2018 trade package #11: Chronicles of Fuji

If it wasn't already obvious from the eight other times I've posted packages from him here (or the 10 on TMV), Mark of the Chronicles of Fuji is a person everyone should get to trade with.  Not only did he give a nice boost to a bunch of my favorite baseball collections, he also went out of his way to include some great Michigan stuff as well!

Such as 80% of the Fab Five, looking extra fab in their college unis on some great Classic and Signature Rookies cardboard.  The SR Kromax cards look especially great and I'll likely peel them at some point.

It may look like Fuji Bipped me with five cards of the late Robert "Tractor" Traylor, but these are actually all different.  From what I can tell, cards #1 and 3-5 are base versions (#s 4, 46, 63, and 64) with the latter two featuring Stephon Marbury and Tracy McGrady, respectively, and the second is a much thicker version of card #36, leading me to believe it's a parallel.  More Michigan uniform goodness!

Speaking of which, how about this bunch?  I was extra motivated (e.g. at all) to post these today after Michigan's dismantling of Nebraska yesterday.  Most of these 90s/early 00s guys went on to some kind of NFL career, with Jenkins and Walker the ones who didn't amount to much.  That acetate card of Amani Toomer from 1996 Clear Assets is ridiculously cool and I'll be on the lookout for more of my guys now that I'm aware of it.  Marquise Walker was the other PC guy to get a bump today thanks to a 2002 SAGE base.  What are you doing, Marquise?  You're a WR, not a QB!

As was the case beginning with this evening's TMV post, the hits kept coming!  Braylon is seen here on jerseys from 2005 Upper Deck and Fleer's 2006 Hot Prospects.  That reminds me--before they won last Thursday, was 2006 the last time the Browns won a game?  Sure feels like it!  That's 73 hits of the former #1 WR.

Next is longtime QB Brian Griese, and I can easily call this my favorite card in the bunch.  a 2003 Leaf Certified Materials Mirror Red jersey (#031/150), I'd love this even if it wasn't that nicer (and rarer) parallel.  The Donruss/Leaf/Playoff brands were responsible for some gorgeous designs for their hits around this time, and this one is simple proof of that.  I'm thrilled to add it as my 10th relic of Griese and 18th hit of his overall.

And we'll end things on a high note with a trio of hits of a guy we already saw, Giants WR Amani Toomer.  The solo jersey is a somewhat early example of a relic card from 2001 SP Game Used Edition and stars a nice Giants blue swatch.  Then there's the big highlight in the form of a helmet piece from the same year's UD Game Gear Helmets offering.  I count just four other examples of that piece of equipment in my collection so it's definitely a rare treat, not to mention a fantastic looking card.  

Last up is a shared dual jersey relic from 2002 Playoff Prestige (#036/500) that also includes former Giants (and well-traveled) QB Kerry Collins (too bad it couldn't have been Todd instead!).  While Collins never tasted glory it was Toomer that would earn a ring with New York in 2007.  Thanks to Mark I can now claim 24 hits of the Giants WR great.

Once again thanks for your generosity and attention to detail, Fuji!  I hope I can respond in kind before long with some west coast winners.

2017 trade package #11: Chronicles of Fuji

For the second straight year Christmas came early thanks to West Coast legend Mark from the Chronicles of Fuji.  Chances are you came over here from this evening's TMV post and saw the generous display of Tigers goodies he sent my way.

Well, in keeping wit the "'Tis the season" theme, Fuji also sent me some Wolverines whose sports are still going strong this time of year:

We'll start with this six-pack of Michigan uni issues straight from Classic's 1992 Four Sport Gold factory set.  Limited to just 9500 (so scarce!) they feature some nice photography and a very good glossy design considering the brand's previous lower-end offerings.

From college football, which is about to enter its pre-bowl game lull for a bit, we begin with LB Erick Anderson and LB Mike Evans, both of whom have appeared here (TK Legacy auto and RC, respectively).  Then we have a pair featuring all-time great Desmond Howard, including a solo card plus one highlighting Des' Heisman victory (as well as that of QB Ty Detmer).  OL Greg Skrepenak, who's also been featured here thanks to my pursuit of Wolverines RCs, rounds out the football bunch with a nice shot of his hand in the dirt.

