As March Madness sets in and sport’s fans across the nation focus their attention towards college hoops, the Vinci Company is busy making the rounds at another March tradition – Big League Baseball – the Spring Training version.

Spring training is a Florida tradition that dates back to 1908. Every great player from Ruth to Mays has rounded the bases in cities like St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, and Tampa. Currently, all but 6 major league teams call Florida their spring home.

For the past 8 years, Pete Vinci of the Vinci Co. has traveled south each March to mingle with players, coaches and coordinators, talk baseball, and show off the latest Vinci designs. Here are a few highlights from this years trip…

Monday March, 1st

Day one of spring training 2010: first stop, The Atlanta Braves Camp in Orlando. Pete toured the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex where he spoke with Justin Clift, the Braves’ minor league equipment coordinator, about the Vinci line.

Afterwards, Pete was off  to Lakeland, Florida to visit with representatives of the Detroit Tigers organization.

Here’s Pete with Detroit Tiger’s hitting coach Andy Barkett. Andy is holding his signature Vinci glove (Model AB1974-L, a 12.75″ Limited Series glove now available in 3 colors). ” Lot’s of players have been asking me where I got this awesome looking glove,” says Barkett proudly, “I tell them, ‘ That’s (Pete Vinci’s) company and this is MY MODEL!’” Newly signed Detroit Tiger Johnny Damon praised the glove as “sweet looking” and jokingly asked Barkett if Vinci was an “Italian” company.

Tuesday, March 2

Tigers vs Florida Southern College

Joe DePastino (signature model JD1973-L) manager of the Michigan White Caps watches the Detroit Tigers on their training field before taking in a training game against Florida Southern College. (Final score: Tigers, 13. Florida Southern, 1)

Here’s Pete talking with Joe DePastino after the game as both wear their White Framed Vinci Sport Sun Glasses.

Check back as we post more highlights from Spring Training, 2010 in the coming weeks.