Sears PIP

ESCALADE SPORTS AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS PARTNERS IN PROGRESS AWARD BY SEARS

Escalade, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESCA) announced that Sears Roebuck and Company (Sears) has awarded the coveted PARTNERS IN PROGRESS award to Escalade Sports, a wholly owned subsidiary of Escalade Inc. This award, demonstrating the strength of the vendor relationship, was given to less than 110 of Sears’ more than 10,000 suppliers.

“Sears suppliers are critical to the success of our company as we strive to make our stores even more focused on delivering the goods and services our customers expect” said Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy. “Of the thousands of suppliers with whom we do business, our Partners In Progress recipients have demonstrated the highest level of commitment, quality and leadership attributes we strive to achieve in everything we do at Sears.”

Over the past 31 years, Escalade Sports has received the Sears Partners In Progress award 23 times, and 2002 marks the fourth consecutive year they have received this award.

“Our mutual commitment and partnership in developing excellence in all phases of our business with our customers is key to our success” said Dan Messmer, President of Escalade Sports. “We truly appreciate this recognition from Sears. We are fortunate to have such a great partnership with Sears, our employees, and our vendors who help support our efforts.”

Escalade Sports manufactures and distributes a full line of sporting goods products including Table Tennis Tables and equipment, Pool Tables and equipment, Basketball Systems, Game Tables, Archery equipment, Darting Products and Fitness equipment. For more information about Escalade Sports, contact Phil Piccolo, Vice President of Marketing, 817 Maxwell Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47711, 812-467-1200 or www.escaladesports.com.

Escalade is a quality manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods and office/graphic arts products sold worldwide by better resellers.

For more information on Escalade, Inc., please contact John R. Wilson, Vice President and CFO at 812/467-1265 or C.W. (Bill) Reed, President and CEO at 260/563-0621.

Copyright © 2003 Escalade Inc.