I dealt with a lot of people who helped me out with my card collecting before the internet days... The following names stand out... some I dealt with many times...some once or twice..but they stand out for their courtesy and assistance in helping out a young collector...
Larry Fristch (first bought from him back in 1972!), Renata Galasso (she used to send personal letters confirming that the order was sent out), Josh Evans (still enjoy going back and looking at his old catalogues) , Politcial Gallery (they used to have some nice stuff!), Marcol and Angie Rol of Southern Cards, Bill Henderson and his common boxes, Stan Martucci (and his complete sets), Woody Gelman, Dick Dobbins (I sure miss seeing him at the San Mateo collectors shows which is also now gone too), Frank Nagy (nice nice man) , Dick Reuss (ditto) , Charlie Conlon ( I think Rob was right..it seems like Charlie DID deal with pretty much everyone in this hobby at least once!), John Stommen, Jerry Johnson ( a really nice man..just like his son) , Kit Young (great catalogues) , Lew Lipset, John Spaulding, Dave Kohler ( I remember he let me root through his stash of bb cards and Hartland statues behind the table at the National in SF) , King's Cards in Berkeley (what a store packed with cards cards and cards) , Jim Elder (his mail auctions from FLA had some great stuff), Greg Businneau.
Oh and though I didn't buy anything from him...but, Barry Halper...got to spend some minutes chatting with him at the SF National...his collection in the Beckett book inspired me to collect some of those same cards and started me on the way to the type collection..when I told him that, his eyes lit up.
The Great BB Card, Trading and Flipping Book also was a big influence for me too...I still have my tattered copy that I bought at B Dalton's!
Ricky Yo