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