Who are the 10 most important collectors in hobby history

[Leon]

I hate to be so agreeable, because it's not generally my nature, but you guys are absolutely correct. What we are discussing really needs to be split into two, as one is not really dependant on the other.

1. Who has/had the best baseball card collection?
1b. Who has/had the best sports memorabilia collection?

2. Who has/have contributed most (positively) to the baseball card hobby? (I am being specific on purpose)

Defining the questions would lead to different answers, most times, and I can understand and would even stick up for a collectors right to be private. It's their collecting...more power to them. On the other hand, to contribute positively to the hobby, it might be difficult to remain anonymous or behind the scenes.

regards

[GoSoxBoSox]

All would be interesting conversations.

I am particularly interested in a thread that addresses "Who has/have contributed most (positively) to the baseball card hobby?" and what was the contribution and impact? I think everyone can learn something on a thread like that and it would not be nearly as self-serving as the original thread topic was meant to be.

Edited to add: Right after Jefferson Burdick I would like to nominate Elliot Bassin for putting Net54 on the map

[teetwoohsix]

+1

[Peter_Spaeth]

Finding and buying cards, and selling them as a collector, was made easier by a quantum leap with the advent of ebay, so I would nominate Pierre Omidyar.

[GoSoxBoSox]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Finding and buying cards, and selling them as a collector, was made easier by a quantum leap with the advent of ebay, so I would nominate Pierre Omidyar.

True, true Peter. I guess we should probably set out by saying the contributions should be specifically made for this hobby (card collecting). If not I can see people adding the inventors of paper, camera's, ink, printing presses, etc. I wouldn't call any of these people, nor Pierre, great sportscard hobby contributors. Just my opinion, of course. But I can see both sides of that argument.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Like him or not (hi Jeff!) Bill Mastro was a driving force in establishing the auction as a fixture in the hobby.

[calvindog]

Bill is an awesome dude. I hope he can be Best Man at my 14th wedding someday.