What's in Your Gear Bag?

[NovaScotiaBlue]

Gentlemen...
Up here in Canada we still have a few MONTHS to go before we hit the field.
So now that spring training has kicked off, the juices are starting to flow.
 I'm looking to create an "accessory" pack to carry with me as part of my gear.
What' are the things you make sure you have with you during the season?

Cheers

   . 

[conbo61]

As you requested, these are "accessories" and in addition to required game gear.

1. Spare shoelaces (plate and base)
2. Spare shin guard straps
3. Shoe brush
4. Large container of baby wipes
5. Shoe polish sponge (for the quick touch up.)
6. Plastic putty knife (cleaning wet, muddy plates)
7. Light brown hand towel (for same muddy days)
8. Stiff brush for removing mud from shoes.
9. Small coaches white (clip) board and markers for pre and post game.
10. Extra red flair pens
11. Extra indicators
12. Black duct tape
13. Bottle of Febreeze

If you search this site for "Finnerty Supply Bucket," that thread provides an AMAZING list and method of organizing your accessories.  I highly recommend you give it a look see.

 

Edited February 15, 2017 by conbo61
Correct name of bucket creator, provide link

[LittleBlue]

I have a ziplock bad that I keep all my odds and ends in. I usually have quite a few pens, some score cards that I use when the league doesn't provide one, back up indicators, might sound weird but a back up mask harness, some mild first aid stuff, rule books, a small note book to note miles driven and separate bag to keep leftover lineup cards. Aside from that, I have a separate bag that I carry some on the go cleaning supplies for back to back games or days where I might have a championship game at the end of the day and I want to look good after working 3-4 games leading up to it. Finally I usually have a plastic shopping bag with extra undershirts (such a lifesaver after a game on a hot day) and some deodorant.

[BT_Blue]

15 minutes ago, conbo61 said:

As you requested, these are "accessories" and in addition to required game gear.

1. Spare shoelaces (plate and base)
2. Spare shin guard straps
3. Shoe brush
4. Large container of baby wipes
5. Shoe polish sponge (for the quick touch up.)
6. Plastic putty knife (cleaning wet, muddy plates)
7. Light brown hand towel (for same muddy days)
8. Stiff brush for removing mud from shoes.
9. Small coaches white (clip) board and markers for pre and post game.
10. Extra red flair pens
11. Extra indicators
12. Black duct tape
13. Bottle of Febreeze

If you search this site for "Finnerty Supply Bucket," that thread provides an AMAZING list and method of organizing your accessories.  I highly recommend you give it a look see.

 

Speaking of Mr. Finnerty. I think I may have just connected with him on FB. But I keep forgetting to ask. If it is him, he no longer uses the FinnShins and has since moved on to... you guessed it... the force3.

[Stan W.]

This is the day I wish I had Tim Christensen's list to re-post. Tim C. was the ultimate gear junky. The stuff he carried to each and every game was mind boggling.  

[Welpe]

3 hours ago, Stan W. said:

This is the day I wish I had Tim Christensen's list to re-post. Tim C. was the ultimate gear junky. The stuff he carried to each and every game was mind boggling.  

I'm sure it's floating around the Official Forum somewhere.

[Stan W.]

I'm sure it is!.........as are a bunch of posts from you and me!

[BT_Blue]

15 minutes ago, Stan W. said:

I'm sure it is!.........as are a bunch of posts from you and me!

Hey... I didn't say it would be easy. Lol

[conbo61]

5 hours ago, Welpe said:

I'm sure it's floating around the Official Forum somewhere.

Curious, I searched and here it is:

https://forum.officiating.com/baseball/49993-you-know-you-have-too-much.html

1 Gerry Davis Fiber Case
1 Wilson MLB Rolling Case
1 Carlucci Garment Bag
1 NIKE Carry Bag (W/shoe care kits, Bag of shoestrings, bandaids, shin guard clips, pliers, scissors, etc.)

