MLB Logo

[Hackman61]

Hey fellas,

I'm a pretty green umpire, (only a few games so far) and I just got a new Wilson Dyna Lite two-tone mask. The harness has the MLB logo on the back. Is it frowned upon to have it on there or is it no big deal? I have a meeting in a few weeks with my new organization so I will definitely check with them if they don't want it on there. What's your experience?

[Timothy]

No big deal, although, like you, when they first came out, I had the same question.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I can't figure out why Wilson makes the generic W logo harness so hard to obtain. I have two, and the rest of my harnesses---which I remove from my masks as soon as I obtain them---have the MLB logo. If you take a thread pick or a pocket knife, you can rather easily remove the MLB logo and make it truly generic. But mainly, it's just Wilson's way of branding its protective products as being the official MLB line, like Reebok's shoes that bear the logo. And everybody understands that it's just a branding and we're not big leaguers or big league posers.

[Kevin Finnerty]

And don't get me wrong: I love the logo as far as logos go.

[Hackman61]

I like the logo too. I'm a big Harmon Killebrew fan. Being new, I don't want to portray something I'm not so I was just wondering. I'll probably leave it on if my association doesn't care. Thanks .

[spiritump_b]

Hey fellas,

I'm a pretty green umpire, (only a few games so far) and I just got a new Wilson Dyna Lite two-tone mask. The harness has the MLB logo on the back. Is it frowned upon to have it on there or is it no big deal? I have a meeting in a few weeks with my new organization so I will definitely check with them if they don't want it on there. What's your experience?

I think the only place where you might have a problem is NCAA

[Kevin Finnerty]

I like the logo too. I'm a big Harmon Killebrew fan. Being new, I don't want to portray something I'm not so I was just wondering. I'll probably leave it on if my association doesn't care. Thanks .

I just told this story in a PM a couple of days ago: My boyhood baseball idol was Harmon Killebrew. In the 1965 World Series, he hit a towering bomb off Don Drysdale--then my favorite Dodger--and I became enamored of Harmon, like any 8-year-old might at the sight of a titanic blast by a prolific slugger. I went away from that series copying Killebrew's stance and style. I continued to try to be just like Harmon, except I ran fast.

Killebrew was the model for the MLB logo, and won the MVP the year it was introduced. So I love the logo like I loved the man, but for some reason, it makes me feel like a poser to wear it on my mask, which is the one piece of gear that's on prominent display. I don't know why I am that adamant, but I am. I buy harnesses with the yellow W, and modify or get rid of the harnesses with the MLB logo.

(try to imagine looking at this from behind)

[johnnyg08]

I like the logo too. I'm a big Harmon Killebrew fan. Being new, I don't want to portray something I'm not so I was just wondering. I'll probably leave it on if my association doesn't care. Thanks .

I just told this story in a PM a couple of days ago: My boyhood baseball idol was Harmon Killebrew. In the 1965 World Series, he hit a towering bomb off Don Drysdale--then my favorite Dodger--and I became enamored of Harmon, like any 8-year-old might at the sight of a titanic blast by a prolific slugger. I went away from that series copying Killebrew's stance and style. I continued to try to be just like Harmon, except I ran fast.

Killebrew was the model for the MLB logo, and won the MVP the year it was introduced. So I love the logo like I loved the man, but for some reason, it makes me feel like a poser to wear it on my mask, which is the one piece of gear that's on prominent display. I don't know why I am that adamant, but I am. I buy harnesses with the yellow W, and modify or get rid of the harnesses with the MLB logo.

(try to imagine looking at this from behind)

Kevin, we're awfully fond of Harmon up here in MN ourselves.

[johnnyg08]

I guess I've never thought about it that much. When I was growing up, the Air Jordan's came out. None of us thought we were Michael Jordan because we wore his shoes...I don't think I'm an MLB umpire because I have a West Vest or wear Reebok plate shoes. When I see the logo on my umpire gear, I know that I own pro gear, that is the best gear I can buy. I guess that's what the logo means to me.

