Dr. Beckett and his guest and friend John Keating explore the marketing strategies of Fanatics, the implications of tying Fanatics Fest to major events like the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star game, and the impact of nostalgia versus new trends in card collecting. There's an in-depth discussion on the balance between vintage and modern cards, the economics of fan-driven collecting events, and the potential for evolving collecting behaviors. The conversation also touches on negotiation tactics at card shows and the passion of collectors who value history over speculation.   01:52 Fanatics Fest: Financial Insights 03:08 Hobby Market Dynamics and Personal Preferences 05:16 Vintage vs. Modern Collecting 09:09 Fanatics' Business Model and Market Penetration 13:57 Negotiation Tactics in the Hobby    

Dr. Beckett and his friend John Keating address the ever-evolving landscape of sports card collecting, highlighting personal experiences and delineating the fine line between learning and reliving undesirable experiences, including operational challenges, customer service frustrations, and the impact of corporate changes at Beckett Media. Additionally, the conversation pivots to the broader card-collecting industry's trends, emphasizing the implications of monopolies, the shift towards high-value cards, and the financial dynamics driven by big players like Fanatics and Panini, as well as the balance between maximizing short-term profits and fostering long-term hobby health, touching on the cult of gambling in sports and the potential future of collector conventions.   01:31 Customer Service Challenges 03:36 Industry Changes and Market Dynamics 07:40 The Role of Data in the Hobby 07:51 Monopolies and Market Competition 14:24 Card Shows and Community 17:16 Gambling and the Hobby's Evolution    

Dr. Beckett provides insights on the evolution of Comic Con and its association with San Diego, comparing it to new ventures in the sports memorabilia world. Discussing the record-breaking sale of Babe Ruth's jersey, the impact of memorabilia sales, and the intricacies around authenticating such items, the episode deep-dives into the growth of conventions like the National Sports Collectors Convention. At its core, the conversation pivots to the challenges and opportunities in hosting large-scale events, the role of Fanatics, and the emerging practices around card and memorabilia collecting, including the controversial use of CT scanning.   00:38 Comic Con and Fanatics Discussion 04:37 National Sports Collectors Convention Insights 09:03 Debut Patches and Bounties 10:30 CT Scanning and Wax Scandals    

Dr. Beckett encapsulates his past 25 episodes, including the transition of Beckett Media's ownership, addressing questions from listeners, skipped episodes, Rich Klein’s experiences, and much more. He also touches on personal stories, such as a tribute to his family's dog and handling a friend's card collection.   00:33 Greg Lindberg and Company Ownership 03:20 Selling Out and Rich Klein's Insights 06:33 Brand Recognition and Hall of Fame 10:54 Card Show Evolution and Business Scaling 12:11 Collectivus Holdings and Experiments    

Dr. Beckett addresses Mike Steveline's questions about his experiences and preferences in sports card collecting. Topics include desirable cards he has yet to own, notable pack openings, significant finds in dollar boxes, and his favorite encounters with professional athletes.   02:25 Oldest Sports Card Pack Opened 02:56 Amazing Cards Pulled from Packs 03:26 Best Dollar Box Finds 04:06 In-Person Meetings with Athletes 04:43 Keeping Collecting Exciting 06:03 History of the Hobby and Card Releases 08:35 Impact of Playing Sports on Collecting  

Dr. Beckett shares his experience winning three sport-specific lots of hangers, blasters, and value packs from Huggins & Scott Auctions, now a part of REA. He discusses his bidding strategy, the anticipation and excitement of opening packs, and the reality of his returns. Despite his hopes of tripling his investment, Dr. Beckett explains how the secondary market's efficiency often meant he got what was expected, but infrequently more.   01:47 Strategies for Reselling and Personal Collection 02:23 The Reality of Auction Purchases 02:45 Unboxing and Sorting: Fun and Frustration 03:54 Analyzing the Market and Pricing 05:55 Lessons Learned and Future Plans    

Dr. Beckett speaks to his former company's reorganization, refinancing, and rebranding process, culminating in a new name, Collectivus Holdings, and implications for the future, including potential strategic benefits of these changes, including a $250 million line of credit that promises growth and new acquisitions.   00:23 The Evolution of Collectivist Holdings 02:19 Leadership and Company Structure 03:37 Financial Restructuring and Future Prospects 05:25 Naming Challenges and Brand Identity 05:56 Personal Anecdotes and Consulting Insights  

Dr. Beckett delves into the history and development of sports card protection, discussing various card protection methods, from shoeboxes to penny sleeves, plastic sheets, top loaders, and card savers. He also pays homage to potential 'godfathers' of sports card protection, including influential figures and companies that have made significant contributions to the field.   01:01 Early Days of Card Storage 02:09 Evolution of Sleeves 04:01 Cardboard Boxes and Early Innovators 05:54 Business Partners and Supply Innovations 07:42 Legal Issues with Plastic Sheets    

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein delve into the unique aspects of the sports card industry, profit centers, and the challenges of balancing overhead and sales-oriented divisions. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding direct and indirect costs, the intricacies of making internal departments profitable, and the broader industry trends. They also touch upon Beckett’s past business decisions, the impact of a changing market, and potential future growth strategies. Additionally, the episode covers the successes and strategies of industry players like Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, Heritage Auctions, and COMC.    00:37 Scaling Business: Challenges and Strategies 01:21 Profit Centers and Cost Allocation 03:39 Variable Costs and Economies of Scale 06:08 Public vs. Private: Funding and Expansion 07:53 Leadership and Company Culture      

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss the burgeoning sports card show scene in Dallas, highlighting the competitive landscape with various small and large events. They explore how fanatics could potentially influence the market, the significance of smaller shows, and how Kyle's Dallas Card Show has adapted and thrived. They also touch on the logistics of running shows, the importance of adapting to changes, and the role of autograph guests in drawing crowds.   01:19 Small Shows and Their Importance 03:07 Challenges and Strategies for Show Promoters 05:25 Fanatics' Influence and Future of Shows 09:54 Collector Dealers and Pop-Up Shows 11:40 Autographs and Dealer Dynamics    

Dr. Beckett shares personal reflections on Henderson's remarkable career and his impact on the sports card hobby. The discussion covers Henderson's achievements, including his unbreakable stolen base record and his significance in the vintage card market. Additionally, insights are offered into the practice of valuing sports cards and how Henderson's cards have been affected by his passing.   01:19 Greatest Living Ballplayer Debate 01:45 Ricky Henderson's Stolen Base Record 02:00 Vintage vs. Modern Cards Debate 04:18 Ricky Henderson's Trading and Team History 05:11 Ricky Henderson's Playing Style and Achievements