cap question

[bwchubb]

at the risk of asking a silly question...but

can anyone tell me why, richardson caps are mostly offered at most umpire on-line merchants? i thought new era was the official cap of MLB umpires ?

I haven't payed attention to it until i was looking to make a replacement. is richardson the new supplier ?

[JamesC]

I know my hats are Richardson. I'm not sure if this is the new "in" brand for umpires but I did notice that a few of the umpires in the CWS were wearing Richardson caps. My only complain about my navy blue cap is that underneath the bill of the cap it is a light gray color. I wish they would just make that part of the cap navy as well. I think that looks better, but then again, I am not a cap manufacturer...just the person wearing it.

[DonInKansas]

Personally, I like the Richardson caps in the field, but when I try to wear one on the plate I feel I constantly have to adjust my mask because there's too much "give" in the flexfit cap. One man's opinion.

[Umpire in Chief]

I think the New Era hats are becoming harder to find. It appears the Richardson have taken over the market for umpires. I have a flex fit wool 8 stitch for bases, and 2 standard fitted 6 stitch caps for the plate I like them just all fine.

[Umpire in Chief]

Oh BTW welcome to the site were glad to have you here.

[blue32]

Welcome chubb, and don't worry, you never have to worry about asking a "dumb" question here.

It sounds like you have an older version of the navy maybe? I have a couple of Richardson flexfit hats in Navy, and both have black under the bill. I purchased them before this season, so maybe they made the change after you purchased yours, or the supplier you bought them from had some old stock and sent you an old style.

As far as using flexfits with a mask, they don't work well. You're better off to go with a fitted hat.

[JamesC]

I don't know blue, perhaps that could be the case. I did buy the hat during the middle of this season though...Maybe the store just had older versions or something. I don't know. Anyways, I agree with Don though, the one I do have is a M/L and I usually wear a L/XL. The hats run a little big IMO and the M/L does have a little more give than what I tend to like.

[kwiggie]

Personally, I like the Richardson caps in the field, but when I try to wear one on the plate I feel I constantly have to adjust my mask because there's too much "give" in the flexfit cap. One man's opinion.

I completely agree,

I wore a Richardson's combo cap behind the plate this year and had the same issues. I will be looking for a fitted plate cap next year... on that note are "Beanie" caps still in style?

[kylejt]

can anyone tell me why, richardson caps are mostly offered at most umpire on-line merchants?

There cheaper, and you don't need to stock as many as the sized New Era hats.

Me, I haven't bought a hat in years. I've got so many nice freebies from all the tournaments I've worked to last me until I retire.

[NWA_UMP]

I have had no trouble with my Richardson caps...well constructed, look great and NEVER flex-fit! I don't use flex-fit for behind the plate or bases....I bought one last year when I was first getting started and it did not fit worth a darn...sent it back, measured my melon and bought fitted. After coaching a USSSA team for the better part of 5 years I knew Outdoor Cap flex-fit would not be any better so I made the move to Fitted and have not looked back.

My next challenge will be Fitted wool for the 2010 High School season. Required!!! no mesh allowed in our association. Other guys can wear mesh that work in other parts of the state but not my part. I will worry about shrinkage due to the fact that I sweat like...well you can fill in the next few words!

[mstaylor]

Richardson makes a far superior het to New Era. New Era has plastic staves in their hat that will eventually pierce your skull. I use either 6 or 8 seam hats for both plate and bases. Some of my hats are flex fit, some are fitted, none are mesh or adjustable. Flex fits depend on your hat size whether they work or not. I am a 7 3/8 and can wear a L/XL on the bases, a S/MED on the plate.

[willv28]

I like the Richardson caps. I usually use the mesh ones though. Fitted on plate, stretch on bases. I personally think the mesh ones can look better at times, especially on plate.

[Ump Rube]

Richardson Flex-fit, 6-stich, wool. I have tried the fitted and it is great if I don't grow hair & never cut it, but other then that they don't stay "fitted" very long. I don't like the look of the mesh it seems cheap to me.

[zm1283]

I like Richardson hats but for some reason the black hats have a smaller (shorter) crown on top than the navy hats. I got a 6 and 8 stitch, each in navy and black, and both black hats are like this. Anyone else noticed this?

[Bigdog]

Hey all,

NEVER wear a flex fit while on the dish! You can't control the fit enough to stay tight on your head AND they don't come with a shorter bill. MAYBE on the bases, but once you go fitted, there is no other way to go, IMHO!

Bigdog:cool:

[mstaylor]

I wear both fitted and flex. Since I have a good size head, I hit right between the smaller and bigger flex hats. I wear the smaller on the plate if I'm not wearing a fitted. Either way I usually wear an eight seam on the plate, occasionally a six. Never a four for anything.

[NWA_UMP]

I have yet to try a 6 stitch behind the plate. I only use 8 stitch on bases. I am still learning how to put on my mask without having to adjust it. Getting better but still don't have it down yet. I am afraid if I went to a 6 stitch I would take off my hat with the mask...everytime.

[Stan W.]

New Era was the standard a while back, but encountered some serious quality issues.....

