Color of Shoes

[BalkHawk]

There is a theory that white on shoes could distract a player looking for a loose baseball.

And yet, it remains jusy a theory...

[Forest Ump]

I can hear the conversation now. " Hey Blue can you step one to the right. Sure, no problem. Hey Blue now your shoes are distracting me, Can you change those? TIME......

[mstaylor]

What is it that people have against having white on your shoes? The only people that I feel may be distracted are people who don't want to seem to move forward with the rest of the world. Sometimes I add avocado to my cheeseburger. Yes, it's acceptable to do that.

As far as cleaning, I spray mine in the sink and then scrub them with a nylon scrub brush and hot soapy water. Take care of the soles of the shoes as well. This technique is the same one I use on those distracting all black shoes. Those things are hideous!

Please let the slamming comments begin.

Please forgive those of us who are traditionalists....

What makes black shoes traditional?

Black is traditional because that's what's been worn for years. The all black Zigs are as ugly as the white ones. I personally hate white on shoes but don't ding guys for it. I find white on shoes ugly, I don't care if it's walking on a field or in the mall, they're ugly. I am a huge NB fan but they are still the black version. It took me almost 35 years to buy a mask that wasn't 100% black, and I only tried a grey frame because the vision was supposed to be better. White on my shoes will not change my performance in any way so it becomes a matter of looks, well it looks like crap.

You are just an old traditionalist fart!

Guilty :lol:

[BigUmpire]

I can hear the conversation now. " Hey Blue can you step one to the right. Sure, no problem. Hey Blue now your shoes are distracting me, Can you change those? TIME......

OK then why?

[mstaylor]

I can hear the conversation now. " Hey Blue can you step one to the right. Sure, no problem. Hey Blue now your shoes are distracting me, Can you change those? TIME......

OK then why?

Is that question to me? @BigUmpire My question to the guys is what is the fascination with white on your shoes? Besides the fact that it god awful ugly, it is another thing you have to clean separately. Also if you decide to polish your shoes, that is really hard.

[BigUmpire]

 

 

I can hear the conversation now. " Hey Blue can you step one to the right. Sure, no problem. Hey Blue now your shoes are distracting me, Can you change those? TIME......

OK then why?

 

Is that question to me? @BigUmpire My question to the guys is what is the fascination with white on your shoes? Besides the fact that it god awful ugly, it is another thing you have to clean separately. Also if you decide to polish your shoes, that is really hard.

 

Nope. Not for you.

 

I am looking for the reason why white has been discouraged on umpire shoes for years.

I presented my theory BUT SOME on this board seem to find this "theory' funny BUT are not able to present theirs.

 

I dont like white on my shoes AND when I purchase shoes (12 pair so far) for my sponsored umpires I black out the white if they have any, spit shine them and tell my young umpires "They better look that way everytime you step on the field"

[mstaylor]

I think a big reason why it has been discouraged was it made the official's shoes look like player's cleats. We want to be separate from players. Personally, I can certainly tell the difference between cleats and umpire shoes but I think it is simply ugly. I won't buy black and white shoes to wear off the field. Ugly is ugly so I remain consistent.

[alex7]

Reminds me of what we said on here years ago when one umpire posted a video showing him wearing the "hideous" black and white Zigs during a game:

 

"They actually look normal.  And no one notices our shoes...except for us."

[BigUmpire]

Reminds me of what we said on here years ago when one umpire posted a video showing him wearing the "hideous" black and white Zigs during a game:

 

"They actually look normal.  And no one notices our shoes...except for us."

Women always notice mens shoes.

[MidAmUmp]

Black and white shoes give a more athletic appearance. All black shoes give a more dress appearance.

To each their own. Get your calls right.

[mstaylor]

Black and white shoes give a more athletic appearance. All black shoes give a more dress appearance.

To each their own. Get your calls right.

That's an interesting theory. I guess it is semantics. It has been believed the white made the shoes look like cleats, you say it looks more athletic. It has traditionally believed the all black, properly polished made you look sharp, you say it looks dressier. Sure sounds like very similar statements, one worded to support one view, the other worded to support the other.

I have no problem with white on shoes for the guys that want them, I just think it looks like hell. But I think that both on and off the field. I will not ding an umpire for their shoes, at least not if they are clean. I will tell them I don't like them but I won't tell them to stop wearing them.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

Pete Jr recently called myself and a colleague "dinosaurs" for our staunch position on black shoes. 

[JaxRolo]

@mstaylor if I ever get to work

a game with you I will wear All-white shoes with maybe a black stripe!

[mstaylor]

Pete Jr recently called myself and a colleague "dinosaurs" for our staunch position on black shoes.

Just remind him be careful, you could be a T-Rex.

@mstaylor if I ever get to work

a game with you I will wear All-white shoes with maybe a black stripe!

Love you too Jax. :)

[Pete Peterson Sr]

 

Pete Jr recently called myself and a colleague "dinosaurs" for our staunch position on black shoes.

Just remind him be careful, you could be a T-Rex.

 

In an intra-squad game, one of my new guys "short-armed" a safe call, and I yelled across the field " You aren't a Pterodactyl"....yeah, I meant T-Rex, lol...