April 2, 2004 Charlotte, N.C. -
Press Pass 2004 Signature Edition Football lives up
to its name by providing collectors with more autographs
and game-used jersey cards in a hobby box than ever before!
Each 12-pack hobby box contains a total of 8 autographs
and 4 game-used jersey cards of the 2004 rookie class,
making Press Pass 2004 Signature Edition Football
the source for collecting the football stars of tomorrow.
Press Pass 2004 Signature Edition Football is the
place to find autograph cards of the top talent in the
2004 draft, including projected top pick, Eli Manning
(Mississippi), and rising star Philip Rivers (NC State).
Press Pass is also the ONLY draft pick product to include
autographs of the top two wide receivers in the draft,
Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh), and Mike Williams (USC)
along with stand-out tight end, Kellen Winslow (Miami).
There are six levels of autograph cards in Press Pass
2004 Signature Edition Football. Four unique levels
of Certified Authentic Autographs showcase the
2004 rookie class in different metallic colors each with
a distinctive icon: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and a rare Blue
level, only available in Press Pass 2004 Signature
Edition Football, sequentially numbered to 50. Class
of 2004 Autographs make up the fifth autograph level,
and include an elite line-up of standout players that
are at the head of 2004 draft class (sequentially numbered
to 200). The Autograph Edition Jersey Cards are
the crown jewel of the autograph program, combining a
game-used jersey with each player's signature. These rare
jersey autograph cards are sequentially numbered to 25.
Press Pass 2004 Signature Edition Football also
has an expanded line-up of collegiate game-used jersey
cards showcasing 18 rookie prospects. These may likely
be the only collegiate game-used jersey cards for many
players. Collectors can look for game-used jersey cards
of such top players as Eli Manning and top RB Steven Jackson,
as well as rare Jersey Patch Edition and Jersey
Number Edition cards featuring swatches of the player's
uniform patch and uniform number, respectively.
Press Pass 2004 Signature Edition Football also
offers collectors the opportunity to receive an authentic
mini-helmet signed by Eli Manning. Redemption cards for
the signed Ole Miss helmets, produced by Schutt Sports,
will be inserted 1:240 in hobby packs.
"With six levels of autograph cards and eight autographs
per hobby box, Press Pass 2004 Signature Edition Football
offers collectors the most extensive autograph line-up
of the 2004 rookie class," explained Heather Maillard,
associate product manager for Press Pass, a division of
RC2 (NASDAQ: RCRC). "As an added bonus, a limited
number of red ink signatures will be randomly inserted
across the autograph program."
Press Pass 2004 Signature Edition Football features
a 40-card premium base set and is slated to release on
May 5, 2004.
RC2 (www.rc2corp.com) is a leading producer and
marketer of high quality, innovative collectibles and
toys targeted at adult collectors and children, as measured
by sales and brand recognition. The Company's diverse
product offerings include: agricultural, construction
and outdoor sports vehicle replicas; automotive, high
performance and racing vehicle replicas; traditional children's
toys; sports trading cards and racing apparel and souvenirs;
and collectible figures. These products are sold under
the Company's market-focused brand names, including Racing
Champions®, Ertl®, Ertl Collectibles®, Learning
Curve®, American Muscleä, AMT®, W. Britain®,
Press Pass®, Eden®, Feltkids®, JoyRide®
and JoyRide Studios®. The Company supports its brands
and enhances the authenticity of its products by linking
them with highly recognized licensed properties from John
Deere, Harley-Davidson, HIT Entertainment, Lamaze, Case,
Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler,
NASCAR, NHRA, Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers,
DIC Entertainment, Discovery Channel and Microsoft. The
Company's products are marketed through multiple channels
of distribution, including chain retailers, specialty
and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, corporate
accounts for promotional purposes and direct to consumers.
The Company sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets
located in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.