The Shallow End

Derek, aka @RayLankfordCollection on IG, has been around the hobby for decades and has access to some of the best cards of legendary players. Yet his greatest satisfaction comes in supercollecting Ray Lankford, a very good but from far from iconic figure in MLB history. Derek is proof that when it comes to collecting, true value comes from emotional connection, not monetary value.

Where Dave lives, a card show is a special occasion. They don't happen all that often, but that doesn't mean they're not plagued with the same issues as card shows across the country. At least the dollar boxes were good.

(Originally aired 11.17.2023) Bad habits never die. They come, they go, but they're never truly gone. In this episode, Dave covers a recent misstep in the hobby.

(Originally aired 11.10.2023) As sports fans we are witnesses to the beginning of an incredible journey: the start of Victor Wembanyama's career. This might be one of the few times when collecting cards makes the situation less fun, not more. In this episode, Dave wonders whether Wembanyama is better enjoyed on our screens than in our collections.

(Originally aired 11.3.2023) Paul Hickey has a simple question: Why? The person behind @sportscardstrategy and NoOffSeason.com visits with Dave to discuss why it's important to investigate the personal motives behind our collecting. Paul is a proud sports-card investing strategist who's built his business on transparency. What you see is what you get. No tricks, no misdirection, just straight-forward talk about sports cards and money.

(Originally aired 10.27.2023) It's an accepted fact since the dawn of time that 1980s baseball cards are the most fun baseball cards—even if they're clearly not the most financially valuable. Dan and Dave talk '80s cards, '80s baseball, and share five of their favorites.

(Originally aired 10.20.2023) Collecting cards can mean so much more than their financial worth or how pretty they look when displayed. They can connect us with past generations. In this episode, Dave and Rob Girard explore the deeper potential of sports cards.

(Originally aired 10.13.2023) We're trained over time in the sports-card hobby who we should and should not trust. But this week, Dave had an experience that could have gone horribly wrong instead turn out perfect. Let's celebrate.

(Originally aired 10.6.2023) Dave has one grail card: the 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson. But it's so far out of reach that the only way to get close would be to sell or trade everything he owns. Should he do it?

(Originally aired 9.29.2023) Last month, Dave listened to nearly 60 sports-card podcasts in one week. After that, he needed a break. In this episode, he talks about what he learned about the hobby, content producers, and his own place in the collecting space.