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Sports cards are supposed to be an escape, but what if instead of an escape they're a hideout?

(Corrected version after unedited draft was uploaded) For years I denied that the changing of the calendar year mattered. But I was wrong. The transition from one year to another isn't just an opportunity to re-evaluate parts of our collections, it's a psychological moment to become better collectors. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

In this episode we explore the collecting brain of graphic artist Matt, @MattyH_Cards on Instagram. In addition to being a huge fan of Baltimore sports and the University of Miami, Matt is a professional graphic designer who looks at the hobby just a little differently from the rest of us. This discussion is a fascinating journey into the mind of someone who thinks deeply about all things hobby design, from his own IG feed to the annual designs of card companies.

We are collecting in baseball cards' industrial era. Multibillion dollar companies and social media compete for our interests, improve our experiences, exploit our personalities, and bring out both our better and worse angels. In this episode, we talk through them all. OBC is hosted by Jason @Contrarian_Cards and Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

What do you do when a sports card you know belongs in slab looks better unslabbed? Is what's right for the collector the same thing as what's right for the card? The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Let's remember, recap, and rate 2025 as the. year draws to a close. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

There is so much noise in the hobby, so much content, so many distractions, and so many options. Ribhu (@PerimeterCollectibles), a dealer and collector for 25 years, is here with an important message: Think about what you like, then collect it. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

We're still talking about Walter Benjamin's 1931 essay about collecting. In this episode, Aaron @Two2SportsCards jumps on the mic to discuss the Benjamin quote that most resonated with Aaron and his collecting: “… ownership is the most intimate relationship that one can have to objects. Not that they come alive in him; it is he who lives in them.” The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The baseball card landscape has witnessed several shifts since the turn of the millennium. In this tiered ranking, we determine which years stand out, which fall back, and which years do we wish would just go away? OBC is hosted by Jason @contrarian_cards and Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

In 1931, German philosopher Walter Benjamin wrote an essay about collecting. Nearly a century later, that essay is as applicable today as it was then. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards (IG)

In all walks of life, we have a habit of talking about a problem once and moving to the next thing. Last summer, gambling and addiction in the sports card hobby had a moment. It seemed everyone was talking about it. Then, we moved on to the next big thing, whether it was The National or the latest scandal. In this episode, Alyx of CollectorsMD returns to update us on his organization's mission to help collectors who feel out of control. We also talk about a well-known sports card company using a 13 year old in an ad campaign for its repack product. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Pat (@Insta_account_haver) returns to The Shallow End to discuss his experiences setting up for the first time at a card show—and with only 24 hours notice to get ready. What Pat found at the show, besides the cards, made it all worth it. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Just because you're a fan of a team, or a player, or even a comic book, it doesn't mean you have to collect their sports cards. In this episode, Aaron (@collect_like_a_champion) shares his story of how his collecting journey became more rewarding once he stopped trying to collect so much and focused on what was most important. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Sometimes we have moments that put life into perspective. What is important? What matters? When that happens, it's also a chance to re-evaluate how we feel about our sports cards. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Shohei Ohtani's performance in the Dodgers' NLCS clincher drove us back to the microphones a few weeks early. We talk about his cards, his performance, his cards, his legacy, and his cards. Overthinking Baseball Cards is hosted by Jason @contrarian_cards and Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards