Appearance question

[conbo61]

We are all very familiar with the basic umpire uniform requirements, navy shirt, charcoal slacks, black shoes, etc., but are there any guidelines for protective gear?

i ask because this past weekend I was at our local park for Opening Day for Little League when I noticed that one umpire had BRIGHT RED shin guards (they were sticking out from under his pants) and his bucket was all decked out with designs and logos of an NHL team.

Now I know he is not a volunteer but is affiliated with an Association (he also was not wearing an Association patch or hat).  

This struck me as really odd as I am just used to umpires being more "subdued."

Do your associations have any guidelines or requirements for the appearance of protective gear?

What are your thoughts on this?

[Stk004]

Funny you should say that, there was a guy at my local LL fields this Saturday with bright red shin guards as well. My understanding has always been that the mask should be black, gray, or silver (tan pads acceptable). I've never actually gotten any "requirements" in terms of equipment other than "look professional", which to me means black/silver/gray gear. I would imagine there's a reason ump attire doesn't sell brightly colored shin guards or masks. 

[ricka56]

My association's uniform policy is pretty liberal.

That's me (U1) ... fair ball...I do like the jock/cup on the outside look. 

[ElkOil]

1 hour ago, ricka56 said:

My association's uniform policy is pretty liberal.

That's me (U1) ... fair ball...I do like the jock/cup on the outside look. 

I was led to believe you looked like Alfred E. Newman.

[conbo61]

5 hours ago, ricka56 said:

My association's uniform policy is pretty liberal.

That's me (U1) ... fair ball...I do like the jock/cup on the outside look. 

Well played Mauer...

[kylehutson]

We have a guy in our area who wears red shinguards (complete with the flap to go over the front of the shoe). I'm pretty sure they're catchers' gear. Oddly enough, I've never seen him at a varsity game.

[maineump]

I remember the days that some MLB umpires had red & blue masks. Must have been in the red shirt era.

 

I have worked with umpires from other countries that had some red equipment. like masks & ball bags too.

Maybe the person is into retro?

 

[catsbackr]

I'm pretty sure the picture on the left has something to do with the umpire's gear/uniforms not making it to the ball park.

[maineump]

Maybe this was what I was thinking of. It is Eric Gregg.

[Umpirechick1]

That's definitely a while back since its Greg Maddux and Eddie Perez. 

[udbrky]

I love the looks they're giving him!

[blue23ll]

9 minutes ago, udbrky said:

I love the looks they're giving him!

 

9 minutes ago, udbrky said:

I love the looks they're giving him!

"Look Greg, I am giving you 3 feet outside, I can't give you 4..."

[ZebraStripes]

On 4/20/2016 at 11:44 AM, maineump said:

Maybe this was what I was thinking of. It is Eric Gregg.

uggg, Eric Gregg...

[maven]

1 hour ago, ZebraStripes said:

uggg, Eric Gregg...

Gregg was a great umpire for his day. He had an extremely consistent strike zone at a time when umpires were required (by the advancement process) to be both consistent and distinctive.

He is unfortunately the butt of many attempts at humor today because umpiring philosophy has moved on and because his body type is no longer approved for sports officials. To judge him on those bases is grossly unfair and anachronistic.

[scrounge]

49 minutes ago, maven said:

Gregg was a great umpire for his day. He had an extremely consistent strike zone at a time when umpires were required (by the advancement process) to be both consistent and distinctive.

He is unfortunately the butt of many attempts at humor today because umpiring philosophy has moved on and because his body type is no longer approved for sports officials. To judge him on those bases is grossly unfair and anachronistic.

Livan Herndandez was a big fan!

[ZebraStripes]

2 hours ago, maven said:

Gregg was a great umpire for his day. He had an extremely consistent strike zone at a time when umpires were required (by the advancement process) to be both consistent and distinctive.

He is unfortunately the butt of many attempts at humor today because umpiring philosophy has moved on and because his body type is no longer approved for sports officials. To judge him on those bases is grossly unfair and anachronistic.

I'm judging him on the awful strike zone he had in the deciding game of the 1997 NLCS.  Awful is putting it mildly.  Look at the last pitch of the series.  It was never even remotely close to being a strike.  I am not judging him based on his size, just the size of his strike zone.

[maven]

Just now, ZebraStripes said:

I'm judging him on the awful strike zone he had in the deciding game of the 1997 NLCS.  Awful is putting it mildly.  Look at the last pitch of the series.  It was never even remotely close to being a strike.  I am not judging him based on his size, just the size of his strike zone.

I've seen that video. You can't tell anything from the camera angle or the fake box some kid Photoshopped over the video. It's worthless.

I agree that Gregg had a wide zone: Glavine in particular went to the HOF in part because he got that outside pitch. What you're not hearing me say is that, back in the day, umpires had their own distinctive zones, some bigger, some smaller, and they HAD to do that to advance. When old-timey coaches still ask us, "where's your zone?" they hearken back to those days.

Our philosophy has advanced in this era of HDTV and super slo-mo replay, and Gregg couldn't umpire that way were he alive today. His umpiring career extended into the transitional era from old school to new school, when the umpiring philosophies he developed in the 70's no longer served him in the late 90's. It cost him playoff assignments in his last couple seasons and probably motivated him to resign with the group in '99.

None of us should wish to live so long that we see our work lives become a joke.

[ZebraStripes]

under no camera angle is that pitch to McGriff ever going to be remotely close to being a strike, If Maddux and Glavine ever got that generous of a zone, they'd have been up there going after Young himself.

[basejester]

 

 

[ricka56]

when you've got to pee...you've got to pee. 

[Richvee]

On 4/25/2016 at 1:09 PM, maven said:

I've seen that video. You can't tell anything from the camera angle or the fake box some kid Photoshopped over the video. It's worthless.

I agree that Gregg had a wide zone: Glavine in particular went to the HOF in part because he got that outside pitch. What you're not hearing me say is that, back in the day, umpires had their own distinctive zones, some bigger, some smaller, and they HAD to do that to advance. When old-timey coaches still ask us, "where's your zone?" they hearken back to those days.

Our philosophy has advanced in this era of HDTV and super slo-mo replay, and Gregg couldn't umpire that way were he alive today. His umpiring career extended into the transitional era from old school to new school, when the umpiring philosophies he developed in the 70's no longer served him in the late 90's. It cost him playoff assignments in his last couple seasons and probably motivated him to resign with the group in '99.

None of us should wish to live so long that we see our work lives become a joke.

As wide as Gregg's zone was day to day throughout his career. I don't think it was nearly as wide as it was that October day in 1997. 

[maven]

I apologize to the OP for initiating a thread hijack.

[Radie 88]

On April 26, 2016 at 10:06 PM, basejester said:

 

 

That box is nowhere near where it should be... From this angle, it should be hanging slightly over the right (as we are viewing it). Not much. Just a bit. Definitely not dead on... Or as the thumbnail from the video is showing, hanging over the left of the plate.