As President of In The Game, I have always gone to great lengths to ensure collectors of Be A Player trading cards will find the most exciting authentic game-used memorabilia cards in the hobby. These efforts started with the cutting of All-Star jerseys in our first series, the 1998-99 All-Star Signature Series. They continued with our controversial Vezina Trophy game-used pad cards in the 2000-01 Memorabilia Series and eventually extended to our Ultimate Memorabilia brand last season.

Since day one, I have set rigorous standards for the authentication of the memorabilia we use. We acquire our memorabilia from the NHLPA, the NHL and its member teams, or reputable dealers who provide us with a team letter or impeccable credentials. Our "Legend" memorabilia is purchased on a conditional basis and must be authenticated by a well-known memorabilia dealer before we will complete the transaction.

In the hockey trading card market today, every manufacturer is making game-used memorabilia cards. The value of these cards will be determined by a number of factors including: the production quantities of those cards; the value of the memorabilia being used in the cards; and the faith collectors have in the authenticity of the memorabilia and the company making the cards.

It is critical that I assure our collectors that the memorabilia we acquire is authentic. As the value of game-used items increases, there are more and more fraudulent pieces of memorabilia being passed off as real. I must be very diligent in acquiring game-used jerseys, gloves, pads, or any other piece of memorabilia and when in doubt about their authenticity, I must "pass" on such memorabilia.

Recently, I was forced to use redemption cards in our 2000-01 Signature Series for the Jason Arnott and Luc Robitaille game-used stick and jersey cards. We were not able to get authentic game-used sticks for these players until after the release date of the product.

Acquiring authentic memorabilia is only a starting point. The collector must be confident that the authentic memorabilia acquired is the same memorabilia used in the manufacturing of the game-used memorabilia cards. Simply sending jerseys, sticks, gloves, pads etc. to a supplier to be cut and then inserted into the game-used memorabilia cards is a flawed procedure. A disorganized or dishonest supplier could substitute material other than the authentic memorabilia provided and both the collector and the manufacturer would be unaware.

Because of our desire to give the collector an authentic game-used memorabilia card, In The Game has adopted a program that I call the "Chain of Custody." In The Game manufactures our own game-used memorabilia cards. We do not send our memorabilia to a third party to be cut into pieces and affixed to cards. Once the authentic memorabilia is secured, we do not let it out of our sight. We cut the memorabilia, affix the memorabilia to the back portion of the game-used memorabilia card and then laminate the front portion thus creating the game-used memorabilia card. We maintain total control over the authenticated piece of memorabilia until it is inside a game-used memorabilia card. Our "Chain of Custody" ensures collectors will receive authentic game-used memorabilia cards.

Ken Whitmell, our Vice-President of Production, is in charge of this project. After the fronts and backs of the cards are printed, Ken and his staff diligently cut the memorabilia and apply the pieces to the card backs. Ken then mounts the fronts to the backs thus sealing the cards and insuring that the authentic memorabilia we acquired is the same memorabilia found in the cards that our collectors search for. The finished sheets are then cut and packaged. Once the sheet is laminated, substitution of any memorabilia pieces on the cards is impossible.

I wanted to be certain of the authenticity of our game-used memorabilia cards and the "Chain of Custody" policy guarantees this is the case. We are very proud of our game-used memorabilia cards.

Looking ahead to the 2001-02 hockey card season, we have taken additional steps to maintain the integrity and value of our memorabilia cards. One way to accomplish this is by limiting the production totals of these cards. The lower the supply, the higher the demand and value of the cards on the secondary market. As a result, we have announced that the production totals for all our memorabilia cards will not exceed 100. In fact, more often than not, the print runs will be significantly less.

This won't mean our memorabilia cards will be impossible to find either. For example, for the first time ever, every box of our new 2001-02 Memorabilia Series will contain one memorabilia card.

On behalf on In The Game will continue to acquire new, exciting and sometimes-controversial memorabilia to be used in Be A Player trading cards. When you acquire one of our authentic memorabilia cards, I hope you enjoy it. I know we enjoyed making it!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian H. Price
President
In The Game, Inc.