Wow Glad to hear Goody is still alive and well. I too dealt with him..over the phone about his ad....I think that was about 1974 and I was also a snotty nosed kid..and I got yelled at. But I did get some nice 56 Topps cards from him eventually.
Also bought complete 73 topps series 4 and 5 from Larry Fristch that year since I couldn't find them in my area stores. I spoke to him over the phone and he encouraged me to complete sets and then work backwards as I got older and had more money...but most of all enjoy and have fun.
My first big purchase was in 75..bought a complete 72 set from Stan Martucci in Staten Island off of his ad in a sports magazine.
I also bought a bunch of singles from the early 70's sets from Bruce Yeko after I read about him having over a million cards in the BB card flippin book.
I wish I was collecting pre war back then...now that would have been sweet!
Ricky Y