2013 trade package #9: Kahuna my trade-a (what a wonderful phrase)

More than two months ago I completed a fantastic trade with Tim H., a.k.a. Big Kahuna, of eclectic blog Enough Already (still love that pic at the top of your blog, buddy).  Well, mostly completed.  See, whereas he included everything he should have, I neglected to pack up one of the original cards he requested from me--a baseball letter patch/auto.  A few weeks went by (I can't remember how long) and I finally got around to sending that his way, along with a few other goodies to make up for my forgetfulness.  Ordinarily that would be the end.  Then again, this is what we're dealing with here:

Proving that all blogging traders are 100% awesome forever and ever, amen, Tim made sure a huge bubble mailer made its way into my mailbox earlier this week.  Besides the cards you'll see below in a moment, he included a note saying he wasn't expecting anything back.  Unfortunately for him, that's not how we roll here at TMM, and I WILL return the favor...eventually.

So if you're reading this blog you know what he sent was Michigan-related.  But maybe you think this was a simple package filled with some random base cards.  Um, what the hell is wrong with you--did you even click the link to the original trade post above?  Tim sends Big Kahuna Burger-quality items, and as we all know, they DO make a tasty burger, so that's saying something.  Here's what was in the package:

Triple-H time!  Half of the package's 10 Michigan uniform cards hail from this group here.  The Press Pass Henne, to start with, looks great.  The SAGE HIT cards are base ones but still appreciated.  Next comes a trio of Mike Hart numbered cards:  the LCM is a rookie #d 1001/1500;  the 2008 Donruss Threads Gridiron Kings (probably my favorite in the package) is a Framed Blue parallel #33/50; and the Finest Moments is an X-Fractor with an even rarer existence--it's #09/25!  After that, of the Trio of Halls, my favorite is the Trilogy right down the middle, a clear RC that's #123/399.

Maybe Tim WAS eating a Kahuna burger when he packed these cards up because most of the package is GRIESE!  Fully one-third of the 24 included cards were of walk-on-to-winner QB Brian Griese.  This really is a great bunch, with the weakest link being the Collector's Edge card that creatively labels him as "JETS WR."  The rest are fantastic, including a pair of nice base cards (Stadium Club FTW!), a shiny Gold Crown Die-Cut, a UD MVP insert, a 2000 Donruss base, a ridiculously nice Elite Passing the Torch (#d 0408/1000) from the days where inserts looked awesome, and finally a Scorecard parallel from Score, #d 0952/1000.  The Passing the Torch insert is just barely my second-favorite of the group because it really is beautiful, especially in-person.  And speaking of sick Elite inserts, the Michigan uni Avant, #d 0326/1000, is an amazing addition to my Michigan insert PC, which I'll be trying to assemble and scan when I have time.

We close things out today with a very strong six-pack.  The first three include a pair of Michigan uni cards of Alan Branch, you know, as in

"Alan Branch kills QBs"?  I already had the BowChro RC, but I'm happy to have another.  Next up is a shiny Crown Royale insert of A-Train that I hadn't ever seen before.  He's followed by Lombardi Award winner LaMarr Woodley, who's STILL a beat.  Finally, there's a numbered 2009 Bowman parallel (#17/50!) of the criminally underemployed Charles Woodson, who deserves AT LEAST one more chance for a second ring (you hear me, Patriots?).

Tim, thanks again for the wonderful surprise of an out-of-the-blue trade package stuffed with high-quality Michigan football inserts!  I'll never get enough, but the rest of you should head over to Enough Already! right now.

2013 trade package #3: "a.k.a. the Big Kahuna"

Another outstanding trade package graced my mailbox this afternoon, and in the collecting world, is there a better feeling than coming home from a long day at work to see a big-ass bubble envelope sticking out and read to be ripped open?  I'd take it over ripping packs any day at this point, that's for sure.

So this one comes from the other side of Lake Erie--Pennsylvania, to be exact.  Tim from Enough Already was already on my good side after nearly bludgeoning my 2009 Topps baseball wantlist to death, then one-upped himself a few weeks ago by asking me what I needed from a crazy nice stack of Wolverines.  I took a long time to respond as I wasn't even sure what I could offer him in return, until I did my spree on the COMC haul.  I'm happy to report that I did send a package his way that I think is going to make his day, but that remains to be seen.

For me, the best part of the package (besides the cards) was what Tim wrote on the interior envelope:  "Thanks again, Dennis.  --Tim (a.k.a. the Big Kahuna)."  Where else but in the nickname-friendly world of blogging/trading could you pull that off?

Anyway, here's the four cards he sent me that I did need:

Tim Jamison 2009 SAGE HIT auto

This is just my second Jamison auto, but I like it a lot--as much as the other I own.  This is simply another one of those SAGE designs I like:  great college photo, non-obnoxious sticker, lots of blue.  Looks to me like Tim's about to make a Purdue OL have a really bad day!

Mario Manningham 2008 Bowman Chrome auto RC

Mario Manningham 2008 Finest auto RC

This pair of Super Mario auto/RCs was a super score for sure.  I know I'd been after both forever, and I still can't believe I didn't have either, but I didn't.  Big Kahuna to the rescue again, with not one but BOTH!  I like the designs on each--of course I tend to love most of the '08 stuff thanks to that being my favorite draft class--but I think I prefer the BowChro over the Finest.  Not by that much, though, and you really can't go wrong with these!  These new additions jump the should-have-been Super Bowl XLVI MVP to 37 cards, tying Adrian Arrington for 5th in the football PC. 

Leon Hall-Ty Law-Charles Woodson 2007 Topps Triple Threads Relic Combos Emerald triple jersey (#06/18)

And here you'll see that I saved for last what I considered to be the best of the package by a wide margin.  When Tim sent me this with the other scans, I couldn't believe my eyes--what a GREAT combination of some of Michigan's best CBs from the last 25 years.  It's rare for Topps to recognize college teams like this, so the "UM" and sort-of Michigan logo are amazing (even if Woodson's "M" is a color any Wolverine fan would cringe at!).  Really this is the kind of thing Triple Threads should be doing instead of some of their less interesting combos.  Regardless, they got it right this year, and all three swatches look fantastic.

This represents my 28th hit of Hall (and first non-auto!); second Ty Law (also a relic); and fifth Woodson, which isn't bad considering how crazy his prices can get.

This was just an amazing haul despite the fact that it's "only" four cards--four awesome PC-worth cards--and exactly the kind of trade I love to make.  And even better, I've actually already sent out my end, so I'm not in debt to yet another trader!

Thanks again, Kahuna, for making my day with some superlative cards.  I hope you enjoy yours just as much!  Tim's got a very healthy group of followers, but if you're not already reading him, go check out Enough Already! and set aside your Blue Jays, Mets, NY Rangers and Giants, Adam Linds, Frank Thomases, and more, and get yourself set for an excellent trade experience.

Mmmm MMM!  That IS a tasty burger!