POLL: MLB Logo on Umpire Shirts?

[JimKirk]

If you wear a New Balance umpire shoe, you have a MLB logo showing on the back.

If you wear certain Wilson masks, you'll have MLB logos on the harness and pads.

Other items reveal MLB logos (Wilson shin guards and throat guards). We even have a category "MLB Collection" to feature them.

https://www.ump-attire.com/Baseball-Umpire-Equipment/Featured/MLB

The question is "would you wear an umpire shirt or jacket with a small MLB logo on the back below the collar in the games/leagues you umpire?"

[Majordave]

Yes I would. So long as it was small and on the back. Love the Harmon Killebrew silhouette they use for MLB logo. 

(Or is that "Kill-a-brew"?)

[NCAAump2]

If it was a logo approved for use on uniforms by the NCAA, individual conferences, NAIA, and/or NFHS, I suppose I would wear it, or at least consider wearing them.  Not sure how the NCAA would feel about the MLB logo on uniforms used in their games. 

[ZebraStripes]

I don't think the GHSA would allow it.

[smckin]

I would wear it...

[Mr Ump]

Never thought of it that way. I have it on my shoes and harness. On the shirt above the pocket would be a no no. I do own a hat but only wear it socially, never in a game. 

In conclusion there are some lines you just don't cross.

[Tksjewelry]

I have the logo on some of my gear already, so I wouldn't be bothered by it on a shirt. I would prefer the black and white version over the color version though.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[johnnyg08]

I would never buy a piece of gear because it has the logo.

If I want a piece of gear and and it happens to have the logo (shoes, CP, leg guards, whatever), then so be it.  

 

[Cav]

I'd do it if it noticeably reduced the retail price of the shirt.

[Man_In_Black]

8 hours ago, Cav said:

I'd do it if it noticeably reduced the retail price of the shirt.

I would think use of the MLB logo would tend to increase the price of an item rather than decrease it. Licensing fees need to be paid to MLB for use of the logo.

Having said that, I'd prefer not to have MLB logos on my gear simply because I'm not an MLB umpire and having these logos plastered all over your gear gives some folks the impression that you're a wannabe. I already have the logos on my CP (which is not visible during a game anyway), my shoes (not conspicuous) and on my mask harness (kind of bugs me, but other guys in our association have the same harness so I'm not alone). I suppose if it were a small, discreet logo below the collar on the back, I could deal with it. Anyone more than 10 feet away would see it as nothing more than a white blip anyway, so it's not a big deal.

So chalk me up as someone who'd prefer not to have it, but wouldn't be averse to purchasing if the logo were done discreetly.

[johnnyg08]

I think some folks put too much of this stuff into the wannabe category.

I might wear my Minnesota Twins cap, or I might wear a Chicago Bears T-Shirt...but that doesn't make me a wannabe.  I'm just like the team.  (not the Bears though...it was just an example) :-)

How about the adult males who wear Steph Curry jerseys?  (or any other player for that matter)  Are they wannabes or just fans of that player/team and nothing more?

As I said, and it's certainly okay for there to be different opinions on something like this (and I'm not saying that my version is the right version) but for me if I like the item and it happens to have the logo on it, I'm going to wear it. However, I'm not purchasing the item because it has the logo...I would likely get the item whether it has the logo or not.

 

 

 

[MadMax]

This won't answer the survey question in the manner expected, but my wearing of a shirt with the MLB logo on it won't ever happen...

... unless Majestic changes their methodology. In which case, they'd need to show up at my doorstep and sew on this micro-patch on the two jackets and one shirt I own of their brand. But this is farcically unrealistic. Besides, I think the MLB umpire shirts are a mixture of Majestic and Honig's (the long sleeved ones especially), since Honig's is the outfitter of MLB umpires.

Additionally, I won't ever be found wearing a MLB logo on any of my gear (harness, CP, shins, etc) because that gear is (and has been) made by Wilson. And Wilson is crap, in my un-humble opinion.

Shoes are a different animal. If New Balance wants to splash the MLB logo on their specialized footwear, more power to them. They are probably borrowing a page out of Wilson's book (Step 1: Secure exclusivity contract with "Big Show", Step 2: Put exclusive logo on every piece we make, no matter how old, outdated, or level of quality, Step 3: Lay off product designers & engineers, if we had any to begin with, Step 4: Sit in HQ office and wait for profits to roll in). New Balance has pretty much emerged (or is it survived?) as the sole (ha! Pun!) remaining producer of the specialized footwear we need, of any measure of quality. Most of the time, you can't see the logo anyway.

But back to the shirts... You wouldn't see the logo anywhere on any of my shirts. That's because all the shirts I've recently been purchasing have been The Official's Choice. 

[Welpe]

I wish New Balance would not put the MLB logo on their shoes as it looks a little ridiculous wearing turf shoes in football with an MLB logo but that's just an aside.

The only piece of gear I wear that has an MLB logo on them are my plate shoes and my pants cover those. If the logo is small and unobtrusive like the Honig's logo on their stuff, I don't see a real big issue. Everyone knows what level we're working.

[LRZ]

15 minutes ago, Welpe said:

I wish New Balance would not put the MLB logo on their shoes as it looks a little ridiculous wearing turf shoes in football with an MLB logo but that's just an aside.

The only piece of gear I wear that has an MLB logo on them are my plate shoes and my pants cover those. If the logo is small and unobtrusive like the Honig's logo on their stuff, I don't see a real big issue. Everyone knows what level we're working.

Your wish has been answered: NB has a no-MLB logo turf shoe: https://www.ump-attire.com/Football-Referee-Equipment/Gear-Footwear/Shoes/MU950AK2_New-Balance-All-Black-Umpire-Referee-Field-Shoes 

Recently got a pair for refereeing soccer, with the usual excellent UA customer service.

[umpstu]

Sure I would wear it. And I would wear it because it's probably a good piece of material, not because I'm a wannabe.  All gear I've had that had the MLB logo on it was good.

 

[kylejt]

I'd wear them, Jim.

 

I was given a bunch of Honig's MiLB shirts, with the MiLB logo on the back, for my Junior umpire program. No problem.

 

I was a bicycle road racer for many years. And while you can buy bike jerseys of all the famous teams, and World and national champions jerseys, "real" racers would never don a shirt that he didn't earn. I see this as being similar. I wouldn't wear a fully logo'ed MLB shirt/jacket/hat, because I'm close to some MiLB guys who'd probably frown on it. But small logos, like nearly every umpire has on their shoes, masks, etc., no problem.

[JimKirk]

Appreciate you guys taking the time to share your thoughts on this. Very logical responses for and against. Found it very helpful.

[earl555]

On 4/29/2016 at 3:32 PM, LRZ said:

Your wish has been answered: NB has a no-MLB logo turf shoe: https://www.ump-attire.com/Football-Referee-Equipment/Gear-Footwear/Shoes/MU950AK2_New-Balance-All-Black-Umpire-Referee-Field-Shoes 

Recently got a pair for refereeing soccer, with the usual excellent UA customer service.

Same here, bought them from UA for lacrosse.

[RichMSN]

I have a black plate coat bought from Honig's - they sent me on of the MLB coats, complete with the logo patch on the back. I've worn it for college games.....then again, they were D3 games in the frozen tundra.