A list of Equipment For Umpires That Went Down in Flames

[Thunderheads]

Tanel 360 Plate Shoes – USA-designed, nice product, lost steam and never got produced again.

Rawlings LWXM-LP – So shallow and low-profile of a mask, your nose stuck out the eye slit.

+1

original shoes from original owner/company were nice ....

[Umpire in Chief]

What about the Vans Umpire Shoes...

[Stan W.]

"Dazzle Cloth" umpire shirts.............(for those that dont remember, imagine shiny disco clothes)

"Zipper Neck" umpire shirts..............( +POS supplied them for MiLB)

 

 

My Future prediction......

 

ZIGS.......

[BigUmp56]

GD patent leather plate shoes......

 

Tim

[johnnyg08]

The "beanie" plate cap.

[Umpire in Chief]

The indicator app for the IPhone

[noumpere]

I think we need a definition of "went down in flames" because some of the items mentioned had a long and happy life and were just replaced.  Others didn't last very long and were generally panned as soon as they came out.

 

If its the first definition were using, I'll add top hat, tuxedo coat, walking cane and stool for sitting to the list.  Not that I'm quite old enough to have used any of them of course.

[JaxRolo]

I think we need a definition of "went down in flames" because some of the items mentioned had a long and happy life and were just replaced.  Others didn't last very long and were generally panned as soon as they came out.

 

If its the first definition were using, I'll add top hat, tuxedo coat, walking cane and stool for sitting to the list.  Not that I'm quite old enough to have used any of them of course.

 

@BigUmpire still uses a stool

[Umpire in Chief]

The red/maroon coat, and coats on the bases.

[NCAAump2]

GD patent leather plate shoes......

 

Tim

I have them and love them!  They're a little heavier than I would like, but they clean up very easily, and I think they look great when they're all shiny.  Just my 

[BRUMP]

The red/maroon coat, and coats on the bases.

I thought coats on the bases were phased out way before this but apparently they've worn them till 2004.

[kylejt]

Light blue turtlenecks, to go with your plate coats.

[umpstu]

 

GD patent leather plate shoes......

 

Tim

I have them and love them!  They're a little heavier than I would like, but they clean up very easily, and I think they look great when they're all shiny.  Just my 

 

I really loved my GD plate shoes. And they weren't that much heavier.

[RichMSN]

"Dazzle Cloth" umpire shirts.............(for those that dont remember, imagine shiny disco clothes)

"Zipper Neck" umpire shirts..............( +POS supplied them for MiLB)

 

 

My Future prediction......

 

ZIGS.......

Zigs are, by far, the most comfortable shoes I've used. Doubt they're going away unless something even better comes along.

Sent via Tapatalk 4

[FlaUmp22]

 

4. +POS Accessory Bag, a tine blue nylon bag to put opposite your ball bag to put your brush, indicator, pencil, or something else, circa  1983 or 4. 

 

Never seen one but it sounds eerily similar to a fanny pack 

[KLAH316]

GD patent leather plate shoes......

 

Tim

Those were my first Plate Shoes.....

[jkumpire]

What about the Vans Umpire Shoes...

 

I loved those shoes, they were the best plate shoes I ever wore.

[grayhawk]

Braille Indicator or whatever it was called. Might be from +POS. Bumps on the wheels so you could tell the count, but it was very heavy.

Is this the one you're talking about?

http://store.sportswiseonline.com/all-star-4-dial-die-cast-metal-umpire-indicator.aspx?gclid=COGAr8jI-7gCFcme4AodRGQARw

If so, you're nuts! I have this one and love it! That would explain a lot.

Hey, it sounded like a strike!

[Replacematt]

 

The red/maroon coat, and coats on the bases.

I thought coats on the bases were phased out way before this but apparently they've worn them till 2004.

 

 

So did I...do you have a cite for this? I think it'd be interesting to see an example of them that late.

[BRUMP]

The red/maroon coat, and coats on the bases.

I thought coats on the bases were phased out way before this but apparently they've worn them till 2004.

So did I...do you have a cite for this? I think it'd be interesting to see an example of them that late.

Ill post a vid of it when I get home. On my DVR is mlb network top 50 most unforgettable EJs and on one from 2004 where Milton Bradley (who else) gets run and Joe West is wearing what looks like a black plate coat on the bases. It caught my eye immediate I though that was looooong gone.

[BRUMP]

@Matt

http://youtu.be/DjUkk1D_eHA

[celt62]

Spot-bilt plate shoes.  They were my first.  Only true wide ones you could find at the time.

[Stan W.]

Spot-bilt.............now there is a brand that at one time was very successful......I remember wearing a lot of athletic shoes from  them, mostly football cleats back in my day.........

 

PONY.................another brand seemingly gone......I wore a number of their baseball shoes back in the day........

[celt62]

I remember having to special order spot-bilt football shoes in the late 70s early 80s because there was no such thing as NB at the time with widths.  Kangaroo leather and metal tip screw ons for football.  I know now kangaroo leather is bad but they were very soft and durable with leather soles.

[zm1283]

 

"Dazzle Cloth" umpire shirts.............(for those that dont remember, imagine shiny disco clothes)

"Zipper Neck" umpire shirts..............( +POS supplied them for MiLB)

 

 

My Future prediction......

 

ZIGS.......

Zigs are, by far, the most comfortable shoes I've used. Doubt they're going away unless something even better comes along.

Sent via Tapatalk 4

 

 

+1.  I don't really care for the looks of the Zigs all that much, but they are extremely comfortable.