Update: This magazine has not changed over the years. It is still the foremost authority on card collecting regardless of the sport. I periodically buy a Beckett every couple months just to see how my cards are doing.


Old review


I got into collecting baseball cards when my ex-boyfriend and I were together. Being more of a football fan, myself I bought a couple boxes of cards for him and a Beckett price guide.


The magazine contains lots of useful information. There is a very comprehensive list of all the different brands of baseball cards throughout the year. The price guide also had several symbols which at first glance may seem a bit confusing. However, there was a page that explained the symbols and who was considered a superstar, versus a regular star etc....


The next useful feature was the comparison of the various baseball products for that year. Beckett had people buy boxes of the various cards and listed what the boxes had in them and rated them. The ratings were based on what percent of the set you collect, how many special insert cards were in the box, and whether or not it was a good deal for the money spent. For those of you unfamiliar with baseball cards, inserts are special cards that are printed in limited numbers such as autographs. I have to admit, I got hooked. Being a set collector, this feature really helped me, as who wants to spend $100 on a box of cards only to get 40-50% of the set.

The second feature I liked is that the magazine contains a list of all the scheduled card shows for the month. This page is a big plus for collectors as they can often get the cards they need at a show for a discounted price. It also helps those who are trying to collect specific cards or sets because these shows have more dealers.

In addition, the magazine contains a list of questions posed to an expert regarding cards and their values. This gives novices an excellent opportunity to have their voices heard and questions answered.

Another good feature for the fans, is the fan page. Beckett selects one fan a month to appear in their magazine. They show how the fan acquired his collection. The fan gets both his picture and his collection in the magazine.


The last feature I like is that readers can submit a wantlist of cards valued at no more than $100. If your list is chosen, then you win the cards on your list. This is a good way to find out what the hot cards are now and whether it varies by city.

My biggest and main problem with the magazine is that not every card in the sets are listed. The magazine tends to list the higher paying cards and the less paying cards are left out. Some sets have well over 1000 cards and to list every one of the cards, even those with no value would be a waste of space. However, it is by far the best guide out right now.

In conclusion, I would recommend this for anyone remotely interested in card collecting. This magazine explains everything in a way that even the most novice collector can understand.The only problem I have is that not every card is listed. Other than that though, this magazine is by far the most comprehensive out right now.




Recommended: Yes