Joakim Soria, the top Mexican closer in MLB history, is the closer for the Kansas City Royals. He has worn a Vinci glove since 2010 with the Kansas City Royals. For the Royals he is wearing a Vinci Model JC3300 baseball glove. This glove is dedicated to his daughter, Angela.

“Vinci makes a great glove,” said Soria. “I bring all I can to each game, and I expect a lot from my equipment. My Vinci glove always serves me well.”

Soria made his Major League debut on April 4, 2007. In May of 2010, Soria got his 100th save against the Texas Rangers. He was picked for the 2010 All-Star Game, the second of his career. He finished the season with a 1.78 ERA and 43 saves in 46 opportunities. In 2011, Soria has accumulated 14 saves as of July 5th.

“We are thrilled to have Joakim wear a Vinci glove,” said Pete Vinci, owner of Vinci. “We have followed him throughout his career and consider him a personal friend of the family.”

Soria joins several other top athletes in both the American and National League who wear the Vinci brand.

About the Vinci Model JC3300 Baseball Glove

The Vinci Model JC3300 baseball glove utilizes 5 oz. Vinci exclusive comfort feel genuine leather for the best feel and comfort in the industry. Our comfort feel genuine leather is pre-treated at the factory allowing for a much shorter break in time. The high quality leather allows our gloves to be durable, yet playable and retain their shape longer. They also come with heavy-duty thumb and pinky loops, along with thumb and pinky supports which help retain the glove shape. Our pittards leather finger linings offer the feel and durability of a major league baseball glove, without the major league price tag.

About Vinci

Vinci is a family owned and operated sports equipment company dedicated to quality. Each product in the line is researched, designed, and developed by Peter Vinci. Every glove model number has a particular meaning behind it. For additional information about Vinci, please visit http://www.vincipro.com

Click Here to View More Pictures of Soria Wearing Vinci

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Torres has worn a Vinci glove since 2008 with the Charlotte Knights, the AAA affiliate for the Chicago White Sox. For the Giants he is wearing a Vinci Model CT82 baseball glove.

Carlos Torres(on left) in Japan for the Giants

“I am excited and am looking forward to this opportunity to work hard and compete at such a high level,” said Torres. “With such a quality glove, a sense of family and great people, you can’t go wrong. That’s why my Vinci baseball glove is going everywhere with me.”

Torres has played for the Chicago White Sox in the major leagues in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. His first major league victory was an inter league game between the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago cubs.

“We are happy to see him play for the Giants in the Japanese major leagues,” said Pete Vinci, owner of Vinci. “We wish him and his team great success.”

The Japanese Major Leagues is called Nippon Professional Baseball. A season is played from April through October and consists of 144 game schedule. The Giants are rich in history similar to the New York Yankees.

About Vinci

Vinci is a family owned and operated sports equipment company dedicated to quality. Each product in the line is researched, designed, and developed by Peter Vinci. The model number of every glove always has a particular meaning behind it. For additional information about Vinci, please visit http://www.vincipro.com

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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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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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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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CNN Small Business featured an article
about Vinci and how we broke into
the big leagues!

We are thrilled to be getting major media recognition. We also have a featured article in the upcoming November Fortune Small Business magazine.

“Vinci has cracked the big leagues, becoming the only glove manufacturer with less than $10 million in annual revenues to attract major league players.”

The article discusses how two of our Vinci-equipped players, Vladimir Nunez of the the Atlanta Braves and Carlos Torres of the Chicago White Sox, have both moved to the majors and brought their Vinci baseball gloves with them.

Read the full article:

Small glove maker lands giant MLB deal

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