zm1283

I have Smitty base and plate pants from last year in charcoal. I also have poly-wool plate pants that I bought this year. The color of the Smitty pants is VERY similar to the poly wools. The material and fit is where the Honigs are superior. The Smitty material isn't all that bad, but the poly-wool material is much higher quality. The Smittys also bunch up around the waist a little bit after they're washed. The poly-wools also have a much better crease down the front and back. If you can afford them, the poly-wools are the way to go. If not, the Smittys work well for me as well. They aren't bad pants at all, just not quite as god as the Honigs in my opinion. The Davis pants are most definitely darker than either pant and the material is much different. I don't care for them.

I have some Smitty shirts...they are really nice. My others are Dalco and I like them as well. FYI, I saw an Official's Choice cream shirt in person the other day. YUCK!! Very "see through", the cream is not really cream, and the pinstripes on the sleeves and collar aren't even pinstripes...way too thick. Do not buy Official's Choice baseball shirts.

If I'm coaching (And I have) and my catcher doesn't take it off to catch a pop-up or field a bunt, he's going to be in trouble. Furthermore, the PU has to take his mask off to make calls. I would never make a call at home with my mask on. The only thing I'll leave it on for is a fair/foul call on a ground ball that's hit hard down the line when I don't have time to get it off.

I bought an All Star HSM when I started umpiring last year. I wore it a couple times in the fall and didn't mind it too much. I wore it for a scrimmage or two before the season this spring and decided that I just didn't like it all that well. I didn't like not wearing a hat, I didn't like its bulkiness (Even though it wasn't that heavy), and I thought it was a little difficult to take off. This is all just my personal opinion, as I sold it to a board member here (Hope he likes it) and bought a Wilson titanium for about the same that I sold the HSM for. I used to catch and I always wore a standard mask, so I like the titanium a LOT better. It's unreal how light it is, it's very easy to see out of, it's very easy to take off, and I can wear a hat now.

I picked up some Under Armour heat gear tights on eBay for about $16 a couple of weeks ago. They are really nice to wear under the shin guards, and they're not hot at all when the weather is warm. I also have UA cold gear tights to wear when it's cold, so I always wear tights now.

Sold.

Asking $110 for it plus shipping. (Or a good offer) I bought it last fall and have worn it in one game and one scrimmage. Still looks brand new. It's the larger size, up to 7 3/4. PM me.