Umpire Shirt Nomenclature

[MadMax]

In the time since the Elbeco, there have been several varieties of umpire shirts making their ways into The Show, and then trickling down to the other junior leagues.

Until 2010, shirts all featured a twin stripe of trim – colors coordinating with the main base color – on the sleeve cuff and the collar. This has been referred to as "Traditional" or "Classic":

I have been unable to determine if Majestic took over and became the official supplier of MLB beginning with 2010, or they trotted out the new style, but it was indeed 2010 that the new "Vertical Stripe" debuted:

This has been known as the MLB Black / MLB Sky (or MLB Powder or MLB Blue), or Modern Black, or Vertical Stripe... I think this should be thus be named "The '10 Black" (the Ten) and "The '10 Sky".

In 2015, Majestic developed a new technical fabric, a smooth lightweight textile that was a departure from the jersey-esque pebble knit. Unable to wait, or let another company beat them to the punch, Majestic rolled it out as a "technical exercise" in an all-black, unadorned shirt for the Major Leagues and they (unfortunately) revisited the Classic navy (thus, setting back the progressive, modern umpire's campaign to end navy by several years). It looks like this:

This should be designated "The '15 Black" (the Fifteen). Only a few crews ever used this shirt, and it was not introduced in a Sky blue version. One can only deduce that Majestic rolled out this shirt in Classic Navy so as to appeal and capture sales to some state high school associations which would otherwise be using the same ol' Dalco, Cliff Keen, Smitty or Bumblebrand (made up name) of arcane material shirts.

With a full year of the new fabric with which to plan a new style, Majestic's designers debuted a comprehensive attire system, with a new ThermaBase jacket, a new CoolBase jacket, and 2 new shirts, complete with a contrasting panel on the flank and at the collar. It was issued in Black (and charcoal) and Sky Blue (and black). I have dubbed this, appropriately, "The '16 Black" (the Sixteen... of course, there is the Sixteen Sky).

Thus far, only Smitty has produced a rendition of the '16, but I am hopeful that other manufacturers will soon (TheOfficialsChoice). Now, with UnderArmour soon to take over the Official Supplier mantel, we may see a continuance of this style, or something decidedly different. The simple fact of the matter is, the Major Leagues and modern umpiring is leaving the "Classic" styles in the dust.

[MB_Ump]

In my area, they are referred to as the 2 stripe, 1 stripe, and grey panel. Everybody has the 2 stripe, many have the 1 stripe, few have embraced the grey panel, and I've never seen a lcoal ump in the all black. My usual crew also rocks the OC 1 pink stripe because it's sexy.

[Replacematt]

I would anticipate that UA will incorporate their arrowhead into the stripes somehow.

[ZJesterYM]

Under Armour does not take over the MLB contract until 2020. I would expect Majestic to roll with this design until their contract expires. Under Armour will, almost certainly I would venture, run a new design for the 2020 season - shirts, jackets, and undershirts. My guess would be the UA will be more in tune with what actual umpires want and understand that what the MLB guys wear will trickle down and have its own, although rather small, market share among amateurs. Time will tell, I guess.

[BT_Blue]

I also expect it to not take UA to take two years to release the uniforms from that year.

[Stk004]

I'm still waiting on that Sky Blue with black shirt. 

[BT_Blue]

9 hours ago, Stk004 said:

I'm still waiting on that Sky Blue with black shirt. 

Pretty sure I remember @Scott Kennedy saying that Smitty plans to release this shirt soon. I could also just be going a little crazy 

[JSam21]

1 hour ago, BT_Blue said:

Pretty sure I remember @Scott Kennedy saying that Smitty plans to release this shirt soon. I could also just be going a little crazy 

No you are right... I believe he said January during the black shirt launch

[JimKirk]

On 12/1/2016 at 9:53 AM, JSam21 said:

No you are right... I believe he said January during the black shirt launch

Yes, just received an update on Sky Blue and still "coming soon".

Also, Smitty will be offering the new black/grey style in a long sleeve. Available here next week.

 

[tpatience]

1 hour ago, JimKirk said:

Yes, just received an update on Sky Blue and still "coming soon".

Also, Smitty will be offering the new black/grey style in a long sleeve. Available here next week.

 

I'm going to have to get that

[BT_Blue]

1 hour ago, JimKirk said:

Yes, just received an update on Sky Blue and still "coming soon".

Also, Smitty will be offering the new black/grey style in a long sleeve. Available here next week.

 

 

2 minutes ago, tpatience said:

I'm going to have to get that

UGH! Me too... *sigh*

Stop adding cost to my January order!

[Stk004]

1 hour ago, BT_Blue said:

 

UGH! Me too... *sigh*

Stop adding cost to my January order!

Add me to that list. 

[BT_Blue]

Sorry... I don't need a 17 year old. I have a 4 month old that is expensive enough.

[kylehutson]

7 minutes ago, BT_Blue said:

Sorry... I don't need a 17 year old. I have a 4 month old that is expensive enough.

As the parent of kids aged 16, 18, and 20. I can tell you it only gets worse. If you're looking strictly at cost savings, send them to an orphanage on their 13th birthday. 

[tpatience]

1 hour ago, BT_Blue said:

 

UGH! Me too... *sigh*

Stop adding cost to my January order!

They they keep adding cool, new things. I hate it.

[BT_Blue]

4 minutes ago, kylehutson said:

As the parent of kids aged 16, 18, and 20. I can tell you it only gets worse. If you're looking strictly at cost savings, send them to an orphanage on their 13th birthday. 

So I have been told! I would probably lean towards dumping them earlier than that. Let's not forget how much all that new little league crap costs.

[Stk004]

2 minutes ago, tpatience said:

They they keep adding cool, new things. I hate it.

But love it at the same time. 

[tpatience]

3 minutes ago, Stk004 said:

But love it at the same time. 

I like it when I get the item but hate seeing the money disappear from my bank account 

[BrooksTheUmp]

I guess I'm old school, but I'll stick with my Classic Black.  The appeal of wearing shirts that look like something you can buy at JCPenney hasn't grown on me and probably never will

[gnhbua93]

42 minutes ago, BrooksTheUmp said:

I guess I'm old school, but I'll stick with my Classic Black.  The appeal of wearing shirts that look like something you can buy at JCPenney hasn't grown on me and probably never will

Nice first post.

[MadMax]

50 minutes ago, BrooksTheUmp said:

I guess I'm old school, but I'll stick with my Classic Black.  The appeal of wearing shirts that look like something you can buy at JCPenney hasn't grown on me and probably never will

I respect that viewpoint and sentiment. Your dart throw didn't miss the mark by much... Majestic is owned by VF Corporation, which in turn owns Lee-Wrangler Jeans, Nautica, The North Face, Timberland and JanSport.

[JaxRolo]

I like "new" stuff.

Some people prefer to live in the past.

I live in the present and look forward to the future of new things.

[Jimurray]

2 hours ago, JaxRolo said:

I like "new" stuff.

Some people prefer to live in the past.

I live in the present and look forward to the future of new things.

Your partners and associations also have to like new stuff:)

[JaxRolo]

3 minutes ago, Jimurray said:

Your partners and associations also have to like new stuff:)

They do