List of Chest Protectors worn by active MLB Umpires as of 10/17/2012

[Fittske24]

Let this thread be the end-all-be-all answer to the question: What Chest Protecter does (Insert MLB Umpire name here) wear???

First the stats at a glance:

WV Gold-31

WV Plat -13

Riddell Power-13

Douglas-6

Vintage West Vest Gold-6

Wilson Charcoal-5

Orig. Douglas -4

Carlucci -3

Honig's Pro Elite K1-2

Champion-1

All American-1

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Umpire chest protectors as of 7/17/2012

Listed by Uniform number including current minor league rovers

1 Bruce Dreckman -Vintage West Vest Gold

2 Dan Bellino -Champion P220

3 Tim Welke -West Vest Gold

4 Tim Tschida -Carlucci

5 Dale Scott -Original Douglas

6 Mark Carlson -West vest Gold

7 Brian O'Nora -West vest Gold

8 Jeff Kellogg -West vest Gold

9 Brian Gorman -Wilson Charcoal

10 Phil Cuzzi -West Vest Gold

11 Tony Randazzo -Carlucci

12 Gerry Davis -Riddell Power

13 Derryl Cousins -All American

14 Bill Miller -Original Douglas

15 Ed Hickox -Riddell Power

16 Mike DiMuro -Wilson Charcoal

17 John Hirschbeck -West Vest Gold

18 Brian Runge -Douglas

19 Ed Rapuano -Vintage West Vest Gold

20 Tom Hallion -Wilson Charcoal

21 Hunter Wendelstedt- Riddell Power

22 Joe West -West Vest Gold

23 Lance Barksdale -Riddell Power

24 Jerry Layne -West Vest Platinum

25 Fieldin Culbreth -Wilson Charcoal

27 Larry Vanover -Riddell Power

28 Jim Wolf -Douglas

29 Bill Hohn -West Vest Gold

30 Rob Drake -West Vest Gold

32 Dana DeMuth -West Vest Platinum

33 Mike Winters -West Vest Platinum

34 Sam Holbrook -West Vest Gold

35 Wally Bell -West Vest Gold

36 Tim McClelland -West Vest Platinum

37 Gary Darling -West Vest Gold

38 Gary Cederstrom -West Vest Gold

39 Paul Nauert -Riddell Power

41 Jerry Meals -West Vest Gold

43 Paul Schrieber -West Vest Gold

44 Kerwin Danley -West Vest Gold

45 Jeff Nelson -West Vest Platinum

46 Ron Kulpa -Douglas

47 Mark Wegner -West Vest Gold

49 Andy Fletcher -West Vest Gold

50 Paul Emmel -West Vest Gold

51 Marvin Hudson -Riddell Power

52 Bill Welke -West Vest Gold

53 Greg Gibson-Original Douglas

54 CB Bucknor -Vintage West Vest Gold

55 Angel Hernandez -Riddell Power

56 Eric Cooper -West Vest Platinum

57 Mike Everitt -West Vest Platinum

58 Dan Iassogna -Riddell Power

60 Marty Foster -Vintage West Vest Gold

61 Bob Davidson -West Vest Platinum

62 Damien Beal -West Vest Gold

63 Laz Diaz -West Vest Platinum

64 Alan Porter -Honigs PRO ELITE K1

65 Ted Barrett -Carlucci

66 Jim Joyce -Honigs PRO ELITE K1

68 Chris Guccione -Original Douglas

70 D.J. Reyburn -West Vest Platinum

72 Alfonso Marquez -Vintage West Vest Gold

73 Casey Moser -West Vest Platinum

74 John Tumpane -West Vest Gold

75 Chad Fairchild -West Vest Gold

76 Mike Muchlinski -West Vest Platinum

77 Jim Reynolds -West Vest Gold

79 Manny Gonzalez -West Vest Gold

80 Adrian Johnson -Douglas

81 Chris Tiller -West Vest Platinum

83 Mike Estabrook -West Vest Gold

84 Angel Campos -West Vest Gold

85 Vic Carapazza -West Vest Gold

86 David Rackley -Douglas

87 Scott Barry -Vintage West Vest Gold

88 Doug Eddings -Riddell Power

89 Cory Blaser -West Vest Gold

90 Mark Ripperger -Douglas

91 Brian Knight -Riddell Power

92 James Hoye -West Vest Gold

94 Lance Barrett -Wilson Charcoal

95 Tim Timmons -Riddell Power

97 Todd Tichenor -Riddell Power

98 Chris Conroy -West Vest Gold

[BRUMP]

Wow. Great job Ken. When can we expect the shin guard graph to be up? :wave:

[th3]

i cant believe 5 wear the Wilson Charcoal..i love it but i believe it when they say it tops out at varsity...

[kylejt]

I'd expect a background check to be run on the poster of the MLB cup pie chart.

I get most (and have worn) most of those. But seeing that they get their choice of any Wilson product, why would one choose a charcoal? Maybe if fits certain body types better than others. I don't know.

And the Champion? I mean, I've bought a few of those for some of my crew, and they're fine for lower level work.

And not one All Star. Interesting. But that's probably due to guys with a long history feeling comfortable in their trusted gear. Witness the K1's.

I get the Carulucci, too. Hot and sweaty, but a lot of guys sported them the year after the master passed on. Even now, that's still a nice gesture.

