lots (2023 lots!), some of which I will be bidding on!

A Tribute to Mike Gordon, a key contributor to our industry, show dealer, store owner, and co-promoter of the 1984 National Sports Collectors Convention in Parsippany, New Jersey.  If you have any comments or questions about this or any other episode, send to doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com , or 5600 W. Lover Lane, #116-301, Dallas, TX 75209 for physical mail. 

Andy and I discuss his hobby history and why he is so passionate about grading and authentication and vintage cards.  Long ago Andy was the principal grader for a smaller grading company - we respected Andy so much, we bought the company!  Andy is now the Senior Vintage Card grader at BGS.

A look at two old-time Chicago White Sox shortstops - alphabetically adjacent in the Baseball Hall of Fame, coincidentally with the same initials!  For comments or questions about this or any other episode, try doctorjamesbeckett@gmail.com.