ITG Recalls Niittymaki's Non Game-Used Jersey
By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor
Tipped off by a collector with a watchful eye, In The Game, Inc. researched and announce yesterday, that Antero Niittymaki‘s Ultimate Memorabilia 10 Ultimate Emblem card (Slab No. 7,298/7,500) is not actually game-used. Upholding ethical and authenticity standards, ITG issued a recall on the 1/1.
The card-inserted memorabilia was mistakenly identified as a piece of an emblem from long last namer’s 2010 Team Finland Olympic Game-Used jersey. However, after the product was packed and shipped, the hockey manufacturer learned that their NHLPA eBay acquisition was game-issued, but not game-worn.
“I don’t think this is what collectors want, it may be what they accept from other manufacturers but if given a choice, authentic game-worn memorabilia is what they want,” said ITG President, Dr. Brian H. Price. “We had no reason to doubt the legitimacy of this jersey since it was acquired from the NHLPA with their COA” Price added, “but when a collector brought this to our attention, we did further research and confirmed that Niittymaki did not play in the game as stated by the NHLPA.”
In The Game plans to make a different Niittymaki Ultimate Emblem card to replace the sweat free swatch.
Why is this not game worn. If he sat on the bench and did not play he is still on the game sheet of the game therefore game-worn. This does go farther in legitimizing the validity of a jersey card than I have seen from any company to date. ITG rules.