Is it just me, or is Beckett Baseball Card Monthly not nearly as good as it was ten years ago?

Estil

I used to be a longtime subscriber to Beckett Baseball Card Monthly (1994-97ish) and at that time, it was an awesome magazine. It had just the right mix of articles about collecting, articles about players, an extensive Readers Write (letters to the editor), as well as a Top 30 Hot and Top Ten Cold List (article was called Weather Report). Even the ads (which were all sports/card related; Beckett once said in a letter that they pride themselves on never showing things like adult beverage or tobacco ads) were interesting (I'm still waiting for scans of the two page 1994 Fleer and 1994 Ultra ads, BTW). And who could forget those funny reader submitted "Fun Cards" and the "Beckman" comics?

But the BBCM's now, they just seem loaded with articles about breaking a random box, pack pulls, no hot list for players, just one page of top five singles/rookies/sets of all time, not to mention a price guide that gives about four pages for pre-2000 stuff and loads up the rest with mostly 2005-2006 stuff. And since the prices don't change nearly as much as in the mid-1990s (back then there were a TON of up/down arrows, now there's barely any), it just seems more practical to simply get the annual Beckett Baseball Almanac. Finally, the magazine just seems to have too serious of a tone for something that's supposed to be a fun hobby.

Am I the only one in this congregation who feels the same way? If not, where am I wrong (as Bill O'Reilly is famous for saying)?

drewsef

beckett has sucked for quite some time now, not a big secret.

Barfvader

<< <i>beckett has sucked for quite some time now, not a big secret. >>





Can't even remember when I last bought an issue (think it was about five years ago or so).

One thing I did like about it was they used to have some really great cover pics.

mosaic

Can't stand reading the print version, but every once in a while I drop the five bucks to subscribe to their online price guide for a month. While the print version only includes select years and key cards, the online guide is the complete database. Plus, I like how their database is searchable by name, set, year range, etc.

I wish the online SMR was as easy to use!

XanaduNow

I think this is a perfect example of the difference in the targat audiences for Beckett vs. PSA. They are polar opposites in the types of cards their respective grading service typically tackle and the way and focus of their price guides. Nine out of ten BGS slabs have a modern card in them while -- although not quite that high -- PSA tends to attract the vintage cards.

As Estil pointed out the Beckett price guide has about 4 pages of pre-2000 material while the SMR has about 4 pages of post-2000 material. Modern single card sales on ebay are higher for BGS slabbed cards as opposed to PSA slabbed cards while the reverse is true for vintage (if you can actually find a vintage card in a BGS slab). I think the market for modern will eventually correct itself as people realize BGS is handing out 9.5's like they were lollipops at the doctor's office but until then this appears to be the norm.

Arthur

stown

I was a subscriber from the beginnings up until '92 or so. Keep in mind, this was pre-internet days. The only way to do research was either talking with a dealer or reading an occasional outdated book.

It was the best bathroom reading material... Little bit about vintage, a featured player, and hobby tips all rolled into one. Prices, including vintage, would fluctuate on a monthly basis and it was the standard for pricing.

I picked up one a couple of months ago and I couldn't believe my eyes. Looks like it's intended for those with A.D.D. (ie just all over the place) and no true content. 2 or 3 pages for vintage and then 30 pages of modern stuff (not that there's anything wrong with modern ) with inaccurate pricing.

They sure don't make them like they use to

jfkheat

I haven't bought a Beckett in a while. The last time I checked, their listed values were way out of line with what cards are actually selling for. It's supposed to be a "price guide" but try selling for thier prices.
James

Stone193

It seems that one of the things that most disappointed me about Beckett was breaking their own "golden rule" - if one reports the value of sportscards, then they should NOT engage in any activity that would be in conflict of that end.

mike

ripkenintheminors

I'm still a subscriber to Beckett, but I do miss a lot of the articles. I remember the days of several collectors being featured for great cards they had pulled from packs. When the Baseball Card Plus issues came out, I was surprised that the magazine did not have more in depth articles. They still do a decent service to the hobby, even if I wish the magazine had more content. Maybe with all of the information on the internet they feel that most news will be old news by the time it hits the stands. Just a thought.

Carew29

Dr. Beckett has been a joke for more than 10 years. Tuff Stuff is no better. Infact the last Tuff Stuff i bought had Tyson/Holyfield on the cover( the fight that never happened due to Mikey going to jail for rape).

jmbkb4

When my wife and I go home to my childhood home, I always enjoy thumbing through my old Becketts, 1991-1995 or so. Great articles, great photography.