The product was named Four Sport so it makes sense that hockey was included, and that gives us a card of former UM sniper Denny Felsner.  I'll admit I didn't know much about the 90s LW since he played for the school before I was following that team, but once I looked him up I was duly impressed.  In his four seasons in Ann Arbor he put up a prolific 139 goals and 261 points, including 40+ goals during his upperclassman years.  While that didn't translate to a long NHL career--he saw action with the Blues in just 18 games over four seasons while netting a lone score--he's another good example of the kind of talent that's part of the program's history.

Oh yeah, the NFL is still in session as well, though it's harder to care about that since it continues to be inferior to the college version in many ways.  Still, there's plenty of pro versions of Wolverines to collect, and Fuji was nice enough to hit both of my blog namesakes (all three if you include Granderson!) by tossing in this 2008 UD Masterpieces Framed Blue 150 parallel (#029/150) of Super Mario Manningham.  Michigan was well represented in this excellent product as it includes RCs of Manningham, Chad Henne, and Jake Long on its beautiful artistic design.  And as always, blue is the best parallel color, obviously!  This is definitely a fantastic addition of the former Super Bowl hero.

Again, Mark, thanks for filling up my mailbox with all of this Tigers/Wolverines goodness, and I look forward to returning the favor in time for Christmas!

2016 trade package #17: Fuji wishes me a Mario Christmas and a happy Blue year

If you caught my post on TMV this evening, you know that Mark from the Chronicles of Fuji went all Hitsville, USA on me with another amazingly generous package to end 2016.  That theme wasn't limited to just the Tigers, though, as he put a nice "super" star atop the tree that was this latest envelope, including a card for one of my favorite player collections--the guy whose name happens to grace this here blog:

Super Mario!  Mark sent me what will become my 113th card of Manningham in the form of this color-appropriate Throwback Threads jersey relic from 2014 Elite.  The bold blue Giants jersey swatch pairs beautifully with the other instances of that color on the design and in the photo.  I also like the added bonus of serial numbering, and this card is stamped 119/199 up front.  Definitely an elite addition for one of my favorite Michigan WRs of all time.  This bumps him up to a ridiculous 62 hits, by the way, keeping him at fifth place in my football collection.

Don't think that I'm shocked that Fuji was thoughtful enough to send this my way, though--he previously gifted me cards of Manningham in several past trades:  November, 2015; April of last year; then another in September.

Thanks again for being a super trader in 2016, Mark, and here's to doing it all over again in 2017!

2016 trade package #14: Fuji is a Super trader!

I'm sure everyone is already aware that Mark from the Chronicles of Fuji runs one of the best collecting blogs out there.  I'm also 100% positive that those of you who've received cards from him--which is a lot of you--have a good idea of how amazing of a trade partner he is.

This week's evidence:  a one-card trade package.  How good could it be?  I'd call it SUPER:

Mario Manningham 2008 SPx triple jersey auto RC (#456/599)

As in "Super" Mario Manningham, who won a Super Bowl in 2011-12 thanks, in part, to his super catch:

I give credit to folks like Mark who remember to dig up Wolverines for me even when they have to go to the trouble of remembering who's an alum when they're pictured in NFL uniforms.  Though I suppose Mario's last name is part of this here blog's title.

Anyway, this is a great card of one of the best WRs I've been privileged to watch during my Michigan fandom.  The SPx brand was one of UD's best when it came to putting out fun, higher-end RCs featuring relics and autographs like this one, which also triples as a rookie card!  I also have such a card of fellow 2008 draftee Jake Long, and I hope to track down the other guys eventually.

Fuji, thanks again for your generosity and another contribution towards helping me achieve my favorite impossible goal:  too many Manninghams!