3 West Vest Masks (1 navy, 1 black and 1 royal blue) Each in own bag
1 Carlucci Chest Protector (Royal Blue)
1 Original West Vest Chest Protector (back-up)
1 Pair of Carlucci Leg Guards (Royal Blue)
1 Pair of NIKE Low Top Plate Shoes (in carry bags w/shoe trees)
1 Pair of Mizuno Base Shoes (in carry bags w/shoe trees)
1 Pair of Spotbuilt Combo Plate/Base Shoes (in carry bags w/shoe trees)
6 Pair of Davis Ultimate Sox
6 Pair of Black Socks
2 Cap Carriers
6 Hats (3 Black & 3 Navy -- 2 with combo bill, 2 with seven stitch bill)
4 Pair of McDavid Undergarments (all gray 2 bicycle length 2 full length)
3 Protective Cups (one banana for the plate - two regular cups)
2 Black Belts
2 Rubber (hold-in-place) belts
2 Honigs Plate Pants Heather Grey
2 Honigs Base Pants Heather Grey
3 Honigs Plate Pants Charcoal
3 Honigs Base Pants Charcoal
2 McDavid Short Sleeve Undershirts Crème
2 McDavid Short Sleeve Undershirts Black
4 McDavid Short Sleeve Undershirts Navy
4 McDavid Short Sleeve Undershirts Red
2 McDavid Long Sleeve Undershirts Navy 
2 McDavid Long Sleeve Undershirts Red
1 Long Sleeved Turtle Neck - Navy
1 Long Sleeved Turtle Neck - Red
2 Honig's Plate Shirts Navy
2 Honig's Plate Shirts Crème
2 Honig's Plate Shirts Black
2 Honig's Plate Shirts Light Blue
2 Honig's Base Shirts Navy
2 Honig's Base Shirts Light blue
2 Honig's Base Shirts Crème
1 Honig's Base Shirts Black 
1 Mizuno Gray windbreaker undergarment
1 Feecheimer Navy Plate Coat
1 Feecheimer Black Plate Coat 
1 Butwing Navy Base Pullover
1 Logo Athletic Navy Pull Over
1 Hongis's Black (w/white piping) Base Pull Over
1 Honigs Black Pullover Short Sleeve
1 Honigs Navy Pullover Short Sleeve
8 Stainless Steel Indicators (4 ball - 3 Strike)
6 Wood Handled Plate Brushes
2 Pair +POS Cold Weather Gloves
12 Sharpies (Fine Point) 6 Red and 6 Black
1 Pair Bolle Sunglasses (interchangable lenses)
6 Pair of contact Lenses (w/solutions etc.)
1 Hongis Dry Erase Board (w/ markers)
1 Timepiece ( hangs from belt loop under ball bag)
1 Directors Chair
1 Foot Carpet
1 Pair of NIKE Flip Flops
2 Shoe Horns
1 Set of Federation Rule books, Case Books, etc
1 OBR Rule Book
1 OAOA Umpire Manual for a Two Umpire Crew

BTW, I have never creased my hats nor will I EVER. 

This is just SICK!

Regards,

[Stan W.]

That's the one!........

[udbrky]

Do you guys show up in a Uhaul?

[BT_Blue]

1 hour ago, udbrky said:

Do you guys show up in a Uhaul?

Nope... just a SUV (Standard Umpire Vehicle)

[Aging_Arbiter]

I have a hard cover on my TRUCK (Those Requirements Umpires Currently Know) for my gear, a complete set of back up gear, a bag of c/w gear, and a bag of assorted undershirts & socks. 

 

p.s. don't forget extra laces.

[Mussgrass]

Regarding "THE LIST",  I draw the line at 4 plate brushes. 

Seriously though, how many games does this guy do? He must keep quite the schedule.

[FranklinT]

Would have loved to seen these and if I remember correctly, he lived in Oregon (by Nike HQ) and was testing a prototype plate shoe for them about 10 years ago now. 

1 Pair of NIKE Low Top Plate Shoes (in carry bags w/shoe trees)

 

 

[Umpire in Chief]

On 2/14/2017 at 8:57 PM, conbo61 said:

As you requested, these are "accessories" and in addition to required game gear.