Beckett is now C.R.A.P.

TheCARDKid

It's amazing how things change.

Could anyone have ever guessed in the late 80's/early 90's that SCD and Beckett, the bibles in the industry would be reduced to nothing in 10-15 years?

I use to subscribe as a kid.....I think the last issue I got as a subscription was in 95 or 96 (Beckett Basketball). I look through it every now and then at a newsstand...but it looks more like a phone book than a price guide. A few dinky pages of pre 1990, I don't even understand the rest of it.

Remember the readers writes, the famous/infamous hot and cold lists, the little cartoons (people would send it cards with a caption on it).

The last Tuff Stuff I bought had either Ken Griffey Jr on the cover (the Griffey with the hot '89 Upper Deck rookie) or Jordan on the cover. Long, long gone....

ndleo

Dr. Beckett no longer owns Beckett Sports. It was bought by a private equity group for $20 million. Dr. Beckett did keep the comics division for himself. I believe their goal is to use Beckett Sports as a platform for other products. I think that is why you are seeing the focus moving away from collectors and more to selling product.

Tedw9

Does anyone remember the short lived price guide "Collectors Sports Look"? It was almost a cross of Beckett and Mad magazine. If I remember correctly it was put out by Wizard Publications. Great articles that made you laugh and a price guide to boot. Too bad it didn't last.


Speaking of Beckett (which I agree with you all, it $ucks anymore), I came across the first basketball issue today with Jordan on the cover. I don't think it is worth anything, just a cool collectible.

benderbroeth

maybe what we need is a bi-monthly magazine that just features articles about vintage collectibles and cards along with a vintage price guide, now i know beckett did this awhile back i loved it, but they stopped i like to hear about others collections how they got them why they collect and any stories they have that may be strange or great.

schr1st

Strangely enough, the current issue of Beckett is one of the better ones I've read in a while. While they still won't talk about the real ills of the hobby (the rise of altered cards in and out of graded card holders, etc.), they are at least trying to tackle some issues (fake patch cards, pack searchers). It's not great, but it's better than the primrose path garbage they were feeding collectors for the longest time.

RedRomad275

I gave up on Beckett years ago but I was a subscriber to SCD up until a year ago. I don't have a card shop in my area so it was nice to read about the hobby. I pick up a Beckett every now and again. I did pick this months Beckett for a quick fix and found a couple article interesting. I did like the pack searcher article.

Red

RonBurgundy

I live in Dallas and have a little bit of unique perspective having worked right next to Beckett's offices and having known some long time dealers in town who have insight into their operations.

The magazine reflects the company. It's terrible. They're moving away from sports and into "multi-media" (whatever that means) and basically turning it into a Pokemon/Yugi-Oh crap type of business, along with modern cards. The core of their old business - pricing - is increasingly irrelevant to them, I think, even for new cards. They pay lip service to vintage. I think the only reason they continue to grade older cards is just so they don't lose any credibility on their modern card grading. On another note, their building is up for sale and has been up for sale for over a year. From what I know, there's not even been a sniff of interest.

I am not familiar with the company that bought them but it is clear they don't have a clue. They could've adopted a business strategy to build a serious competitor to PSA by leveraging its publications and pricing to build a world class grading operation (sort of the opposite way that PSA did it). Instead, they are slowly running the company into the ground. I have seen longtime Beckett loyalists in town switch to PSA and SMR the last couple of years. Within 10 years I would not be surprised if they are no longer taken seriously within the sportscard industry.




Ron

cjb1977

As for the lack the articles; trust me I am not being sarcastic, but what do they have to report on in 2006? A Reggie bush jersey card is Reggie Bush jersey card is a Reggie Bush jersey card, if that makes sense.

It can be argued they could talk about vintage cards. But just from the points expressed here, most vintage collectors have long since given up or moved on from reading the magazine. I think Beckett knows that. Further proof that they know that is that they dont even include pre-1948 cards in their online edition. At least they could pay lip service to it but they don't even do that.

The other thing is that it seems that the life span of their average reader, from both personal experience and anecdotal evidence here ,is 6th grade up to about Freshmen year of high school. They got keep their articles simple, short and current.

GlynRParson

it stank 10 years ago and it stinks now.