The New 2002-03 Be A Player Memorabilia Series Offers More Value Than Ever!

First and foremost is the inclusion of one replica Stanley Cup Trophy in every hobby box. These striking collectibles measure approximately six inches in height and feature one prominent player from every Stanley Cup-winning franchise since 1963. One of the most revered symbols of sporting success, there will be a total of 40 different Stanley Cups to collect. Each Cup is packaged in a unique window box separate from the packs of Memorabilia Series cards within a larger box. This will give dealers and store owners the option of knowing which Cup they have and selling it separately from the packs of cards if they wish.

Like last year, the Memorabilia Series will consist of a 300-card base set. However, because this year's edition will be issued after the start of the new season, it will allow for the inclusion of recently traded players and newly-signed free agents in their new uniforms. Best of all, the base set also includes a short-printed rookie-card subset focusing on 30 top new NHL names. Two other subsets will also be short-printed including Franchise (30 cards) and Big Deals (40 cards). The end result is a more up-to-date and more collectible base set!

"We all acknowledge that the trading card market is very competitive," says In the Game President, Dr. Brian H. Price. "Responding to that competition remains our greatest challenge and I think we've been very successful in doing just that with our new Memorabilia Series. We've incorporated all the attributes of last year's release and then substantially enhanced it by adding the Stanley Cups and the rookie cards. I'm expecting an enthusiastic response from collectors."

So many collectors now equate the name Be A Player with high quality game-worn memorabilia cards and the new Memorabilia Series is no exception. At least one of these memorabilia inserts is seeded in each hobby box and the stated print run for any of them will not exceed 100.

We can start with Magnificent Inserts, a 10-card set honoring the legendary Mario Lemieux. These cards feature anywhere from one to four pieces of Lemieux game-worn equipment. And, a number of these beauties have also been signed by "Super Mario." Lemieux autographs are exclusive to Be A Player and Parkhurst brands in 2002-03.

The Memorabilia Series has certainly made a name for itself through the inclusion of a rich lineup of game-worn All-Star jersey cards and this year is no exception. There will be no fewer than seven different insert sets with an All-Star theme including: All-Star Jersey; All-Star Teammates Jerseys; All-Star NHL Teammates Jerseys; All-Star Jersey Emblems; All-Star In the Numbers; and All-Star Starting Lineup.

"I've maintained all along that our All-Star-themed memorabilia inserts are some of the most underrated collectibles out there," says Price. "We have the exclusive rights to create insert cards of the NHL's best players using game-worn jerseys from a showcase event like the All-Star game. Collecting jersey cards of your favorite players is nice, but getting a card with a piece of All-Star Game jersey from that player... I think that ranks as truly special and these remain a big part of what the Memorabilia Series is all about."

The Memorabilia Series also contains a number of other "game-worn" insert sets including Stanley Cup Playoffs, a fractured insert set summarizing all the developments in the 2001-02 post-season. Stanley Cup Champions is a set devoted to the most prominent players on last season's victorious Detroit Red Wing club. Franchise is a 30-card set recognizing a player considered the cornerstone of his team. Future of the Game pays tribute to some of the NHL's brightest emerging stars.

The 2002-03 Memorabilia Series also marks the return of the popular Draft Redemption Program focusing on all the 2002 first-round draft choices. These redemption cards are foil stamped with a number ranging from one to 30. Each number represents the player chosen in that particular point in the draft. When that player skates in his first NHL game, you can redeem the card for one featuring the player in his NHL uniform. These are not easy to find. Only 100 of each number will be available. For complete details on this innovative program, click the appropriate link on the company's home page at www.baptradingcards.com.

That's not all. The new Memorabilia Series will once again incorporate the He Shoots, He Scores Decoy/Redemption Card Program. These extra-thick cards help prevent pack searching and each is assigned a point value. Collect enough points and you will receive a special game-worn jersey card not available anywhere in packs.

Fans of parallel sets will be pleased to hear that the 300-card base set will also be available in a Ruby version (numbered to 200), a Sapphire version (numbered to 100), and an Emerald version(numbered to 10).

Finally, packs will also hold a combination order form and ballot card. The order form will give collectors an opportunity to purchase a 100-card 2002-03 Memorabilia Update Set. This set will be numbered from 301-400, will be packed with additional rookie cards, and will be available by late May, 2003. The price will be $29.95 (U.S. funds) or $44.95 (Canadian funds). An early-bird offer will allow collectors to order the set before December 31, 2002 at the reduced prices of $24.95 (U.S. funds) or $37.95 (Canadian funds). Everyone who orders a set is also automatically entered into a draw to win a framed uncut sheet of the 2002-03 Memorabilia Update Set. Collectors also have the option of entering the draw without purchasing an Update set by simply filling in the ballot and sending it to In the Game.

Hobby boxes of the Memorabilia Series hold 24 packs with six cards in every pack. There will also be retail blister packs, each of which will hold 11 packs of cards. The scheduled release date is November 20.