2016 trade package #7: The Chronicles of Blue-ji

Not only did Mark from the Chronicles of Fuji send me a great package full of Tigers that I showed off on TMV this evening--he also included a trio of Michigan cards, giving me another opportunity for another exciting two-part trade post.  I can often count on traders that also collect one or more college teams to include Wolverines in trade packages, but that doesn't lessen my appreciation when they do.

Here's what Fuji threw in:

Devin Funchess 2015 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Game Day Tickets

This is a nice inclusion as I work to acquire bunches of Funchess, Michigan's most recent owner of the #1 jersey.  I love the shot of an intense-looking Devin as he secures the ball and ranges towards paydirt.  Contenders has long been an excellent Panini brand and this insert does plenty to keep me renewing my fandom of the ticket-themed product.

Mario Manningham 2008 Bowman Fabric of the Future jersey

Mario Manningham 2008 Upper Deck Game Day Gear jersey

In the TMV post you got to see two (of many) Verlanders, and Fuji kept up the theme here with a pair of relics of this here blog's namesake.  Better yet, I got jersey swatches from two different brands and in two different colors.  Too many twos!  These Super Marios give me a crazy 59 hits in my football PC.

Thanks once again for remembering the Maize & Blue in another great envelope stuffed with hobby goodness, Mark!

2016 trade package #2: West Coast Wolverines from Fuji

Last November Mark of the Chronicles of Fuji sent me a cool trade package and then mentioned he might not be able to send anything for a while.  I knew better than that--I think he enjoys trading too much to go on that much of a hiatus with anyone--and so I was pleasantly surprised, but not shocked--to get a new envelope from him the other day.

The haul I showed off on TMV (which you probably already checked out before heading here) was great, but I'm excited the most for the stuff in this post.  Why?  100% MICHIGAN UNIFORMS!

Barry Larkin 2015 Panini Contenders base and Old School Colors

Most of you probably aren't shocked that I had both of these Larkins in my COMC cart--naturally I went looking for them as soon as I knew they existed--but Fuji beat me to the punch, and that worked out very well for me!  I love how Panini does such a great job with the college stuff since that's right up the alley of collectors like me.

The base card features a standard Contenders design with the trademark ticket motif, and with it goes a very nice college action photo (and the school's logo is displayed prominently).  The back notes something I've mentioned a few times in this space:  that Bo Schembechler really wanted Barry for the football team.  I'd say his decision worked out pretty well for him.

Meanwhile, the Old School Colors insert goes with a sepia tone along with a different photo.  The back of this one also notes that he could have played football, but instead led the baseball team to a pair of CWS berths while winning consecutive Big Ten POTY awards.  It's pretty easy to see why he was the most famous baseball alum since Bill Freehan left for Detroit.

And one more card, definitely my favorite of everything Mark sent this time:

Chris Perry 2004 Topps Autographs auto

Well now, that's just a flat-out beautiful card!  Considering what Topps has become sometimes it's hard to remember that around ten years ago they came up with stuff that looked as good as this signature card.  The large autograph area is a nice touch, and the black border adds nicely to the look, but what really makes this card a winner is the excellent photo of Perry running to paydirt in his Wolverines home uniform.  It's not the top-rated helmet for nothing!  I most definitely owe Fuji a big thanks for a great looking card that becomes my 47th hit of the running back, and instantly one of my favorites.

Thanks again, Mr. Fuji, for some great Wolverines!  I'll work on responding in kind soon via an upcoming show and COMC package.

2015 trade package #25: Michigan Man Mark

If there's been only one benefit of joining the card-collecting blogging world a few years ago--and trust me, there's been many--it's getting to know amazing writers/traders like Mark from the Chronicles of Fuji.  Fuji comprises a quarter of what would be my Mount Rushmore of bloggers (which might make for a fun future post!), and he never fails to send great cards my way, especially unannounced.

