Burdick and Wharton seem like no brainers to me, the ultimate pioneers of the hobby amassing piles of cards driven by the simple passion of collecting.
I wouldn't include the sports figures or those whose greatest accomplishments had to do with business like Rosen, Orlando, etc. Someone like Lipset added immensely to the hobby in addition to running auctions and Id consider him much more influential.
I think the answers are based more on if its a hobby or a business. I don't care about TPGs, selling high grade cards or all the other stuff that goes with industry growth. I care about the research and compilation, bringing awareness and opening the doors to knowledge and bringing others into the hobby based on the DNA of collecting. So Im not sure who'd I name the other two but know who I wouldn't.
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