Base Shoes

[smoyer]

Has any one use mesh or canvas shoes to do the bases on natural grass and dirt? If so what brand and did they clean up good?

[umpstu]

1 hour ago, smoyer said:

Has any one use mesh or canvas shoes to do the bases on natural grass and dirt? If so what brand and did they clean up good?

Asides from NB base shoes I wear a Nike and UA mesh shoes and work all of my games on grass and dirt.  I also live in a desert so I can clean my shoes everyday.  Spray them off and scrub them with a nylon brush in the sink using Dawn.  When it's over 100 it is nice to have mesh shoes so the tops of your feet don't bake in the sun.

[smoyer]

Ok.Thanks.

[blue32]

On 6/4/2022 at 9:32 AM, smoyer said:

Has any one use mesh or canvas shoes to do the bases on natural grass and dirt? If so what brand and did they clean up good?

All the time in the summer my man!

[The Man in Blue]

"Mesh" or whatever you want to call it is essentially mandatory when you are working in the southern heat on turf.  No real need to clean after working on turf.  Pretty basic clean up from dirt fields (wipe, spray, scrub) or just toss them in the wash every now and then. 

[MadMax]

In the thousands of games I’ve worked, all over this great land, I have never had game conditions wherein I remarked, “You know, I’m thankful I have these polished leather (or syn-leather) shoes to keep my feet warm / dry / looking shiny & spiffy!” Never. 

If it’s to be a particularly wet, soggy, or messy (muddy, dirty) game, I use my New Balance Vaadu’s, which use a nifty vinyl “dragonskin” upper to repel water, be flexible, and ventilate. 

Otherwise, the only thing that determines which of other mesh shoes I’ll be wearing is: 

• Turf or natural? I want a particular tread.
• How much direct sunlight? I don’t want my newest, blackest shoes to start fading (which happens to mesh shoes in the desert here). 

Otherwise, as far as keeping them shiny and spiffy, that impression is gone after the plate meeting, and to clean ‘em, I just hit ‘em with my trusty air compressor and then scrub the soles with shoe cleaner and a brush. Done! 

Actual, bonafide “umpire” base shoes are overrated. 

[smoyer]

Thanks guys for your comments.

[umpstu]

On 6/10/2022 at 8:25 AM, MadMax said:

In the thousands of games I’ve worked, all over this great land, I have never had game conditions wherein I remarked, “You know, I’m thankful I have these polished leather (or syn-leather) shoes to keep my feet warm / dry / looking shiny & spiffy!” Never. 

If it’s to be a particularly wet, soggy, or messy (muddy, dirty) game, I use my New Balance Vaadu’s, which use a nifty vinyl “dragonskin” upper to repel water, be flexible, and ventilate. 

Otherwise, the only thing that determines which of other mesh shoes I’ll be wearing is: 

• Turf or natural? I want a particular tread.
• How much direct sunlight? I don’t want my newest, blackest shoes to start fading (which happens to mesh shoes in the desert here). 

Otherwise, as far as keeping them shiny and spiffy, that impression is gone after the plate meeting, and to clean ‘em, I just hit ‘em with my trusty air compressor and then scrub the soles with shoe cleaner and a brush. Done! 

Actual, bonafide “umpire” base shoes are overrated. 

Vaadus?

[wolfe_man]

2 hours ago, umpstu said:

Vaadus?

Great shoes!

 

[concertman1971]

Absolutely love the Nike Roshe golf shoes on the bases. 

[Rock Bottom]

On 6/10/2022 at 10:25 AM, MadMax said:

Actual, bonafide “umpire” base shoes are overrated. 

Even MLB umps don't wear "real" base shoes anymore.

[MadMax]

As my gear block reads, I now use Nike Air Zoom Vomeros, which are a tech-fabric running shoe, and I’m soon to add Nike Wildhorse Trail-running shoes. NB Vaadu’s when the conditions are “beyond usual baseball”. 

Ventilation helps.