Cap Creasing

[wvumpire1807]

Easy solution, dont wear a hat without a logo. I will never wear a plain hat.

[Thunderheads]

Easy solution, dont wear a hat without a logo. I will never wear a plain hat.

Not everyone on this site works within an association that has a logo ...........

[noumpere]

Ugh. I never will get the point of creasing caps.

[ There is no right or wrong way to line up the creases its up to you!

Oh no your both wrong because its a requirement and theres an exact way to do it - havent you been reading all the posts. lol.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I just worked a doubleheader on Wednesday with one of my assignors, who, when he gave me my tryout in 2010, greeted me and said, "I like the way you crease your cap." His subsequent endorsement of my work also helped me get a cream schedule from my high school assignor. Then, over the weekend, I worked three consecutive games with guys who don't crease their caps. Two of them lamented, in some way, their lack of progress in moving up. The third one, a 20-plus-year veteran just doesn't give a sh!t about anything, so creasing his cap isn't anything he'd bother with. Nor, apparently, does wearing a clean one seem to matter. He never works a second playoff game---even after all those years. One and out.

I'm not saying that creasing your cap makes you any more of an umpire. And I'm not saying that there are no umpires who moved up despite their refusal to crease. I am saying that creasing your cap helps to convey that you are steadfastly devoted to the craft. Since I am, I crease my caps. And I have grown to like it and respect those who employ the practice.

[Cajuncubsfan]

Use the vent holes as a guide and use clothes pins to sharpen the crease.

Good recommendation. If youre a junkie like most of us, if you look at some detailed pics of MLB guys everybody creases their caps differently. Some go for more of that rounded look other go for a more pointed look. There is no right or wrong way to line up the creases its up to you!

I agree

[Welpe]

I'm not saying that creasing your cap makes you any more of an umpire. And I'm not saying that there are no umpires who moved up despite their refusal to crease. I am saying that creasing your cap helps to convey that you are steadfastly devoted to the craft. Since I am, I crease my caps. And I have grown to like it and respect those who employ the practice.

I get you. I also understand dressing the part and playing the game. I don't get why we wear beltless slacks in basketball but it's the de facto standard and if you wear a belt, you look strange so I wear beltless slacks. That doesn't mean I have to like it even if I'll do it. :)

[Kevin Finnerty]

I literally own well over 100 fitted MLB caps dating back to the 1970s. I have at least one from every major league club. I have 17 Angels caps alone. And several more Bruins caps

Not a single one of those is creased. But every umpire cap I wear, or have worn since early on, bears a crease. It has evolved into that all-around crease after seeing some of my mentors with it. But as soon as I get a cap ready to wear, I steam a really sharp crease into it--front and back--whether or not it makes any sense.

But I'll tell you one thing: running around wearing a creased cap is less of a stretch for me than running around in beltless slacks. :D

[noumpere]

I just worked a doubleheader on Wednesday with one of my assignors, who, when he gave me my tryout in 2010, greeted me and said, "I like the way you crease your cap."

I once worked with an umpire so bad that when he asked me for feedback after the game all I could say was I like the way you crease your cap. lol.

If you work in an area where its required even if its not said as such than do so. Fortunately I guess here its not an issue whether you do or dont do it.

[grayhawk]

The only reason I crease my caps is because the senior members of the association say that NOT doing it makes you look like a newbie. If creasing gets me a better rating, then I am all for it. No reason to fight city hall on something so trivial.

In any case, I think it's ridiculous, because I don't travel the way MLB umpires travel. They need to be able to fit their caps in their luggage in a way that doesn't crush them. I drive to my games, so my caps don't need to fit anywhere but on the passenger seat of my car.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I just worked a doubleheader on Wednesday with one of my assignors, who, when he gave me my tryout in 2010, greeted me and said, "I like the way you crease your cap."

I once worked with an umpire so bad that when he asked me for feedback after the game all I could say was I like the way you crease your cap. lol.

If you work in an area where its required even if its not said as such than do so. Fortunately I guess here its not an issue whether you do or dont do it.

I guess it can mean there's nothing else to compliment. I never really thought about that.

Geez, I'm glad he said it before he saw me work my tryout game.

[yawetag]

Easy solution, dont wear a hat without a logo. I will never wear a plain hat.

Not everyone on this site works within an association that has a logo ...........

My state association doesn't allow logos on caps. We do have logoed caps for non-FED games.

[Marcus6]

Im having the hardest time getting the TOP of the cap to stay down (like how Nelson's cap "dips" in the picture above) - Ive ironed it but it wont stay flat - any recommendations?

[Thunderheads]

Im having the hardest time getting the TOP of the cap to stay down (like how Nelson's cap "dips" in the picture above) - Ive ironed it but it wont stay flat - any recommendations?

probably a 'crown height' thingy ??

[Marcus6]

Im having the hardest time getting the TOP of the cap to stay down (like how Nelson's cap "dips" in the picture above) - Ive ironed it but it wont stay flat - any recommendations?

probably a 'crown height' thingy ??

