Who had a positive impact on your collection ?

[Seven]

I really enjoyed reading through this thread. Always nice seeing stories like this.

My Dad, for getting me started first and foremost. Mostly Junk Wax and Modern Stuff at the time, then eventually into vintage. Telling me stories about who put what cards in their Bike Spokes growing up. Taking me to shows early on, starting off a very small vintage collection. Centered around Mickey Mantle, Carl Yazstremski, Willie Mays, guys he grew up seeing. Baseball is what connects us, I think I took appreciation of the hobby a little bit further than him because I'm a big history buff but he got me started.

This entire forum has been a positive impact on my collection, I've had some great interactions and transactions with all different people on here. I'm looking forward to making more, I guess you can say it's a positive impact on my collection but a negative impact on my wallet!

Specifically dealers, I would probably have to say George Mollyn and Ted Zanidakas. Ted I don't believe I purchased anything from you in the past, but you've been very helpful to me, never hesitating to answer an email. Ted also confirmed the fact that It was George I purchased from many years ago. George was very kind to a young kid and had no problem explaining the ins and outs of the cards I was asking about. I remember that interaction fondly.

I've seen some of the good things and bad things about this hobby, I can safely say though I've spoken to and met some great people. I'm looking forward to collecting for a long time, and hopefully passing it along to my children when I settle down.

[philliesphan]

Mark Macrae-

Probably the nicest guy I've ever met in the hobby, a fountain of knowledge that is super personable, and combines all of the passions of a long-time collector with the sensibilities of a fan and a dealer . I've purchased so much from him over the years, and feel like I've learned so many things about the PCL and Zeenuts in particular by asking and learning - largely starting a little over a decade ago when our family moved from the East Coast out to the best coast. It's been a love affair of all things PCL since, from the stories to the players, and especially the cards. I am so thankful for everything Mark has taught me over the years.

And helping me find a few neat pieces, too

[Bram99]

Originally Posted by philliesphan

Mark Macrae-

Probably the nicest guy I've ever met in the hobby, a fountain of knowledge that is super personable, and combines all of the passions of a long-time collector with the sensibilities of a fan and a dealer . I've purchased so much from him over the years, and feel like I've learned so many things about the PCL and Zeenuts in particular by asking and learning - largely starting a little over a decade ago when our family moved from the East Coast out to the best coast. It's been a love affair of all things PCL since, from the stories to the players, and especially the cards. I am so thankful for everything Mark has taught me over the years.

And helping me find a few neat pieces, too

I agree with this. Mark is great to deal with and has a lot of cool stuff and is very patient with buyers like me.

[andybecker]

Terry Knouse

[Bobbycee]

Bill Brodhead for all his T206 knowledge & good deals.

[JCM2009]

Biggest influence in my collecting was the Strongsville Holiday Inn Sportscard Show in Cleveland. I remember going to the shows in the 80s through the late 90s and being overwhelmed by the volume of different sets back then. Nothing like the shiny stuff now. I decided that rather than building sets, I would collect exclusively vintage Cleveland Indians/Naps.

[Tere1071]

I have had three major influences in my collecting life. First, it was my mother who took me to my first show in 1973 and never complained about my spending money on my cards while I lived at home and for giving me money twice to make major purchases.

There was a gentleman by the name of Wes Schleiger of Wes's Hall of Fame. At age 14 he took me under his wing and pretty much taught me the hobby. He gave me a job helping him sell at our monthly baseball card shows and at the conventions. I never made a lot of money working for Wes, but just the experience of being around all of those baseball cards. To this day, I was blessed by his acquaintance.

Finally, this gentleman has been forgotten in the hobby, but he was one of the big dealers of the late-70s and early-80s: Mark Christensen. If you have the first printing of the Becket Baseball Guide you'll see his buy ad. Mark wasn't into baseball and we gave him grief for that, but he hired me to help him with mail-order business and then with his store. At times the relationship was contentious, but he trusted me and I had the joy of working at several of his locations full-time until I left to go into teaching. A few bad breaks finally ended his sports collectibles business, but if he ever sees these words I thank him from the bottom of my heart for that opportunity.