He co-wrote "Sea of Cortez" with marine biologist Edward Ricketts, the model for Doc in "Cannery Row"
[DOC] [TLE] Ed Ricketts and the 'Dream' of Cannery Row : NPR [PAR] May 7, 2003 ... Ricketts, a marine biologist, was cast as the fictional "Doc" in Steinbeck's best-
selling novel.