I showed off some really nice stuff from him over on TMV this evening, and better yet he included some Wolverines to make for a two-part trade post!  Here are the Michigan cards he sent:

I don't know if he had these set aside for a bit or not, but Fuji's timing of sending these Michigan Football RCs couldn't have been better now that they're an ongoing project of mine.  The top two are of former go-to WR Jeremy Gallon, and that pair actually represents 100% of his RCs, so there's one player to check off.  I loves me some Upper Deck college photos, and these hail from 2014 SP Authentic and UD.  The other guy is Titans LT Taylor Lewan, and while he has a few more to chase than Gallon does, they're still helpful.  Those are 2014 Finest and SP Authentic rookies.

Oh yeah, one other interesting card slipped out of the bunch:

Yessir, a 2008 Press Pass autograph of the inspiration for the title of the blog you're reading, Mr. Mario Manningham!  On-card signature plus Michigan uni equals so much win!  Manningham may not be playing these days, but his spiritual successor and fellow #86 jersey-wearer Jehu Chesson has lived up to the legacy of Super Mario in many ways this year, including some key play's in Saturday's victory over Penn State.

Thanks again for such a generous package of cards, Mark, and whether or not you can scrape up more trade bait, expect to see some cards headed your way before the year is up!

2015 trade package #6: a Wolverine deluge(i) from Fuji

A couple weeks ago Mark from the Chronicles of Fuji sent me a ridiculously generous trade package.  I'm talking flat rate box generous.  A huge chunk of that box was filled with great Tigers stuff which I posted on TMV, but Fuji balanced things out nicely with some top notch Michigan stuff as well!  Check it out:

Barry Larkin 1998 Leaf Rookies and Stars

My 251st Larkin is this base card from Leaf's inaugural Rookies & Stars set, and that's a product that still exists today under the Panini umbrella.  It has a nice shot of the HOFer at the plate.

<Ron Swanson voice>  End baseball section </Ron Swanson voice>

And now for some basketball:

Kicking off the surprisingly large basketball haul is this Glenn Robinson 2001-02 Fleer Authentix jersey, a fun relic (literally!) of the bygone era that resulted in some fun designs from manufacturers such as Fleer.  I actually kidded around in my recent Sports Cards From the Dollar Store trade post about starting a "Michigan relatives" PC after Doug sent me cards of a couple Wolverines' sons, and now I have a hit of a father to go with those in the form of Purdue and NBA star Glenn (Jr.).

Louis Bullock 1999 Press Pass Authentics Autographs auto

Bullock was one of Michigan's better basketballers of his era, one that proved to be a difficult one for fans because of Bullock and others being involved in the Ed Martin booster scandal.  Though Milwaukee drafted him in 1999 and then flipped him to Orlando, he never appeared in the NBA, but he did carve out a decent European career.  He's one of two new players heading to my basketball collection courtesy of Fuji.

Jamal Crawford 2006-07 Upper Deck UD Game Jersey jersey

Crawford isn't exactly a stranger to this blog as this is his third hit I've shown here (all relics), a nice blue Knicks swatch.  I'm happy that he's been able to last this long in the league, and he's currently with the Clippers, though right now apparently he's hurt.

Juwan Howard 1994 Signature Rookies Tetrad Autographs auto (#2257/7750)

The well-known Howard also reaches three hits thanks to this Signature Rookies card, my first autograph of one of the famous Fab 5 Wolverines.  Jesus, I can't believe these guys had to sign that many cards!

Ray Jackson 1995 Signature Rookies Draft Day Signatures auto (#4949/7750)

Did somebody say "Fab 5"?!  Uh, yeah, I just did.  The other collection newcomer today is Jackson, who was one of just two in that group (Jimmy King) to stay for all four years of his college career, plus he wasn't involved in the Martin scandal.  This is a great shot of him throwing one up, and I like that he added his jersey number to the signature, especially considering he also had to sign an insane 7750 of these.

Robert Traylor 1998 SP Top Prospects Vital Signs auto

This is my second autograph of big man Robert Traylor, another Martin scandal player who was later drafted in the first round by Dallas in '98 and then flipped to Milwaukee in a deal that included some German dude named Nowitzki.  He sadly passed away about four years ago.

The rest of this post focuses on my favorite Michigan sport, football:

 

Tom Brady 2008 Donruss Gridiron Gear Playbook Gold (#205/500)

A serial-numbered insert of 2014-15 NFL champion Tom Brady for my football inserts collection?  Don't mind if I do!

