Insight Provided

[asek35]

People have told me about Cooperstown.  I have never been before, can someone provide me on how most umpires get their expenses covered for this tournament?  Do most guys fly or drive out by themselves?  Also, I have invested in shirts that are different colors.  Are you allowed to wear them for this tournament?

[mjr_2013]

104 teams go to this tournament, Cooperstown Dreams Park, each week, every week throughout summer. First week of June through the last week in August... Each team is required to bring an umpire... It is up to individual teams to find umpires, and umpires who want to go to hook up with teams... Umpires are not REQUIRED to go with a team, but their expenses will not be covered if they don't.

 

It is up to the individual umpire to determine how he or she gets there. Some drive, some fly, and, if the team is local, some will hook up with a team family and car pool. My week had a retired guy who drove from California to see the country... I would advocate driving yourself if at all possible, because CDP is a vehicular drive in facility only. Meaning to get in or out, you need to have a car or have a friend who has a car. No ifs ands or buts... Having a car is also a great way to make friends.

 

When an umpire and a team hook up, it is then up to the two of them to negotiate a price... Room and board is covered during your stay by CDP... Some umpires go just for the experience, and will just ask for the team to pay for their travel expenses... Some may ask for flying expenses plus a rental car expense... Some ask for travel plus a little more... It is all up to the umpire and the team... Be careful you don't talk prices with teams on public message boards like this though. Some guys will get upset if they feel they are being underbid by other umps. Keep money talks in private emails and phone calls.

 

As far as shirts go... You are given two navy CDP shirts at check in... On the Saturday of the tournament, there is an umpire's meeting. Immediately following this meeting, you are put into a crew consisting of between 3-6 umpires, depending on how many umpires come in total... When you get your crew, the crew sits down together and your crew chief makes the schedule of 2, 3, and 4 man crews for the games between Sunday-Tuesday, which are pool play games... It is then up to you to talk with your partner(s) in your crew and decide what colors to wear... In the pool play games, anything goes, and you will see some funky colors come out... One crew had orange uniforms on for a game during my week... The only colors NOT allowed are camouflage and the US flag... You will see a lot of black, a lot of powder, some red, some pink, some creme, very little navy... What can suck though is being stuck with a crew member who only has navy. 

 

On Wednesday, tournament play starts where one loss sends the teams packing... Thursday is the Sweet 16 which is all six man... Wednesday and Thursday you are required to wear the CDP navy shirts and hats.

 

If you have other questions, you can post them or PM me or another one of the guys here who has been. We'd be glad to help you out.