Everyone has heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. But here at Vinci, a picture is worth so much more than that!  Last summer we introduced our “Make the Play” photo contest. We asked fans to submit their favorite snap shots using our products and after hundreds of submissions, we rewarded three Team Vinci players with some great prizes.

Well, once again it’s time for a little summer photo fun! We are happy to announce the 2^nd Annual “Make the Play” Photo Contest.  The rules are simple. Snap a picture of you or your friends and family wearing your Vinci gear in action and email it to us at pics@vincipro.com  You can submit as many pics as you want (don’t forget to include your name and contact info). We’ll post our favorites to our Facebook page.  We’ll take submissions until August 31^st!

Winners will be announced in September and the top three will get some great prizes.  First prize is a pair of our multi-lens sport sunglasses in your choice of color. Second prize is a pair of our Vinci Bones batting gloves. And third place will receive a Vinci Baseball T-Shirt.

Last years winner makes the play!

We are excited to see how Vinci is helping you “Make the Play”!

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Looking back through our own history, we are amazed at how many important Vinci milestones occurred in the month of July and we wanted to take some time to reflect and share some of the highlights with you.

July 26th, 1942: Benjamin Vinci is awarded the Purple Heart.

Benjamin Vinci receives the Purple Heart.

Anyone familiar with our story knows that every Vinci glove features the signature of Benjamin Vinci, a true American hero. Benjamin was gravely wounded on the morning of December 7, 1941 in the infamous attacks on Pearl Harbor. After nearly 6 months of treatment (and with a 50 caliber bullet permanently lodged near his heart) Benjamin did what any patriot would do, he returned to active duty. On July 26^th, he was awarded the Purple Heart for his valor on the battlefield.  Almost sixty years later on July 27, 2001, US Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton (from Benjamin’s Home State of New York) led the US Senate in honoring his bravery. It was with a promise to Benjamin Vinci that “One day he would see his name in the big leagues” that Vinci (the glove) was born.

July 13th, 2008: Wilkin Ramirez Plays in the MLB Futures Game

Ramirez hits a homer on his first MLB at bat!

On July 11^th of this year, those who tuned in to watch the US take on the World at the MLB Futures Game were treated to a closing camera shot of a pair of Vinci Sport Sunglasses in the dugout of the World Team. Those glasses belonged to outfielder Wilkin Ramirez, and 2010 marked his second trip to the future. In 2008, Wilkin was a member of the World Team that won in a 3 -0 shut out over the US. We were very proud that Wilkin chose to wear a PJV16 Fielder’s glove and he logged a base hit with his #5 Vinci Batting Gloves and Vinci Baseball Bat (you can purchase the signed bat here). It was a great moment for Vinci to celebrate the future of a valued friend as well as our own future in the big leagues. Wilkin would go on to play for the Detroit Tigers where (while wearing his #5 Vinci Batting Gloves) he would become the first Tiger since Reggie Sanders in 1974 to hit a homerun on his first at bat.

July, 19th 2008: Vladimir Nunez, the first player to wear Vinci in the Majors

Vladimir Nunez, the first player to wear Vinci in the majors.

Just 6 days after Ramirez hinted at Vinci’s big league future, the future arrived. On July 19^th, Vladimir Nunez, a right-handed relief pitcher was called up to the Atlanta Braves. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Vinci had developed a friendship with Nunez earlier that year. In April he began wearing Vinci gloves for the minor league AAA Braves affiliate team, the Richmond Braves. When Nunez was called up that July, he took his Vinci MV3 glove with him. It was a magical evening for us at Vinci as we watched Vladimir kiss his glove for luck when he stepped to the mound.

July 22nd, 2009: Carlos Torres makes his Major League Debut

Carlos Torres make his MLB debut.

Vinci had officially broken the major league barrier in July 2008. There were several other Vinci sightings in the year that followed, but no list of Vinci milestones would be complete without mentioning one of our favorite players, the 2-time Minor League All Star and only the 9^th player ever to be named Minor League Pitcher of the week 3 times in a single season. Carlos Torres, the 26-year-old right-handed relief pitcher brought his Vinci MV30 along when he was called up to the Chicago White Sox. He made his debut July 22^nd against the Tampa Bay Rays where he pitched six strong innings to record a quality start.

