2000 Playoff Prestige: "Alma Mater Materials" Insert
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic: "Rookie Jersey Numbers" Insert
1997 Proline: "Emerald Autographs" Insert Set
2000 Playoff Prestige: "Alma Mater Materials" Insert
Jay's Football Cards
Upper Deck SP Authentic: Rookie Threads
My Upper Deck: SP Rookie Threads Collection (Updated August 3rd, 2026)
2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads: “Larry Fitzgerald” #3*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to put this set together.
2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads: “Chris Henry” Draft Day Ink #DDI-CH*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to put this set together.
2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads: “Dwayne Bowe” Bronze (Team) #RT-DB2*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to put this set together.
In 2007, Upper Deck was at it again, not with another "Super Premium" title to counter all the other "Super Premium" brands that had entered the hobby, but with another title under its umbrella. This one was called "Upper Deck: SP Rookie Threads", which I will never understand when a card set is named like this, because there are more than just rookie cards in this title. But they weren't the first to do this, and they won't be the last. The initial offering of "Upper Deck: SP Authentic Rookie Threads" was only 160 cards (See the 2007 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads "Larry Fitzgerald" #3 left), but it was loaded with a ton of really nice insert sets. This initial release has somewhere in the vicinity of 15 or 16 insert sets, (depending on how you count them; I don't count the parallel sets that are just a different color with a smaller scarcity), all of which are either memorabilia, autograph, or both.
Although I haven't started putting the 2007 SP Authentic Rookie Threads set together yet, I thought I would go through a few of the more interesting insert sets. The first is the one that I would want to start with, and that one is called "Draft Day Ink"; I mean, why not start with a rookie autograph insert set? (See the 2007 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads "Chris Henry" #DDI-CH below left). The area to sign cards is large enough to sign, and the photography isn't too shabby.
The 2007 Rookie Threads set also did something that, as far as I know, is a hobby first. Upper Deck released 3 different memorabilia Sets called Silver, Bronze, and Holofoil. That's it. At least per Beckett. Very unappealing. To add to the confusion, each set has a player with 2 jersey swatches in the form of his position (See the 2007 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads "Paul Williams" Silver #RT-PW right). Or the cards could have the swatches in the form of the team letters, (See the 2007 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads "Dwayne Bowe" Bronze #RT-DB2 below left), or the cards could have the swatches in the form of the player's jersey #, (See the 2007 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads "Dwayne Jarrett" Holofoil #RT-DJ below right). Three different sets based not on the jersey swatches, but on the color of the background and how their #'d. Absolutely silly. I didn't realize Upper Deck had hired the Collector's Edge design staff.
Although I don't collect anything from the 2007 set yet, I really do like the "Signing Day" insert set from the '08 release. So, I thought I would include the "Signing Day" here. While not as cool as the '08 release, these are still some good-looking cards, (See the 2007 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads "Chris Leak" Signing Day #SDA-CL below).
2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads: “Paul Williams” Silver (Position) #RT-PW*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to put this set together.
2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads: “Dwayne Jarrett” Holofoil (Jersey #) #RT-DJ*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to put this set together.
2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads: “Chris Leak” Signing Day #SDA-CL*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to put this set together.
For some reason, I started collecting the 2008 release first. Although I didn't start with anything from the '08 main set, I started with the insert sets. But that won't stop me from talking about it. The 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads release is one of my favorites in a long while. Now, while the main set is nothing to be concerned with, it's really quite pathetic; it's the insert sets that are really awesome. The base set is a morbid 158 cards. Ugh. Nothing more than packing and protection for the insert cards, (See the 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: "Anquan Boldin" #2, right). But like I said, the insert sets are pretty awesome.
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: “Donnie Avery” Signature Draft Choice #SDC-DA
As I stated above, some of the 2008 Rookie Threads autograph insert sets were some of my favorites. And not just from this release either. I currently have the Signature Draft Choice insert set listed #6 on my "Favorite Autograph Sets". The layout is nice, the photography is unique, the area for the autograph is big enough for the player to sign, and the cards are #'d. What is there not to like about this set? See the 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: "Donnie Avery" Signature Draft Choice #SDC-DA on the left.
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: “Donnie Avery” Signing Day #SD-KS
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: “Early Doucet III” Rookie Numbers #RN-ED
The other really cool Rookie Threads insert set is the "Signing Day" autograph set. Ranked #7 on my "Favorite Autograph Sets". Again, the set is loaded with the most promising rookie from '08, the photography is unique, the layout is awesome, and the player has ample room to sign; what is there not to like about this set? See the 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: "Kevin Smith" Signing Day #SD-KS on the left.
One of the memorabilia insert sets that I really liked was the Super Swatch insert sets. Now, Upper Deck didn't have to have 4 different versions: a Blue numbered to 175, a Green numbered to 99, a Silver numbered to 55, and a Gold numbered to 25. I mean, really? Is this necessary? So, although I thought this was too much Collector's Edgeish, they really were nice cards (See the 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic "Jamaal Charles" Rookie Super Swatch (Blue) #RSS-JC above right).
My favorite memorabilia set in this release was the "Rookie Numbers" insert set. I liked it for a few reasons. One, while being #'d, it wasn't brutally difficult to complete the set. Second, you could find multi-colored patches with ease too. And let's not forget that the photography was different from all the other Upper Deck sets and even different from the other insert sets in this release (See the 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic: Rookie Threads "Early Doucet III" Rookie Numbers #RN-ED left).
2008 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads: “Anquan Boldin” #2*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to put this set together.
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: “Jamaal Charles” Rookie Super Swatch #RSS-JC
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Threads: “Andre Woodson / Kevin O'Connell” Multi Marks #MMD-23
Another excellent autograph set from this 2008 release was the "Multi Marks" autograph insert set. The "Multi Marks" autographs came in 4 tiers: Duals, Triples, Quads, and lastly 8s. I'm not sure what they called those, Octo-graphs maybe? Anyway, they weren't just rookies, either. These "Multi Marks" were a mix of rookies and veteran stars. Some collectors make a big deal out of whether the autograph is a sticker or the card was hand-held. It's not a big deal to me. The "Multi Marks Autograph insert set is stickers, but they're awesome either way. (See the 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic: Rookie Threads "Andre Woodson / Kevin O'Connell" Multi Marks #MMD-23 above right).
In closing, the "Upper Deck SP Authentic: Rookie Threads" title was just another in the long list of Upper Deck titles that clogged up the hobby. However, unlike most titles that add nothing new, this one actually did. I have to give it to the content designers at Upper Deck; they really did put a nice product together. And although the "Rookie Threads" title only lasted 2 years, 2007 and 2008, it was really an exceptional addition to the hobby. So, whether you're looking for memorabilia or an autograph, the "Rookie Threads" title just might be the title you're looking for if you're interested in rookies from the 2008 class.
I have complete sets:
Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads:
1) 2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads - Do Not Have
2) 2008 Upper Deck SP Rookie Threads - Do Not Have
A) Multi Marks Dual Insert - Incomplete ( 30 / 50 )
B) Multi Marks Triple Insert - Incomplete ( 8 / 25 )
C) Multi Marks Quad Insert - Incomplete ( 4 / 14 )
D) Rookie Numbers Holofoil Patch 75 Insert
E) Super Swatch Green 99 Insert - Incomplete ( 31 / 34 )
F) Super Swatch HoloGold 25 Insert - Incomplete ( 13 / 34)
G) Scripted in Time Insert - Incomplete ( 17 / 29)
H) Signature Draft Choice Insert
I) Signing Day Insert - Incomplete ( 33 / 36 )