I'm sure when the sawed-off jerseys came out, lots of amateur teams started wearing them but none of them thought they were Cincinnati Reds players.

That being said, I can understand where you're coming from about not wanting to be a poser, but I'd be hard-pressed to find anybody w/ any credibility who would label you a poser for wearing pro gear...in fact, most of us on here tell young umpires to get pro gear right away because it's the best, not because we're trying to be like a professional umpire

[Kevin Finnerty]

In 1968, Harmon hit a bomb that struck well up the left leg of the Big A scoreboard, which was 505 feet from home plate. I saw both of Willie Stargell's shots that left Dodger Stadium, and several tape measure bombs from Mike Piazza, Mark McGwire, Dave Kingman and Willie McCovey that either went out or almost out of the stadium.

But that shot that my modest, soft-spoken hero blasted that Saturday in 1968 remains the longest one that I have ever seen.

Check out how far that thing was (they used to park cars what they thought was a safe distance away):

[Hackman61]

I like the logo too. I'm a big Harmon Killebrew fan. Being new, I don't want to portray something I'm not so I was just wondering. I'll probably leave it on if my association doesn't care. Thanks .

I just told this story in a PM a couple of days ago: My boyhood baseball idol was Harmon Killebrew. In the 1965 World Series, he hit a towering bomb off Don Drysdale--then my favorite Dodger--and I became enamored of Harmon, like any 8-year-old might at the sight of a titanic blast by a prolific slugger. I went away from that series copying Killebrew's stance and style. I continued to try to be just like Harmon, except I ran fast.

Killebrew was the model for the MLB logo, and won the MVP the year it was introduced. So I love the logo like I loved the man, but for some reason, it makes me feel like a poser to wear it on my mask, which is the one piece of gear that's on prominent display. I don't know why I am that adamant, but I am. I buy harnesses with the yellow W, and modify or get rid of the harnesses with the MLB logo.

(try to imagine looking at this from behind)

Kevin, we're awfully fond of Harmon up here in MN ourselves.

Where in MN? All my family lives there. I love Minnesnowta!

[johnnyg08]

Central MN Where is your family?

[Hackman61]

Central MN Where is your family?

All over. The cities, northern MN up in Hallock and Kennedy. Even have a sister in law in Fargo Moorhead. I love MN. My wife and I live in WA but we go back home every summer to hang out a Maple Lake by Crookston. I think our summer trek back may cut into some Umpiring time.

[johnnyg08]

It's nice...I'm not a fan of the winter at all...but a huge fan of the spring, summer, and fall.

[kylejt]

I draw my personal line on wearing the MLB logo at jerseys, hats and jackets, as I can get those without. My Reebok Field Magistrates only come with it, so there's no choice.

Many years ago, I was a bicycle road racer. In my first ever race, I wasn't yet on a team, so I just wore a jersey that looked good to me. Afterwards, someone hipped me to the fact that I was sporting a World Championship jersey, and those are reserved for current World Champions. Oh, you could buy one, but a real racer would never wear one. You'd be labeled a "Fred", which is akin to being called a "Smitty" in the umpire world.

There's someone a eBay hocking fake MLB umpire shirts, hats, and even long thermal jackets. Yeah, don't wear those.

[Umpire in Chief]

I draw my personal line on wearing the MLB logo at jerseys, hats and jackets, as I can get those without. My Reebok Field Magistrates only come with it, so there's no choice.

My thought exactly. If my equipment has it printed on it then NBD. I think my mask harness is the only one which is visible. But I will not wear a MLB/MiLB logo on the field on my shirt hat etc. Those logos worn on the field are earned and I think it is a dis-service to those who earned them to wear them on the field without having earned them.

I worked with a partner earlier this year in a middle school game who wore a MLB hat on the field. I don't know how I didn't notice it until we got to the field, but it bothered me a lot. and I kept telling myself I'll talk to him about it in my post game.

