Authentication Process
Authenticity has been a central theme to Upper Deck products since the company's inception in 1988. The company revolutionized trading cards using sophisticated printing technology to improve the overall quality of products and adding a trademark hologram that prevented them from being counterfeited. In 1992, Upper Deck expanded the company's focus on authenticity to include fine autographed sports memorabilia backed by a patented five-step authentication process that guarantees fans are receiving genuine autographs.

The heart of the five-step process is the company's policy that an Upper Deck representative must witness each autograph signed by any one of its stable of high-profile athletes, including Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Ken Griffey Jr., Peyton Manning, and Kevin Garnett, to name a few. Today, Upper Deck dedicates more resources than any other sports collectibles and memorabilia company to ensure the authenticity of its products.

Here's the full five-step authentication process:

• Step 1: Every autograph is witnessed by an Upper Deck Authenticated representative. Upper Deck believes observation is the only way to truly guarantee authenticity.
• Step 2: A record of the autograph session is signed by both the athlete and the UDA official, and is stored in a secure permanent file.
• Step 3: An Upper Deck Authenticated serial-numbered hologram is affixed to each signed piece of memorabilia.
• Step 4: A certificate of authenticity is assigned to every piece of memorabilia and includes a matching hologram to the one affixed to the item.
• Step 5: Every piece of signed memorabilia is packaged with a registration card, giving the owner the opportunity to register the item with Upper Deck Authenticated. If for some reason the item is sold and/or transferred to a new owner, a full detailed record of the item's history is readily available.

Upper Deck Authenticated
Ever since Upper Deck revolutionized the sports trading card experience in 1988, their top mission has been to capture the excitement of the game and deliver it to fans of all ages through high quality, innovative, authentic, and collectible products. Upper Deck Authenticated became the first company to find an answer to the forgery problem by creating an airtight, five-step authentication system that assures fans are getting genuine autographs. Today, the company has autograph relationships with the game's biggest stars and produces some of the finest memorabilia on the market.

Product Description
On the night of Sept. 6, 1995, Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive MLB game, breaking the 56 year old record set by legendary Yankee great Lou Gehrig. Ripken played his entire 21 year career with the O's and finished his streak with 2,632 straight games. On July 29, 2007, he will earn his well deserved place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Honor the ''Iron Man'' by purchasing this autographed Hall of Fame Jersey Numbers Piece, which includes a 6'' replica jersey number of his uniform No. 8 along with a photo of Ripken acknowleding the Camden Yards faithful that historic evening in Baltimore. The framed keepsake measures 26'' wide x 18'' high. Ripken's signature is guaranteed authentic by virtue of Upper Deck Authenticated's patented five step authentication process.