July 14, 2010: Carlos Torres named starting Pitcher for MiLB All Stars

One year later, Torres continues to have one of the most decorated careers in AAA Charlotte Knights history and on July 14^th, he was again named the starting pitcher for the International League All-Stars. He pitched 2 innings of the nationally televised game while wearing his Vinci MV30.

July, 2010: Elmer Dessens lights up the NY Mets Bullpen

Dessens and his glove earn compliments from Keith Hernandez.

And finally, we thought we’d tell one of our favorite current stories. Elmer Dessens has been called a lot of things in his 17-year professional baseball career. But recently he’s been bucking the odds by being called the “savior” of the New York Mets bullpen crisis. At 40 years old, this veteran of 9 major league franchises landed in New York (the place where it all started for Vinci).  And he has been racking up the wins ever since.

En route to a recent win (alright this one officially happened on the last day of June, but we’ve been talking about it a lot this July) Elmer Dessens’ Vinci MV30 glove caught the attention of New York baseball legend (and Mets analyst) Keith Hernandez. You might remember Hernandez from his World Series winning career with the Mets and the Cardinals, from his 3 best-selling books, or from his many guest appearances on Seinfeld.  But for those of us at Vinci, Hernandez will now be remembered as the New York legend that chose a nationally televised game to plug our glove. During the fifth inning, Hernandez saw Elmer’s glove and asked the viewing audience, “What’s that label on his Glove? Vinci? Like Leonardo Da Vinci? I’ve heard of that glove company.”

To hear a New York baseball legend talk about a glove that bears the signature of a New York war hero just 2 short years after Vinci gloves broke into the Big Leagues was surreal to say the least. And it’s just another reason that, here at Vinci, July will always be among our favorite times of year.

Do you have any favorite July baseball stories? If so, drop us a line, we’d love to hear them!

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Enter coupon code: pants before checking out and receive 50% off any pants order! All sizes we have left available are listed on our website. Hurry! Once they are gone… they are gone!

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The Vinci Sports Sunglasses line just got better!  We’ve added our NEW White Framed Sunglasses with Multi-Lens (Right)  and NEW Youth Black Framed Sunglasses (Left).

The sharp adult white framed sunglasses come with 3 multi-lenses(blue-mirror, black and orange). The youth sunglasses also come with 3 multi-lenses (mirrored,black and orange). Now children and teens can also enjoy the comfort and protection Vinci sunglasses offer. The same precision, design and style of our adult glasses, just smaller for women or youth.

All Vinci Sunglasses are lightweight and created with impact-resistant polycarbonite lenses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection.Thier total wrap-around profile offers a better field of vision when playing various types of sports. Baseball players and runners like them because of their bounce resistance when running. Golfers benefit from the multi-lenses that help reduce glare allowing you to see the ball better.Fishermen and hunters rave about the orange lenses and  the wrap around design cuts down on dirt and dust getting into your eyes. Skiers love the reflective lenses for sunny days and the orange lenses for cloudy days. Cyclist, both casual and avid, love these sunglasses too.

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Submit your pictures from July 30, 2009 through midnight August 20, 2009. Voting will be done August 21st-September 4th.  Contestant winners will be notified September 8, 2009.

Go to www.vincibaseball.com to see the latest posted pictures. You will also find videos, pictures of some of our major leaguers wearing our products, and be able to connect with other baseball and softball fans.

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We’re also very proud to highlight the driving force behind our company our hero, Benjamin Vinci. On the back cover we feature both his photograph and his signature which is in every baseball and softball glove we make.

Download the 2009 Vinci Brochure – Letter Format.

Download the 2009 Vinci Brochure – Brochure Format.

Call 1-888-529-6864 or email info@vincipro.com if you would like one mailed to you.

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