The Shallow End

Josh is a sports-card collector of many interests: vintage, modern, Yankees, superstars from across MLB. In this episode, learn from a collector who remembers that sports cards are supposed to be a hobby, fun, and most of all, an escape from everyday life. Find Josh on IG at @InspiredSportscards.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

There's a term in the British art world used to describe someone who doesn't think for themselves, who only collects based on what others are doing, and what they think is "right." In this episode, we talk about that insult and how it applies to sports cards.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

In the third installment of The Shallow End: Total Content, we catch up with some of the most interesting hobby content from the last month.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

Soccer-collector Mark (@SJSoccerCards) joined the hobby just two years ago. Like all of us, he's making mistakes, learning lessons, and discovering which cards stoke his interests. In this episode, meet a collector who appreciates cards as much for their artistic value as for their personal connections.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

I pressed the reset button. I eliminated 90 percent of my collection to acquire one card. In this episode, I discuss how I got the deal done, the emotions surrounding it, and whether "The Shallow End" is still an appropriate name for this podcast.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

We're told we should collect the greats. The GOATs. But over the last 12-18 months, I've learned the best way to get a hobby education isn't through the legends, but through collecting obscure players who also had cards produced in legendary sets. That is a more practical entry point into a richer hobby experience.

Sometimes the moment comes when the truth hits you: Your sports-card PC isn't what you want it to be. That can be a bad feeling, but it comes with good news. It's never too late to change how and what you collect.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards on IG)

By now, the phrase "10x the hobby" has become as cliché as it is superficial. It's a slogan for a cash grab. But 10x the community? Now we're onto something. That's how Samuel C. Evans (@thesprtzcardcoltr) describes his ambition for the sports-card hobby. He wants collectors to feel welcome, encouraged, and at peace when they look at their cards.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

How boring would this hobby be if we all collected the same thing? In this episode, we speak with Chad aka @blackhat_cards on IG. He collects players from his beloved Minnesota, but he also collects the villains of sport. Many of the athletes who make up his PC have decided to wear the black hat.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

The latest edition of The Shallow End: Total Content. Featuring …

Cardboard Chronicles; Cards to the Moon; Stacking Slabs; The Collector's Gene; Sports Card Madness; Sports Cards Nonsense; Lemme Get That Podagraph; Wax Pack Hero.

Contact Dave Schwartz on IG @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards