In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, I break down why Beckett is getting flooded with cards, why they’re still behind PSA, and the 5 concrete moves they could make to actually turn it around. We talk grading scale tweaks, tech upgrades, transparency, turnaround times, and why creators might be the secret weapon. Drop your Beckett hot takes in the comments.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – What up chicken nuggets + why Beckett is at a crossroads
• 0:42 – PC Sports Cards stops taking Beckett subs: what that really means
• 2:55 – Who’s grading what: PSA, CGC, SGC, Beckett by the numbers
• 7:14 – Fix #1: No more BGS 9.5s and how to convert them to 10s
• 9:29 – Fix #2: Modernize the app, site, and slabs
• 10:52 – Fix #3: Go all in on transparency with scans, AI, and QR codes
• 14:01 – Fix #4: Turnaround times and why speed is Beckett’s biggest opportunity
• 15:34 – Fix #5: Partner with trusted creators, not just flippers
• 21:10 – Message to Beckett and shoutout to Chicken Nugget Nation

• Evan Hastie
• Cody Bushell
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

Shill bidding, “defensive bidding,” fake comps, all that icky stuff has been flying around the hobby. In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, I break down what actually happened, what shill bidding is in plain language, how to spot it on eBay, and why it hurts every honest collector, not just the buyer and seller in that one auction.

I wrap with three big takeaways for the hobby and my personal opinion on how we handle auctions without nuking trust.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 What up chicken nuggets + where I’ve been
• 0:36 Quick life update, dad’s surgery and coaching the kids
• 1:04 What kicked off the “defensive bidding” drama
• 1:37 What they meant by “defensive bidding” in that convo
• 2:54 OK, so what actually is shill bidding?
• 3:44 Real hobby examples of obvious shill bidding
• 4:21 How to spot shill bids on eBay in the wild
• 5:02 Is it illegal or just gross? The nuance
• 5:25 Why fake comps wreck the entire market, not just one auction
• 7:14 The risk you take when you list on auction
• 8:43 Why canceling low auctions is also trash behavior
• 9:44 Thought #1, shill bidding breaks the number one rule, trust
• 10:11 Thought #2, transparency is the new currency in the hobby
• 11:10 Thought #3, how auctions might have to evolve
• 11:45 My personal experience, temptations, and why I don’t do it
• 13:02 Advice if you hate watching your card tank at auction
• 13:45 Closing thoughts, Disney, Chicken Nugget Nation, and giveaways

CTA line you can add at the bottom:

• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

The 1914 Babe Ruth Baltimore News just sold for $4.02M—about $3M less than last year’s $7.2M result. Is the hobby crashing? Nope. I walk through two-bidder auction dynamics, liquidity, macro vibes, why rarity + narrative still matter, and how this compares to modern grails (MJ/LeBron/Kobe). Quick story, four takeaways, and what it might mean for vintage vs. modern over the next decade.

Timestamps
0:00 Cold open — what sold, where, and the $3M gap
0:45 Quick story: 1914 Baltimore News Ruth (19-year-old minor-leaguer)
1:20 Why auctions drop: the two-bidder reality (not 100k voters)
3:40 Takeaway #1: Auction competition drives big swings
4:45 Takeaway #2: Liquidity & macro conditions matter
6:35 Takeaway #3: Narrative + rarity still rule (Ruth’s historical weight)
8:50 Takeaway #4: This isn’t hobby doom — one sale ≠ the market
10:40 Modern heat check: MJ/Kobe/LeBron/Ohtani vs vintage over time
12:30 Wrap + what I’m watching next (and Chicken Nugget Nation)

• Zach LaFountain