Fashion Sins of Our Partners

[Umpire in Chief]

Wow ! is that eye grease too. I've never seen an ump wear eye grease.

[yawetag]

Wow ! is that eye grease too. I've never seen an ump wear eye grease.

Nope, just his glasses:

[Kevin Finnerty]

Nice jacket.

[johnnyg08]

He actually has nice leg guards, but no plate pants. At least its gray on gray! :Cool2:

[sdix00]

Wow ! is that eye grease too. I've never seen an ump wear eye grease.

Nope, just his glasses:

I knew we were being set up.

[Kevin Finnerty]

He's obviously a young guy who's just starting out and has probably learned a lot and has developed into a fine, experienced umpire.

[sdix00]

He's obviously a young guy who's just starting out and has probably learned a lot and has developed into a fine, experienced umpire.

Balls. . . is all I gotta say.

[AZump78]

I am pretty sure he isn't wearing a chest protector...That is balls indeed.

[SAB_UIC_TX]

I really hoping this was his first game and someone told him a thing or two after he was done, or between the TOP and bottom half of the 1st.

[grayhawk]

Saw a guy rocking one of these recently:

[AZump78]

On a positive note. His mask IS in the correct hand!

[yawetag]

On a positive note. His mask IS in the correct hand!

Yes, but he's holding it backwards to how you'd hold it if you took it off with your left hand. His left hand is holding the right side of the mask. That would mean he either: (1) he reached across his mask and pulled it off, or (2) took it off with his right hand and moved to his left hand.

[johnnyg08]

He's obviously a young guy who's just starting out and has probably learned a lot and has developed into a fine, experienced umpire.

^^^^^^^^^^ Really wants the member of the month prize. :-)

[AZump78]

On a positive note. His mask IS in the correct hand!

Yes, but he's holding it backwards to how you'd hold it if you took it off with your left hand. His left hand is holding the right side of the mask. That would mean he either: (1) he reached across his mask and pulled it off, or (2) took it off with his right hand and moved to his left hand.

So true...I was really trying to think of something he was doing right and that was the best I could do.

[SAB_UIC_TX]

If you look real close I think hit might actually be creased.

[AZump78]

So who is going to step up and make this budding young umpire their new avatar?

Nominations anyone?

[Replacematt]

He's obviously a young guy who's just starting out and has probably learned a lot and has developed into a fine, experienced umpire.

Balls. . . is all I gotta say.

The funny thing is that when I saw this picture, I was pretty sure that this cat, at a minimum, had a decent set of swag. That told me that he has had exposure to the do's and dont's--probably informally. I'll be honest, I do see potential for this guy just because he does have some stuff right. Much better than a lot of rookies who come in thinking they know everything because of their playing days.

[JaxRolo]

I really do not get why he is dressed that way! Even if he is a new Umpire he must have watched somebody else umpire a game or 2. Or he should have received some guidance.

What did the Association do?? Tell him to buy gear and Uniforms and throw him out there by himself?

[zm1283]

He has a short sleeve navy shirt on under the jacket as well. I've never understood why some guys do that.

If he would turn his hat around and put his shin guards inside his pants he would look 10 times better. He still wouldn't be polished by any means, but he would look like he has a clue.

[sdix00]

He has a short sleeve navy shirt on under the jacket as well. I've never understood why some guys do that.

What am I missing? What is wrong with wearing a short sleeve navy shirt under a navy jacket?

[Thunderheads]

He has a short sleeve navy shirt on under the jacket as well. I've never understood why some guys do that.

What am I missing? What is wrong with wearing a short sleeve navy shirt under a navy jacket?

Jersey, ...not t-shirt .....he's got a navy w/ red and white trim umpire jersey under his jacket...

[sdix00]

OK, I am definitely missing something then.

Am I not allowed to remove my jacket?

[Thunderheads]

OK, I am definitely missing something then.

Am I not allowed to remove my jacket?

I dont' do this persay, but, ...I gather it's not 'proper' .......

[NWA_UMP]

I am amazed at what I see when I work baseball. I was still coaching a travel team when I was first getting involved in umpiring. We went to a neighboring state to play a tourney. The plate guy had his guards on the outside of his pants...they were grey slacks at least and he didn't wear a hat under his mask. I'm sure the sunburn on his head would have a interesting pattern to say the least. I have seen guys lean up against the fence between innings, go into the other teams dugout and sit on a bucket, walk down 1st baseline to talk to friends and eat a sandwhich between innings.

I think we can all agree, that if we take the time to visit this site and others like it, that we are not the normal umpire on the field on any given day. We obviously take a higher level of pride in what we do. We will still make mistakes and will use those mistakes to learn. We will tend to have a better appearance when we take the field. I know I can say I work with two very different levels of partners. The guys that work HS and those that work rec league. Our HS association obviously handles HS, but we also work Legion, USSSA tourney ball and most post season tournies for Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth. The other group I work with is the rec league guys. They tend to be on the polar opposite ends of the spectrum. They are either just getting into umpiring or they are on their way out. Most do it for the money and the money only. Lots of kids work this level. Summer jobs for HS kids if you will. Most don't care about the professional side of being an umpire, they want the pay check.

[Chris Hickman]

Generally speaking, if you are going to wear a jacket or a half-jacket the only thing you wear under it is a short or long sleeve t-shirt. I have seen guys wear a polo under a jacket. Not my cup o' tea but I see that mainly in LL or HS umpires. Never seen it in a college or pro. Life is funny. Perception is everything. If I was working a college game with a guy that I had never met and he had a polo under his jacket I would immediately think LL or HS guy. Is that wrong? Probably but that is how it is in our profession. It's like wearing a watch on the field, IMHO. You have to fit in with your peers depending on the level.......