LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) — When you ask a baseball or softball player about their first glove, their story is always special, and Marco Soto's story is no exception.
With a deep passion for baseball, he turned his childhood memories in Mexico into a thriving glove manufacturing business in the Long Beach area called Soto Gloves.
“It reminds me of my childhood,” Soto said. “Maybe you were actually with your dad while you were playing.”
Soto's grandfather was so natural at making leather saddles and whips that he made Soto's first gloves.
“It took about three days, and it was the first time he made it for me,” Soto recalls.
When Soto arrived at Long Beach Poly High School in the '90s, his teammates immediately noticed his unique glove.
“Kids on the team ask me, 'Why does your glove say Soto and have your name on it?'” he said. ”[I said] Well, my grandfather made it for me. ”
At Soto Gloves, you get gloves that are 100% yours. The snug-fitting gloves are designed with a unique software program that allows you to choose the shape, style, size, and color.
“The process we created always took eight to 10 weeks,” Soto said.
The gloves are not mass-produced, but Soto said he and his team are currently filling custom orders of 1,800 pieces.
Each glove is broken in before shipping.
“For me personally…baseball has always been in our blood,” Soto said. “I'm the one who brought it to the United States. I'm the one who started it from scratch.”
Soto Gloves is located at 2499 E Willow St. in Signal Hill.
Visit our website for more information.
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