1. Spare shoelaces (plate and base)
2. Spare shin guard straps
3. Shoe brush
4. Large container of baby wipes
5. Shoe polish sponge (for the quick touch up.)
6. Plastic putty knife (cleaning wet, muddy plates)
7. Light brown hand towel (for same muddy days)
8. Stiff brush for removing mud from shoes.
9. Small coaches white (clip) board and markers for pre and post game.
10. Extra red flair pens
11. Extra indicators
12. Black duct tape
13. Bottle of Febreeze

If you search this site for "Finnerty Supply Bucket," that thread provides an AMAZING list and method of organizing your accessories.  I highly recommend you give it a look see.

 

Wow a Tim C. and a @Kevin Finnerty reference. 

[conbo61]

59 minutes ago, Umpire in Chief said:

Wow a Tim C. and a @Kevin Finnerty reference. 

At no time did my hands leave my wrists...

[BT_Blue]

3 hours ago, FranklinT said:

Would have loved to seen these and if I remember correctly, he lived in Oregon (by Nike HQ) and was testing a prototype plate shoe for them about 10 years ago now. 

1 Pair of NIKE Low Top Plate Shoes (in carry bags w/shoe trees)

 

 

Indeed he did. Portland area to be exact.

[zm1283]

I have yet to figure out why these guys feel the need to carry that much stuff to games. I pack everything before each game or weekend and only have slightly more than I need so my bag doesn't weight as much as a small car. Why would one ever need six plate brushes or 10 pair of pants at a time? 

[MadMax]

11 hours ago, Mussgrass said:

Regarding "THE LIST",  I draw the line at 4 plate brushes. 

Seriously though, how many games does this guy do? He must keep quite the schedule.

There's no way this guy does more games than me and most of my colleagues. When you are as mobile as I and my colleagues are, there's quite a value placed on packing "fast and light". We often have to tote our gear into locker rooms at a variety of complexes, and then keep our space respectably tidy during our stay of 2-3 days, then lug it all out. 

5 hours ago, zm1283 said:

I have yet to figure out why these guys feel the need to carry that much stuff to games. I pack everything before each game or weekend and only have slightly more than I need so my bag doesn't weight as much as a small car. Why would one ever need six plate brushes or 10 pair of pants at a time? 

"He Who Dies With the Most Gear Wins"? Uh... Superiority Complex? Pack-Rat (Naw, that would be a coach carrying all that gear)? Really, though, if this guy is benevolent about it, and carries that much gear and supplies so as to be like a mobile outfitting unit, more power to him. But if he's at a game site and a partner or colleague is bereft of gear (theft, damage, etc.) and he denies assistance or does so only begrudgingly, then we've got a horse's derriere on our hands.

[udbrky]

You don't have a caddy?

[BT_Blue]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

There's no way this guy does more games than me and most of my colleagues. When you are as mobile as I and my colleagues are, there's quite a value placed on packing "fast and light". We often have to tote our gear into locker rooms at a variety of complexes, and then keep our space respectably tidy during our stay of 2-3 days, then lug it all out. 

"He Who Dies With the Most Gear Wins"? Uh... Superiority Complex? Pack-Rat (Naw, that would be a coach carrying all that gear)? Really, though, if this guy is benevolent about it, and carries that much gear and supplies so as to be like a mobile outfitting unit, more power to him. But if he's at a game site and a partner or colleague is bereft of gear (theft, damage, etc.) and he denies assistance or does so only begrudgingly, then we've got a horse's derriere on our hands.

We aren't lucky enough to umpire a series here in Portland. At least not in the same location (we do, at times, get a home-away-home "series" over a week). So everything has to be done out of the trunk of our cars. Never got to actually work with Tim. But I do like to think it was a "just in case" kind of thing.

[Stk004]

22 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

We aren't lucky enough to umpire a series here in Portland. At least not in the same location (we do, at times, get a home-away-home "series" over a week). So everything has to be done out of the trunk of our cars. Never got to actually work with Tim. But I do like to think it was a "just in case" kind of thing.

Just in case pigs fly and hell freezes over on the same day. 

[BT_Blue]

9 hours ago, Stk004 said:

Just in case pigs fly and hell freezes over on the same day. 

Exactly!