Fifteen of the top rookies were chosen for this insert set. They were placed in Series II packs at a rate of 1 in 5. Because they weren’t that rare, the values aren’t high, but it’s still a nice collection of rookies that supplement the regular rookie cards in the set. They were numbered “x of 15” on the back.
In the mid-’90s, Ultra had all kinds of fun with their insert sets, and they sure made a lot of them. With this insert set, it is necessary to point out possible confusion with another insert set of the same year. There are these “Ultra All-Rookie” cards and there are also the “NBA All-Rookie Team” cards. Two different insert sets. The “Ultra All-Rookie” set where this Jalen Rose appears, as mentioned earlier, is a common insert from Series II. The word “Ultra” is large at the top and “All-Rookie” down the side, hence the name “Ultra All-Rookie.” The “NBA All-Rookie Team” set is much more rare at 1:36 packs from Series I and they feature rookies from the previous season. There is a large NBA logo beside “All-Rookie” and then a first or second team designation, hence the name “NBA All-Rookie Team.” Look at this page from the 2001 Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards! Really amusing! Both sets are listed with correct players, but the photos are switched showing the design of the opposite set. The photo for the “NBA All-Rookie Team,” shows the Juwan Howard that clearly isn’t listed in the prices. And the Isaiah Rider card shown below clearly isn’t listed in the collection of “Ultra All-Rookies.” So hopefully all is clear now. Two sets. “Ultra All-Rookie” like the Juwan Howard picture is a common Series II insert, “NBA All-Rookie Team” like the Isaiah Rider picture is a rare Series I insert featuring rookies from the previous season.
Back to our Jalen Rose “Ultra All-Rookie” card. It is the thirteenth card and Jalen Rose was the thirteenth pick in the draft that year, but this is pure coincidence! The cards are actually organized alphabetically in this set. The cards are very attractive with a hardwood background, some gold foil for the set and player names, and nice information on the back. They didn’t overdo it on the info. This Jalen Rose card mentions how he became a team leader at Michigan after Chris Webber left the prior year. Rose stepped up and averaged 19.9 points per game that season.
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