I dont think it has to do with the height, the Richardson caps seem to be very stiff compared to the New Era caps. I have Richardsons.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I wouldn't walk onto the field in anything but a sharply creased hat. I was told by a pro school grad back when I first started umpiring, "See that guy over there? He looks like he's going fox hunting." He was pointing out a rookie umpire who was wearing a brand new hat that was rounded on TOP and resembled Elmer Fudd saying "Be vewy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits." He said to crease your hat like the pros do, so I have ever since.

[JDavis225]

Ok after reading nearly every post, I noticed a lack of pictures. I learned from an older guy about creasing the front but what about the back? Anyone care to upload pics of their best creases? Just a youngster trying to learn the ropes here...

[conbo61]

I fold mine just like "blocking my cover".  It comes out pretty sharp and avoids the rounding.

 

Sure beats liquid starch....

[Umpire in Chief]

When I order my caps for 2013, I'll try to remember to create a video of my method. There are many methods so you may prefer a different way. 

[guitarplaya2007]

Im having the hardest time getting the TOP of the cap to stay down (like how Nelson's cap "dips" in the picture above) - Ive ironed it but it wont stay flat - any recommendations?

crease the cap in reverse about 1 inch behind your original crease so as to "bend" the button towards the bill of the cap. This is what i do, then every time i put the cap on i pinch the original crease which maintains this "dip"

[AZump78]

I just worked a doubleheader on Wednesday with one of my assignors, who, when he gave me my tryout in 2010, greeted me and said, "I like the way you crease your cap." His subsequent endorsement of my work also helped me get a cream schedule from my high school assignor. Then, over the weekend, I worked three consecutive games with guys who don't crease their caps. Two of them lamented, in some way, their lack of progress in moving up. The third one, a 20-plus-year veteran just doesn't give a sh!t about anything, so creasing his cap isn't anything he'd bother with. Nor, apparently, does wearing a clean one seem to matter. He never works a second playoff game---even after all those years. One and out. I'm not saying that creasing your cap makes you any more of an umpire. And I'm not saying that there are no umpires who moved up despite their refusal to crease. I am saying that creasing your cap helps to convey that you are steadfastly devoted to the craft. Since I am, I crease my caps. And I have grown to like it and respect those who employ the practice.

If I have said once on here I've said it 1000x times-it's the bunch of seemingly little things that, when combined, separate the best from the rest.

[johnnyg08]

If I have said once on here I've said it 1000x times-it's the bunch of seemingly little things that, when combined, separate the best from the rest.

 

 

 

Amen.

[BT_Blue]

It was one of the first two things that the guy that taught me how to umpire told me about my uniform. Crease the legs of your pants and crease your hat.

[Thunderheads]

I just worked a doubleheader on Wednesday with one of my assignors, who, when he gave me my tryout in 2010, greeted me and said, "I like the way you crease your cap." His subsequent endorsement of my work also helped me get a cream schedule from my high school assignor. Then, over the weekend, I worked three consecutive games with guys who don't crease their caps. Two of them lamented, in some way, their lack of progress in moving up. The third one, a 20-plus-year veteran just doesn't give a sh!t about anything, so creasing his cap isn't anything he'd bother with. Nor, apparently, does wearing a clean one seem to matter. He never works a second playoff game---even after all those years. One and out.

I'm not saying that creasing your cap makes you any more of an umpire. And I'm not saying that there are no umpires who moved up despite their refusal to crease. I am saying that creasing your cap helps to convey that you are steadfastly devoted to the craft. Since I am, I crease my caps. And I have grown to like it and respect those who employ the practice.

If I have said once on here I've said it 1000x times-it's the bunch of seemingly little things that, when combined, separate the best from the rest.

The sad thing is ........ there are umpire's out there (and ones on this site) who don't understand this .......

[Jocko]

I'll admit, I was one of the anti-creasers. I figured after having worn the hard creased military cover, anything else was just a cheap facsimile thereof. Now, having worked with partners I admire and respect (with sharply creased hats), I will employ the practice myself. Haven't done it yet, but at my next meeting, I'll ask one of the creasers to show me how to do it properly.

[AZump78]

I just worked a doubleheader on Wednesday with one of my assignors, who, when he gave me my tryout in 2010, greeted me and said, "I like the way you crease your cap." His subsequent endorsement of my work also helped me get a cream schedule from my high school assignor. Then, over the weekend, I worked three consecutive games with guys who don't crease their caps. Two of them lamented, in some way, their lack of progress in moving up. The third one, a 20-plus-year veteran just doesn't give a sh!t about anything, so creasing his cap isn't anything he'd bother with. Nor, apparently, does wearing a clean one seem to matter. He never works a second playoff game---even after all those years. One and out. I'm not saying that creasing your cap makes you any more of an umpire. And I'm not saying that there are no umpires who moved up despite their refusal to crease. I am saying that creasing your cap helps to convey that you are steadfastly devoted to the craft. Since I am, I crease my caps. And I have grown to like it and respect those who employ the practice. If I have said once on here I've said it 1000x times-it's the bunch of seemingly little things that, when combined, separate the best from the rest. The sad thing is ........ there are umpire's out there (and ones on this site) who don't understand this .......

That's ok Jax. It just makes the road to the top easier for you ; )