The sizing was speculative at best. We used to purchase fitted hats from them for our association and in a single lot, we had 3 size 7 1/4 hats that were clearly 3 different sizes........I have understood that since they have now gone from wool to polyester that that has been corrected to some degree.....but we switched to Richardson......

[noumpere]

I am still learning how to put on my mask without having to adjust it.

You're still trying to learn how to do this, yet you're spouting off about mechanics on another thread?

quoting Carl Childress: "Lah me."

[NWA_UMP]

Spouting ...is that what you call what I did...I simply gave my opinion and what is DONE in my area on a similar situation. Maybe I learned something for not being clear in what I said or more accurately what I meant to say. In our association, if U1 goes out....2 or 3 man the only place he goes is to home plate after he has rules fair/foul! He does not watch the play from the outfield. I realize this is a bit different than what is in the CCA manual...but that is what WE DO. Our assignor/evaluator does not think an umpire should EVER watch what is going on without being involved.

The other issue is, I see guys all the time at our local AA affiliate put their mask on and slide their fingers on the strap to make sure it is straight. Sometimes when I put mine on it gets twisted....so what. I am striving to be the best I can. For some reason they don't teach how to put on an umpire mask on at out local community college...it is a learned skill that I see guys who are much more advanced than I am, have to adjust their headgear after it is on. If how I put on my mask is the only criteria used for the quality of my ability...then I guess I should stop leaning the rules and rotations and work on my mask skills. Of course, I guess I could one day be as good as you are...

[mstaylor]

Putting your mask on isn't the easiest thing to do. When you go to put it on hold it in your left hand and pop the harness. This will clear the twist most of the time and open it up to make it go on better. Put your right hand at the middle back to hold the harness and pull out and down with your left hand. You may have to adjust the starp after but most times not. As you get better it almost look like you are sliding it straight down in one motion which looks really sharp. Taking it off is simply your left hand to the lower left corner of your mask and come out and up. This will also become a motion move with practice. Make sure your mask is loose enough. Put it on and lean forward. If it comes away from your face then it is good, if not loosen it. It will make your mask easier on and off and not rattle your cage so bad on a hit.

[LMSANS]

Spouting ...is that what you call what I did...I simply gave my opinion and what is DONE in my area on a similar situation. Maybe I learned something for not being clear in what I said or more accurately what I meant to say. In our association, if U1 goes out....2 or 3 man the only place he goes is to home plate after he has rules fair/foul! He does not watch the play from the outfield. I realize this is a bit different than what is in the CCA manual...but that is what WE DO. Our assignor/evaluator does not think an umpire should EVER watch what is going on without being involved.

The other issue is, I see guys all the time at our local AA affiliate put their mask on and slide their fingers on the strap to make sure it is straight. Sometimes when I put mine on it gets twisted....so what. I am striving to be the best I can. For some reason they don't teach how to put on an umpire mask on at out local community college...it is a learned skill that I see guys who are much more advanced than I am, have to adjust their headgear after it is on. If how I put on my mask is the only criteria used for the quality of my ability...then I guess I should stop leaning the rules and rotations and work on my mask skills. Of course, I guess I could one day be as good as you are...

Hell, the writer spent 2 or 3 pages in "As They See 'em" on putting on and taking off the mask.

It's a skill like any other skill, shoe tying, shirt buttoning, etc.

I wear a 4 stitch under my HSM. :WTF

Edited August 13, 2009 by LMSANS
All in jest.

[NWA_UMP]

My mask is loose but not so loose that it moves away from my face when I look down. I have taken shots to the mask and it spins or twists when it happens. Taking my mask off is not an issue...left hand-pops it right off. I have a very heavy mask(WV3009x) and I am struggling with pressure on my chin. I'm afraid if I loosen it more it will make the problem worse. Putting it on, I do just like mstaylor suggests. Right hand pulls the harness back and left hand pulls the mask down. The left side of my harness is where I have the trouble, twists at times. Quick tug with both hands on the back fixes it....just polishing the skill to get better.

[mstaylor]

Learn the pop technique for the harness and will cut down on the twisting problem.

[willv28]

My mask is loose but not so loose that it moves away from my face when I look down. I have taken shots to the mask and it spins or twists when it happens. Taking my mask off is not an issue...left hand-pops it right off. I have a very heavy mask(WV3009x) and I am struggling with pressure on my chin. I'm afraid if I loosen it more it will make the problem worse. Putting it on, I do just like mstaylor suggests. Right hand pulls the harness back and left hand pulls the mask down. The left side of my harness is where I have the trouble, twists at times. Quick tug with both hands on the back fixes it....just polishing the skill to get better.

Actually under direct shorts, especially those off center, it's a good thing if the mask twists and turns on you some. Your mask should not be an immovable wall but more a shield, things should just be deflected. That turning/twisting is further dissipating the energy and keeps the mask from being pushed into your face.

Even at LL I've taken a shot or two that have made the mask go crooked a bit. Usually they're not hard enough shots to do anything but deflect away. For some reason when I get hit it's usually in the facemask and usually comes in bunches, like in one at bat from a hard throwing pitcher.

It's kinda cool, because you can hear the fans go "Oooooh" and everyone asks if you're ok and you didn't even feel it.