Cards
Hobby icon Dr. James Beckett joins new trading card company
New trading card company Oh YAAS has already made a big splash in the hobby as it prepares for its June 5 launch, adding such influential movers and shakers as Atari founder Nolan Bushnell and Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph to its leadership team.
Now it has landed one of the most respected names in the trading card and sports collectibles hobby.
Longtime collector Dr. James Beckett, the founder of Beckett Media and Beckett Grading Services (BGS), has joined Oh YAAS as a Strategic Advisor.
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A pioneer of the modern trading card hobby, Dr. Beckett helped transform collecting through the launch of the popular Beckett Price Guide in 1979. Under his guidance, Beckett launched its Beckett Grading Service for card grading and authentication in 1999. It’s sub-grading system put Beckett at the forefront of the card-grading era and made the company one of the leading authorities on trading cards and sports memorabilia.
Dr. Beckett has advised Oh YAAS since the company’s inception, working closely with founder and President Scott Terrell and Chief Collectible Officer Jeremy Allen, both longtime friends of Beckett.
“For collectors like Jeremy and myself, Jim Beckett has always been one of the most important and respected voices this hobby has ever had,” Terrell said. “To now have him formally join Oh YAAS is an incredible honor—not just personally, but professionally for our entire company.
“Jim helped build the foundation of the modern trading card industry,” Terrell added. “He represents the trust, integrity, and passion that generations of collectors grew up with. But what makes this moment even more meaningful is that Jim doesn’t just represent the past of this industry—he represents the future as well. He understands where this industry is going and shares the same values we believe will shape the next generation of collecting.”
“Collectors like me grew up using Beckett as the compass for the entire hobby,” Allen said. “Jim’s influence on trading cards is impossible to overstate. Beyond that, Scott and I are fortunate to call him a friend. To now have him officially advising Oh YAAS as we build the future of collectibles is something truly special.”
Dr. Beckett, 77, has remained active in the hobby with a popular collecting podcast, guess appearances on other shows, and through consulting and his own collecting.
“Over the years, I’ve watched the trading card industry continue to evolve, and what Scott, Jeremy and the Oh YAAS team are building genuinely stands out,” Dr. Beckett said in a release from Oh YAAS. “This company understands that the future of collecting is about more than just owning cards; it’s about creating deeper experiences and stronger connections for collectors. Oh YAAS is approaching the hobby in a way that respects its history while embracing where it’s headed, and I’m excited to formally join them as an advisor.”
Oh YAAS is launching a new category it calls “experiential collectibles.” It plans to embed digital activation technology into physical trading cards that unlock exclusive experiences, digital content and direct engagement with athletes, celebrities, artists and entertainers. It’s strategy is to create collectibles that connect collectors and fans with athletes and personalities through trading cards.
The company is led by CEO Ken May, the former CEO of Topgolf and FedEx Kinko’s. The company’s first licensing partnership is with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
