Announcing the VIP Rookie Debut Program From In The Game - No More Waiting!

(Toronto, ON; October 28, 2003): In The Game, Inc., the manufacturer of Be A Player, Parkhurst, and In The Game brands of hockey cards, is excited to announce yet another in a long line of collecting innovations with the introduction of the VIP Rookie Debut Program. This exciting new concept is designed to dramatically reduce the amount of time collectors normally wait before adding cards of the NHL's hottest new rookies to their collection. Dare we say the hobby may never be the same!

Everyone knows how popular rookie cards are in the hobby today. Collectors also realize that no hockey card can be produced until a player appears in his first regular season or playoff game. That means it usually takes a minimum of six to eight weeks (and sometimes substantially longer) from the time a player makes his NHL debut until his cards can be produced, packaged, distributed, and placed in the hands of eager collectors.

Now, thanks to the In The Game VIP Rookie Debut Program, collectors will experience instant gratification Êand have the opportunity to physically receive cards of the newest rookies in as little as two weeks. Here's how it works.

The first thing a collector must do is become an In The Game "VIP", a relatively simple step. Visit our web site at www.baptradingcards.com and click on the link on the home page inviting you to become a VIP member. Once you submit the online form, you are eligible to participate in the VIP Rookie Debut Program.

As soon as a rookie appears in his first NHL game, an image of the front of his card will appear on our special VIP Rookie Debut order page. VIP members will have exactly 90 days* from the date of the player's NHL debut to order the card. After the 90-day* time frame has passed, the card will be retired and will no longer be available for purchase.

Note that NHL rookies who have had rookie cards issued in previous years will not be part of this program.

In The Game will announce the circulation numbers for each NHL rookie within two weeks of the card being retired. The number of cards in circulation will be entirely based on the number of cards ordered by VIP members. The total number of cards in the series will depend on how many rookies make their debut in 2003-04 although the average is usually in the 100 to 125-player range.

"The genesis of this idea dates back to last year," explains In The Game President Dr. Brian H. Price. "There was very little product issued from the time the NHL season started in early October until late November when the first wave of rookie cards could be included in new brands. In this day and age, we found that unacceptable so we set out to find a solution. That led directly to this concept and I think it's one of the most exciting things we've ever done." Ê

Each VIP Rookie Debut card costs $9.95 (U.S. funds) and collectors can order as many as they wish. Shipping and handling is $3.00 for the first card and $1.00 for each additional card in the same order. Canadian collectors will pay $13 for each card, with $4 shipping and handling for the first card and $1.30 for each additional card in the same order.

The first group of 18 cards featuring top rookies Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes and Tuomo Ruutu of the Chicago Blackhawks shipped on October 27. The second group of 18 cards includes Pittsburgh goaltending sensation Marc-André Fleury and it will ship on November 4.

In The Game is also offering a "Platinum Program" which is certain to appeal to those who wish to collect the whole series. It is designed to save the collector both time and money.

Just send an e-mail to info@baptradingcards.com with your telephone number and we will contact you directly to complete your order. Every time a new VIP Rookie Debut card is released, we will send it to you. There is no need to repeatedly order throughout the season as new rookies become part of the Program. On January 1, 2004, In The Game will send you a special customized 2003-04 Rookie Debut binder to hold all the cards in the series.

If you ordered each card separately, and assuming 100 rookies are eventually included in the series, you would pay $995 (U.S. funds) for the cards plus $300 for shipping and handling, a total of $1295. It would cost even more if more than 100 rookies become part of the set. And that doesn't include the customized binder. Ê

For $750 (U.S. funds) you will get every VIP Rookie Debut card produced throughout the year. Just sit back and wait for the mailman to bring them to you. The program will include every player without a previously issued rookie card who appears in his first NHL game from the start of this season (October 8, 2003) until March 31, 2004*.

The Platinum Program will only be available until November 15th. Now is the time to act if collectors wish to save both time and money.

In addition to the Rookie Debut Series, VIP's also have the option of purchasing In The Game VIP Series One hockey cards. These are high-caliber game-used memorabilia cards that are packaged in an attractive tin along with a collectible tin liner. The maximum production run for any card in VIP Series One is 50.

* This date is based on the fact licensors restricted the appearance of new players who played in a game after March 31, 2003 to trading cards issued in the following season.