Would anyone here know whether or not Sam Hinton personally knew Ed "Doc" Ricketts of Monterey, on whom Steinbeck loosely based the character of "Doc" in Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday?

Yes, he did. Once in a casual conversation with Sam the name of Woody Guthrie came up and Sam said something which indicated that he had met Woody. When we asked how he came to meet Woody he replied, "John Steinbeck introduced us".

Bev and Jerry