The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

1. 1
   Number 1: 1586 - The LCS Spectrum

   Dr. Beckett discusses “The LCS Spectrum,” arguing that local card shops can succeed in many different ways, from old-school vintage-heavy stores to modern, high-end shops focused on new product, breaking, events, and social media. He proposes an idea for a directory or app that profiles shops with verified answers so travelers and customers know what a store offers, and so manufacturers like Fanatics, Panini, Upper Deck, and others could use consistent criteria for direct accounts and allocations. Using his former Dallas shop First Base as an example, he outlines categories for evaluating an LCS, including business sustainability, market/location, product mix, physical presentation, repeat business, creating collectors, people development, hobby citizenship, reach beyond local geography, and a distinctive “claim to fame.” 00:23 The LCS Spectrum Idea 02:10 Old School vs Modern Shops 03:30 Why Categorize Shops 04:10 Dealers and Hobby Economics 05:52 1 Real Business Basics 06:48 2 Location and Market 07:46 3 Product Mix Inventory 09:08 4 Store Presentation 09:54 5 Repeat Business 10:11 6 Creating Collectors 11:40 7 People Development 12:30 8 Hobby Citizenship 12:55 9 Reach and Celebrity 13:50 10 Claim to Fame 14:33 Modern Requirements and Allocation

   September 07, 2026·18min
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2. 2
   Number 2: 1592 - Buying Strategies: Then and Now

   Dr. Beckett reacts to Geoff Wilson’s recent “20 ways to make money in sports cards” by comparing how the first eight strategies worked 50 years ago versus today’s technology-driven market. He discusses buying entire collections, marketplace “arbitrage” through superior knowledge, grading plays (raw-to-graded and crossovers), and monetizing eye appeal, noting that condition and presentation matter more now than in earlier decades. Beckett contrasts past show-circuit seasonality with modern price rhythms tied to sports seasons, and explains how prospecting on unproven players has evolved and remains risky. He reviews trading and trading up versus trading down, and the growth of sealed wax as an investment, including pitfalls like junk wax overproduction and expiring redemptions. He closes by emphasizing how instant information has transformed the hobby. 01:46 Buying Whole Collections 05:07 Arbitrage and Regional Knowledge 06:16 Grading and Eye Appeal 08:18 Seasonality and Timing 09:37 Prospecting on Players 11:17 Trading Up or Down 12:33 Sealed Wax and Unopened Product

   September 21, 2026·19min
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3. 3
   Number 3: 1589 - Are We Creating Collectors ... or Players?

   Dr. Beckett explores what it really means to be a “collector” versus a “player” in the sports card ecosystem, arguing that many new participants are drawn more to the action: buying, selling, trading, breaking, ripping, repacking, and tracking comps, rather than to long-term accumulation. He discusses industry growth goals like “10Xing,” referencing Fanatics’ push to expand the addressable market across a broader sports commerce ecosystem, and notes Panini’s past inroads while Fanatics lowers barriers by leveraging existing fan customers. Dr. Beckett frames participation as a funnel from spectator to player to collector, emphasizing that not everyone has the “collecting gene,” but collectors remain essential as end users who provide a final resting place for cards. He advocates for a healthy balance of players and collectors, highlights how liquidity and network effects have changed shows and pricing, and notes content creation can support both better “play” as well as collector formation. 00:50 Collectors Versus Players? 00:58 Fanatics And Market Growth 02:52 Action Driven Hobby 04:55 Video Games And Golf 05:53 Cards As Products 06:46 Need End User Collectors 07:13 Being A Hybrid 08:59 Liquidity And Network Effects 11:31 From Player To Collector 12:17 Junk Wax Lessons 14:02 Voices Across Spectrum 15:22 Industry Versus Hobby

   September 14, 2026·17min
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4. 4
   Number 4: 1593 - Buying Strategies: Then and Now, Part 2

   Dr. Beckett wraps up part two of “Buying Strategies: Then and Now,” responding to Geoff Wilson’s recent list of 20 money-making opportunities in the sports card hobby, focusing on ideas 9–20 that emphasize creative business models and solving collector problems. He contrasts modern “build an audience then monetize” approaches with earlier methods, and shares personal preferences and experiences with brokering/consignment, live commerce, breaking, grading submission services and pre-grading, setting up as a dealer at shows, ethical repacks, doing tasks others avoid, running shows and events, building software/marketplaces, and selling supplies/accessories. Dr. Beckett stresses reputation, transparency, and brand trust across these models, notes opportunities created by changing grading policies, and argues success relies more on hard work, initiative, knowledge, relationships, and execution than luck, with far more than 20 viable ideas. 00:48 Serve First Mindset 01:17 Build an Audience 03:12 Collections and Consignment 05:47 Live Commerce Today 06:37 Breaking and Trust 07:46 Grading Submission Services 09:25 Dealer Tables at Shows 11:06 Ethical Repacks 11:51 Collector Chores as Business 13:05 Running Shows and Events 14:43 Software Marketplaces and AI 16:34 Supplies and Accessories 17:32 Big Picture Takeaways

   September 23, 2026·20min
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5. 5
   Number 5: 1590 - Basketball Card Hall of Fame Ballot 2026

   Dr. Beckett discusses his Basketball Card Hall of Fame Ballot (2026), thanks organizers Ray and Tony, explains his voting approach, and announces his four vintage votes (1961-62 Fleer Jerry West, 1961-62 Fleer Oscar Robertson, 1970-71 Topps Pistol Pete Maravich, and 1967-68 Topps Test Wilt) and four modern votes (1992-93 Stadium Club Beam Team Shaquille O'Neal, 1997-98 Metal Universe Jordan Green/Red PMG, 1997-98 Upper Deck Jordan Game Jersey #/23, and 2008-09 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant with LeBron guarding), while directing viewers to thesportscardhalloffame.com to vote. 00:59 Vintage and Modern Classes 03:25 How to Vote Online 04:15 Vintage Ballot Criteria 06:50 Fleer Memories and West 08:43 Grail Cards and Tall Boys 11:31 Stars and Fleer Rookies 13:23 Shaq and 90s Inserts 14:35 PMG and Hobby Love 15:54 Jersey Card and Kobe

   September 16, 2026·19min
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