[Thunderheads]

Ken,...

fantastic stuff, but ...how do you know who's wearing the Champion, and Charcoal, etc ?? I get the Power, Douglas, Gold and Platinum but how'd you get the scoop?! :D

[Jocko]

Because he's THE gear pimp

:notworthy:

(Is it weird that I'm man-crushing on Ken right now?) :wub:

[Thunderheads]

CORRECTION:

Jeff Nelson - Riddell Power

[celt62]

I have both the Gold and a Platinum and love both of them. My gold is fitted with the Delta Flex and my Platinum will be this year. I think what stands out is that the hottest new CPs that everyone went gaga over the last two years, the system 7 and the ultimate are no where to be found on the chart (which is fantastic by the way, thank you). Even if you look on Ump-Attire's website they don't even list the "7" on the level for collegiate and professional protection. To me that was another heads up when I considered the "7" last year. I'm glad I kept my senses and stayed with the tried and true.

[Thunderheads]

I have both the Gold and a Platinum and love both of them. My gold is fitted with the Delta Flex and my Platinum will be this year. I think what stands out is that the hottest new CPs that everyone went gaga over the last two years, the system 7 and the ultimate are no where to be found on the chart (which is fantastic by the way, thank you). Even if you look on Ump-Attire's website they don't even list the "7" on the level for collegiate and professional protection. To me that was another heads up when I considered the "7" last year. I'm glad I kept my senses and stayed with the tried and true.

No, actually it's probably because there's no one using it at that level that Ump-Attire is aware of. Ump-Attire's listing of 'level of protection' can't be taken as gospel.

They refused to carry the Champion (which is the same as the All-American) and you see this CP on Fittske's list. Look at the "Charcoal" level listing on Ump-Attire's site, ...looks like we have 2 of these floating around the MLB, so .... the "level" listing doesn't mean much

[Umpire in Chief]

Awesome Fitts! I love it.

I find it interesting to see the Charcoal, K1 & Champion/All American in one regard that many do not feel these offer "Professional level" protection. But on the other hand I don't see it as that much of a surprise as they all do offer strong protection, and with Professional catchers (and Batters to a much lesser degree) they are less likely to get hit. But when they do get hit it has the potential of being much more serious.

I would like to see a cross-reference of each umpire's CP choice and their plate set up. Not just their stance, but how they position themselves all together behind the plate. I'm wondering if the guys who use some of the "less protective" gear have some of the better positioning to avoid getting hit in the first place and it might be a calculated trade-off??? :shrug:

[celt62]

I don't use Ump-Attire's guidlines as gospel but rather as an informed opinion. I paid attention to the level because I don't do "pros" but I do anywhere from D-1 to youth baseball and I don't have a "pro" catcher in front of me where I might get away with a "charcoal" or a "champion" rare "money shot" but liable to get hit more often at the lower levels and want the highest rated protection available.

[kylejt]

I don't use what MLB umpires as any sort of gospel. Not after I witnessed a couple guys wearing the light weight frames loaded with the flimsey pads, Or, fellows with huge gaps between their head gear and c/p. Sure, I observe what they're using, and how well it works when they get clobbered, but just for informations sake, as not some ringing endorsement.

To me, the best endorsment is that shot that Joe West took off his Gold, when he didn't even blink. (wish I could find that video. Geeks, help me out here). Square to the chest, and not even a reaction to it. THAT'S what I want in a heart protector.

[Fittske24]

CORRECTION:

Jeff Nelson - Riddell Power

That's not a power... That is a platinum with the sternum pad removed. :)

[Jocko]

I don't use what MLB umpires as any sort of gospel. Not after I witnessed a couple guys wearing the light weight frames loaded with the flimsey pads, Or, fellows with huge gaps between their head gear and c/p. Sure, I observe what they're using, and how well it works when they get clobbered, but just for informations sake, as not some ringing endorsement.

To me, the best endorsment is that shot that Joe West took off his Gold, when he didn't even blink. (wish I could find that video. Geeks, help me out here). Square to the chest, and not even a reaction to it. THAT'S what I want in a heart protector.

mlb removed it from youtube. The link was on majorleagueumpires.com, but it's dead.

[gnhbua93]

Fittske could you explain, for the knowledge of it, why they take the sternum pad off? Thanks.

[BRUMP]

CORRECTION:

Jeff Nelson - Riddell Power

That's not a power... That is a platinum with the sternum pad removed.

Idk ken it looks like a riddell to me

[Thunderheads]

CORRECTION:

Jeff Nelson - Riddell Power

That's not a power... That is a platinum with the sternum pad removed.

Ok...but what about that gap between the sternum and collar bone plates??

[gnhbua93]

We need a webcast CP debate between Fittske24 and Thunderheads.

[BRUMP]

We need a webcast CP debate between Fittske24 and Thunderheads.

regardless of what it actually is it does look extrememly similar to a power

[gnhbua93]

Young don't be ambivalent.

[BRUMP]

Young don't be ambivalent.

I'm not. I trust fittskes post as he is always able to get all this info but I agree with Jeff that it does look like a power

[eagle_12]

Unless Fitts has other info other then the picture or there is a different model of platinum then I go with the Power side. The platinum has one solid piece across the front and wrapping up over the shoulder unlike the gold, charcoal, and power where there is a gap. I also don't see the stitch marks/holes from where the little pad is removed

[Fittske24]

Unless Fitts has other info other then the picture or there is a different model of platinum then I go with the Power side. The platinum has one solid piece across the front and wrapping up over the shoulder unlike the gold, charcoal, and power where there is a gap. I also don't see the stitch marks/holes from where the little pad is removed

Confirmed. It IS a Riddell power with shoulder gap protection similar to the platinum. I will update the chart....

[gnhbua93]

Fittske could you explain, for the knowledge of it, why they take the sternum pad off? Thanks.

[Marcus6]

Believe Nelson wears a Riddell Power retrofitted with the Team Wendy padding