Well through the game he gave me opportunity for instructional moments. By the time we got to our post game I struggled to come up with 5 positive things to say beyond he was trying really hard, he wants to do well. I spent so much time covering situations, rules and mechanics with him (and he was taking my constructive criticizim very well) but I could tell I was bringing him down. I actually ended my post game pre-maturely and circled back and just gave him 2 things to work on as he continues his development as I thought lets go back to basics and two things would be managable versus the entire list of what I had observed. By that time I honestly didn't have the heart to bring up my feelings about wearing a MLB logo on an amateur field. At that time I thought it would have been adding insult to injury.

[Hackman61]

I draw my personal line on wearing the MLB logo at jerseys, hats and jackets, as I can get those without. My Reebok Field Magistrates only come with it, so there's no choice.

My thought exactly. If my equipment has it printed on it then NBD. I think my mask harness is the only one which is visible. But I will not wear a MLB/MiLB logo on the field on my shirt hat etc. Those logos worn on the field are earned and I think it is a dis-service to those who earned them to wear them on the field without having earned them.

I worked with a partner earlier this year in a middle school game who wore a MLB hat on the field. I don't know how I didn't notice it until we got to the field, but it bothered me a lot. and I kept telling myself I'll talk to him about it in my post game.

Well through the game he gave me opportunity for instructional moments. By the time we got to our post game I struggled to come up with 5 positive things to say beyond he was trying really hard, he wants to do well. I spent so much time covering situations, rules and mechanics with him (and he was taking my constructive criticizim very well) but I could tell I was bringing him down. I actually ended my post game pre-maturely and circled back and just gave him 2 things to work on as he continues his development as I thought lets go back to basics and two things would be managable versus the entire list of what I had observed. By that time I honestly didn't have the heart to bring up my feelings about wearing a MLB logo on an amateur field. At that time I thought it would have been adding insult to injury.

I've already taken the MLB logo off my harness. You said it exactly the way I feel. I haven't earned it. I would rather keep my harness w/o logos.

[boyinr]

1320677182' post='75313']

1320542957' post='75261']

I draw my personal line on wearing the MLB logo at jerseys, hats and jackets, as I can get those without. My Reebok Field Magistrates only come with it, so there's no choice.

My thought exactly. If my equipment has it printed on it then NBD. I think my mask harness is the only one which is visible. But I will not wear a MLB/MiLB logo on the field on my shirt hat etc. Those logos worn on the field are earned and I think it is a dis-service to those who earned them to wear them on the field without having earned them.

I worked with a partner earlier this year in a middle school game who wore a MLB hat on the field. I don't know how I didn't notice it until we got to the field, but it bothered me a lot. and I kept telling myself I'll talk to him about it in my post game.

Well through the game he gave me opportunity for instructional moments. By the time we got to our post game I struggled to come up with 5 positive things to say beyond he was trying really hard, he wants to do well. I spent so much time covering situations, rules and mechanics with him (and he was taking my constructive criticizim very well) but I could tell I was bringing him down. I actually ended my post game pre-maturely and circled back and just gave him 2 things to work on as he continues his development as I thought lets go back to basics and two things would be managable versus the entire list of what I had observed. By that time I honestly didn't have the heart to bring up my feelings about wearing a MLB logo on an amateur field. At that time I thought it would have been adding insult to injury.

Warren

Are you sure this wasn't our friend John? Whose mask did he have in the trunk?

[UmpJeff]

I like the logo too. I'm a big Harmon Killebrew fan. Being new, I don't want to portray something I'm not so I was just wondering. I'll probably leave it on if my association doesn't care. Thanks .

I just told this story in a PM a couple of days ago: My boyhood baseball idol was Harmon Killebrew. In the 1965 World Series, he hit a towering bomb off Don Drysdale--then my favorite Dodger--and I became enamored of Harmon, like any 8-year-old might at the sight of a titanic blast by a prolific slugger. I went away from that series copying Killebrew's stance and style. I continued to try to be just like Harmon, except I ran fast.

Killebrew was the model for the MLB logo, and won the MVP the year it was introduced. So I love the logo like I loved the man, but for some reason, it makes me feel like a poser to wear it on my mask, which is the one piece of gear that's on prominent display. I don't know why I am that adamant, but I am. I buy harnesses with the yellow W, and modify or get rid of the harnesses with the MLB logo.

