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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Vinci sighting- Elmer Dessens plays Major Role in Mets win

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

March 6th

As the week comes to a close, Pete travels back to Lakeland to watch the Detroit Tigers take on the Baltimore Orioles.

Pete spoke with Baltimore pitcher Alberto Castillo after the game. Castillo talked about his new  VN75 glove. He called it “the best glove I’ve used in my pro career” and said he “can’t wait to break it in”.

“Where’s Vinci?” shouts Detroit Tiger (and long time Vinci friend) Wilkin Ramirez as he emerges from the clubhouse. after a few minutes catching up, Wilkin heads off to the field for a game.

Here Ramirez, wearing white framed Vinci Multi Lens Sport Sunglasses, steps into the batter’s box. Wilkin says he loves how the glasses cut the glare of the Florida sun and help him catch those fly balls when he plays left field.

Joe Depastino prefers the grey frames on his Vinci sport sunglasses. Here he is on the warning track at Lakeland Field.

Tigers manager Jim Leland watches as his players take on all stars from Southern Florida College. “You gotta admit it, ” said Pete,”these college players are good.” Maybe they’ll all be sporting the Vinci “V” someday.

That’s all from Florida and Spring Training 2010! It’s time for Pete to head back to Richmond, Virginia. Have a great time watching this season as some of your favorite major and minor league players sport their Vinci products. And be sure to visit www.vincipro.com to learn more about our gear and how,  just like the pros, Vinci can help you “Make the Play.”

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• Spring Training 2010:Continued
• Spring Training 2010

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

Wednesday, March 3^rd

It’s day three of spring training 2010 and its back to Orlando for the first Atlanta Braves training game of the season. It was a chilly 50 degrees in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Stadium as the Braves defeated the New York Mets.

Atlanta relief pitcher Vlad Nunez warms up with his Braves teammates. Vlad wore his Vinci VN-75 glove for the game.

During the game, Pete spoke with iconic former New York Mets manager (and current ESPN contributor) Bobby Valentine. The two discussed the good old days playing high school ball against each other in New York. Once, down 10-0 in the ninth, Valentine hit a home run on a Vinci 0-2 fastball down the middle. Pete never made that mistake again!

Thursday, March 4^th

Clearwater, FLA: New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies. After a thirty-minute wait for a world famous Philly Cheesesteak (time well spent), Pete watched from behind the Yankees dugout as New York lost a close one to the Phillies.

Baseball icons in attendance that day included Yankees legends Reggie Jackson and Yogi Berra. After the game Pete went to dinner with Mr. Berra where they happily talked about food, family, and of course, baseball.

Friday, March 5^th

Tampa, FLA: New York Yankees training camp at Legends Field.

Pete took time to appreciate “fine art” in his spare time. This “Bronx Bombers” tribute sculpture welcomes visitors to the Yankees offices.

Pete also spoke with Woody, a Yankees spring training security guard from Pennsylvania.

Here, Woody shows off his Vinci Baseball Pullover that he wears as he watches out for the Yankees players. (The baseball pullover is available in black and red.)

That’s all for today, check back  for the final installment of “Vinci Spring Training, 2010″.

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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.

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• Congratulations Carlos Torres MiLBYs Best Triple-A Starter
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View the the article where Carlos won the MiLBY.

This only shows his minor league performance. Don’t you think we should highlight his major league performance, as well? The video below is of his first major league win. Way to go Bulldog!!

Carlos Torres' first major league win.

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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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