Mike Hart 2008 Press Pass Autographs Bronze auto

A new Mike Hart auto and it's a Michigan uniform card?  Awesome!  I have a Hart from a different Press Pass set from the same year but I really prefer this one with its horizontal layout, great design (including the photo), and Mike's excellent signature with his jersey number.  This is Hart #57.

The other Hart in the package comes from 2009 Topps' Career Best auto set.  I think the last time I flipped through Fuji's trade bait he had something like three of these, so I wasn't shocked to see it in this package.  The back, by the way, lists his bests during his Michigan days, which is a nice touch.

Sticking with 2008 and going back to the Michigan uni theme is this 2008 Topps Rookie Progression auto of LT stalwart Jake Long (who hopefully won't be forced to retire from the NFL after multiple injuries).  I have a feeling a certain Michigan fan to my southwest will appreciate finding this in his mailbox along with...

...this beautiful 2002 Finest auto/RC of former star WR Marquise Walker.  It also features a Wolverines game photo, Walker's excellent signature (with jersey number), and serial numbering to 1200.

Marquise Walker 2002 Playoff Prime Signatures Autographs auto (#20/95)

However, this Walker auto, which was signed on my favorite type of Panini sticker (what?  The holofoil looks awesome!) is mine all mine.  It's my 21st different card of the former Buc and the sixth card of him that includes an autograph.

Mark, I was absolutely blown away by the quantity and quality of what you sent this time and I promise to get you back before much longer!

Y'all should look out for more trade posts, some of which may also be two-parters, soon!

2014 trade package #6: Do you know the way to San Jose?

As I noted over on TMV this evening, I recently completed my first trade with Mark of the Chronicles of Fuji.  We had some minor trade discussions over the last year or two, but nothing definitive until recently.  I picked out some awesome stuff from his copious amount of trade bait, and in return he'll be getting lots from me, including some COMC goodies that will hopefully arrive soon.  In addition to what you can see over on the sister blog, I picked up the following cards:

This here is a 2005-06 Parkhurst of former Flame and four goal-scorer for the Stars Eric Nystrom, whom I mentioned in yesterday's post.  This is a classy looking RC of Doug's favorite Wolverine (2/14!), and one of a few Michigan alumni I found available in Fuji's collection.

John Madden 2000-01 BAP Signature Series auto

Somehow I made it this far in my Michigan-collecting career without hauling in an autograph of three-time Cup winner John Madden.  Hell, I didn't even have a single hit of him until recently, when Doug sent me a plate as part of this trade.  That's no longer a problem for me thanks to Fuji, who swapped me this purdy BAP signature.  I talked a lot about how great that set is yesterday, and you can see why, since it consistently features so many players I collect!  2000-01 happens to feature one of the brand's best designs, by the way.

Marty Turco 2009-10 Upper Deck Champ's Threads jersey

Maybe Marty just wanted to further pull away and increase his lead over hockey #2 Brendan Morrison; the contest is now 24-20 in Turco's favor, thanks to this mini jersey, which I happily added to my PC of my favorite goalie ever.  Jerseys in the form of minis are always fun as they take up a larger proportion of the card.  Still, I think Upper Deck used the space pretty well in this design.

Tyrone Wheatley 2000 Playoff Prestige Team Checklist auto

And yes, I did land one football hit in this package in the form of this excellent Tyrone Wheatley auto, my third (and fourth hit overall) of the former star RB.  Wheatley has a very interesting signature, and even went so far as to include his jersey number here, which is a big plus.  As a bonus, since this card is a checklist, Raiders teammate Charles Woodson (in his first stint with the team that drafted him, of course) has his name appear on the back as well.

Mark, I'm glad we were finally able to get together on a trade, and I'm thrilled with my pickups.  I just hope you enjoy what I'll hopefully be sending you this week!  Everyone reading this should already be following the Chronicles of Fuji, but if you aren't for some reason, well, what are you waiting for?!  Head over there now!