(try to imagine looking at this from behind)

I hate to burst the bubble, but, Killer was not the "model" for the MLB logo. Here's an article related to the MBL logo..

http://espn.go.com/e...ndex?id=6559613

Here's another...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122453063968851133.html

[Kevin Finnerty]

I hate to burst the bubble, but, Killer was not the "model" for the MLB logo. Here's an article related to the MBL logo..

http://espn.go.com/e...ndex?id=6559613

That's okay. Believe whatever you would like to believe. I read that article when it came out---as cowardly and ghoulish as it was (what a slimeball its author is--the earth on Harmon's grave hadn't even dried yet).That article falls well short of debunking Harmon's own recollection of how the logo was inspired. And its likeness to Harmon is inarguable.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Here's another...

http://online.wsj.co...3968851133.html

I hope this aged artist, Mr. Dior, gets the proper care for his Alzheimer's.

[Rich Ives]

I hate to burst the bubble, but, Killer was not the "model" for the MLB logo. Here's an article related to the MBL logo..

http://espn.go.com/e...ndex?id=6559613

That's okay. Believe whatever you would like to believe. I read that article when it came out---as cowardly and ghoulish as it was (what a slimeball its author is--the earth on Harmon's grave hadn't even dried yet).That article falls well short of debunking Harmon's own recollection of how the logo was inspired. And its likeness to Harmon is inarguable.

I remember that when the logo first came out MLB said it wasn't based on any particular player.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I hate to burst the bubble, but, Killer was not the "model" for the MLB logo. Here's an article related to the MBL logo..

http://espn.go.com/e...ndex?id=6559613

That's okay. Believe whatever you would like to believe. I read that article when it came out---as cowardly and ghoulish as it was (what a slimeball its author is--the earth on Harmon's grave hadn't even dried yet).That article falls well short of debunking Harmon's own recollection of how the logo was inspired. And its likeness to Harmon is inarguable.

I remember that when the logo first came out MLB said it wasn't based on any particular player.

Well that's it, then. The final word.

Everything MLB has done or stated--at least since I've been alive--is totally above reproach.

[Hackman61]

I hate to burst the bubble, but, Killer was not the "model" for the MLB logo. Here's an article related to the MBL logo..

http://espn.go.com/e...ndex?id=6559613

That's okay. Believe whatever you would like to believe. I read that article when it came out---as cowardly and ghoulish as it was (what a slimeball its author is--the earth on Harmon's grave hadn't even dried yet).That article falls well short of debunking Harmon's own recollection of how the logo was inspired. And its likeness to Harmon is inarguable.

I remember that when the logo first came out MLB said it wasn't based on any particular player.

Well that's it, then. The final word.

Everything MLB has done or stated--at least since I've been alive--is totally above reproach.

Maybe it's not Harmon, but in my mind I like to think it is.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Harmon Killebrew is my boyhood baseball idol. He was a warm, thoughtful, kind, gentlemanly figure and a magnificent pure home run slugger. I met him dozens of times over the years and was left with a warm, rich feeling every time. Baseball has featured many fine men in my lifetime, and in my many roles from childhood ballpark rat to various media-related gigs I managed to get as an adult, I have met generations of the game's luminaries. I've but I never met a finer man in the game than Harmon.

The first time I met him was at the Grand Hotel near Disneyland after an Angels-Twins game in 1969. He got off the bus and entered the hotel with the rest of the Twins entourage, and my dad---a non-fan, who didn't know what Harmon even looked like up close---watched me walk through all of these tall, athletic-looking young men and approach this shorter, balding, husky man and start heaping adulation upon him. Harmon visited with us for a rather extended period, and even engaged my dad on a peer level for a good portion of the time. It was an extraordinary first encounter with my very first baseball idol.

My dad was incredulous at how ordinary looking a man this Harmon Killebrew was, and expressed a tremendous pride in me that I had so naturally picked such a fine gentleman to be my baseball idol.

And I can't tell you how proud and overjoyed I am that it is his visage that adorns the official logo of the game I love so much.