July 6, 2004 Charlotte, N.C. -
This year's draft class is filled with talented rookies
that are ready to make an immediate impact on the pro
hardwood. Press Pass, the draft pick authority, is the
place to find the first autographs and game-used memorabilia
cards of these exciting new players.
Press Pass 2004 Basketball boasts five levels of
autograph cards featuring dozens of players including
12 of the 13 "lottery picks." Signers include
UConn teammates Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, Josh Childress
(Stanford), Devin Harris (Wisconsin), Luol Deng (Duke),
Luke Jackson (Oregon), Andre Iguodala (Arizona), and high
school phenoms Shaun Livingston, Sebastian Telfair, Robert
Swift, and JR Smith. The base autograph level features
the player's collegiate logo (college), state and city
(high school), or world globe (international) in bronze;
the silver level is numbered to 200 and features the player's
uniform number; the gold level is numbered to 100 and
features a hard court "x's and o's" pattern;
and the blue level is numbered to 50 and features a second
player image. Popular Power Pick Autographs showcase
signatures of select standout players in the draft and
are sequentially numbered to 250. In addition to autographs
of the new rookie prospects, collectors will find redemption
cards for autograph cards of 2003 rookie phenom, Carmelo
Anthony. Overall autograph odds are 1:6 hobby packs.
In addition to autographs, Press Pass 2004 Basketball
features the first game-used memorabilia cards produced
of top rookie prospects. The game-used memorabilia program
consists of jersey cards and shoe cards, each sequentially
numbered to three levels of rarity. The insert rate for
the game-used memorabilia cards is 1:72 hobby packs.
"The 2004 draft class features a talented mix of
college, high school, and international players that are
poised to become stars at the next level," explained
Tom Farrell, Director of Marketing for Press Pass, a division
of RC2 (NASDAQ: RCRC). "Press Pass 2004 Basketball
provides collectors with the opportunity to obtain the
first autographs and game-used memorabilia cards from
these rookies. While each player will likely have dozens
of different autograph and memorabilia cards in pro uniforms
in the years to come, Press Pass cards featuring the player's
college, high school, or international uniform will be
quite rare and provide a unique collectible in the long
run."
Press Pass 2004 Basketball features a 40-card base
set (including 7 short prints), seven levels of inserts
and is slated to release on July 28, 2004.
RC2 (www.rc2corp.com) is a leading designer, 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, 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 Muscle, 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
New Holland, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler,
NASCAR, NHRA, Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers,
DIC Entertainment, Discovery Channel and Microsoft, among
others. 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 25,000 retail outlets
located in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia Pacific.