Summer Ball Gear

[MadMax]

On 4/26/2023 at 7:05 AM, cwbaseball11 said:

My question is what type of uniforms will I need to get for this?

Ones you don't mind getting faded and/or washing frequently. 

On 4/26/2023 at 7:05 AM, cwbaseball11 said:

Is it appropriate to wear my state association stuff (Kentucky)

Nope. Don't do it. Summer ball is not State of ________________ sanctioned. Your state's higher-ups (officers, administrators, etc.) will not appreciate their logos showing up in a Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube feed, or on a Tournament Series (TS, forthwith) website. Even if you don't ham it up so as to appear, you will. We're not phantoms (as much as "they" want us to be). I actually tote multiple shirts (over 30 at last count) with me in case one of my partners has only AIA (Arizona High School) shirts, and tries to use them on a TS event... And if I see a fellow umpire in the event, but assigned to another field, I will bluntly remind them that they shouldn't be wearing AIA stuff outside of an AIA game. Yup, I'll be that guy... I'm a trainer with the unit, and a postseason crew chief. The hassle we get is enough when we're in-season, I don't want anyone easily identifying us "that High School umpire". 

It's tough enough I've got a doppelgänger here in Phoenix ( @KenBAZ knows of him), I've actually had coaches glare at me, and be very standoffish, until we've gone deep in the game and they either realize, or one of their players (usually the catcher) assures them, that I'm not "that umpire" that dumped them out of yesterday's game. 

Besides that, sanctioned HS games use pure NFHS rules. Many TS events use modified Fed rules, or use their own rendition of OBR. By wearing the State shirt, you are are exhibiting that you know state-approved NFHS rules... but do you know the TS rules? OBR? Do you? 

On 4/26/2023 at 7:05 AM, cwbaseball11 said:

or will I need blank shirts/caps?

Is there an organization cap I can purchase? Feels strange and "unofficial" to just wear a blank hat.

Blank is the way to go, it really is. In my case, on any (or nearly all) of my shirts, I have my sleeve number stitched on (color coordinated!). Coaches and players know me by it, and I'll often mention – not direct, not demand – that a player can simply refer to me as "Six" if they don't know/remember my name. I'd much rather hear that than "Mister Umpire", and we all know that we shouldn't have to hear "Blue". Additionally, by having my #6 on my sleeves, I know that shirt is mine. When I go to TS events, my colleagues are freely able to use/borrow any of my shirts, so long as they take care of 'em and put them back when done. If they're forgetful, I can tell that shirt is mine... no one else has #6 on their sleeve. 

Yes, I have blanks as well. I have to, since my college conferences do not use sleeve numbers. Mercifully, each conference issues patches, and requires us to purchase (a) hat(s). Now, those hats are plenty expensive, so I try not to wear them, unless on an actual sanctioned game, so they don't get all faded or salt-stained. As such, I just use plain black (or yes, plain navy, ugh) hats most of the time. Or, I'll use my hats from prior seasons in indy-pro leagues I've worked. For awhile, I used a black-logo-on-black Wisconsin hat (I'm rather proud of my state), and on the rare occasion that someone would see it, I'd have a conversation point. The University of Wisconsin lacks a baseball team, so I use it as a talking point ("I'm the ideal umpire! No bias! No horse in the race!"). 

Now, typically, each TS (at least the ones I've experienced) will have hats. Consider that they probably treat them as merchandise to sell to the public (Perfect Game, Triple Crown, Prospect Wire, etc.) USSSA will often have hats available to umpires... but it heavily depends on geographic location as to if they are complementary, discounted and taken out of game fees, or sold outright. Each of these TS lean heavily on their branding to maintain identity and differentiation from other TS events – the last thing they want to see is an umpire wearing the hat of a rival TS!! I've actually witnessed an umpire get chewed out by a ATD for blowing a call – that would have been otherwise minor and tolerable – solely because he was wearing the hat of a rival TS. 

On 4/26/2023 at 6:08 PM, Thatsnotyou said:

I’ve thought about getting the MLB logo hat. No one would confuse me with an MLB umpire on a travel field, but I’d at least have something on the hat.

Only problem here is if you run across an assigner for college, and you yourself have aspirations for college ball. There are some (albeit rare) who either hold a reverence or contempt (either end of the scale) for MiLB and MLB. They know that ex- or current MiLB umpires would never wear their uniforms outside of a professional game (for fear of being identified and that getting back to a supervisor), and that you either were given one from a ex- or current pro umpire, or you're a wannabe. And they really don't like wannabes. 

On 4/26/2023 at 5:11 PM, The Man in Blue said:

No, you should never wear logos for an org that is not sanctioning the event.

^^^^^ This, 100% agreed and endorsed. 
We just received an email from one of the primary assigners here in AZ, and they've got eight different major TS coming into AZ, across multiple weekly events. Their POE, at the second paragraph of the email, is that we are not to wear anything for a particular event unless it is A) that specific TS, B) the assigner's organization, or C) blank. If you wear an unapproved item, you potentially forfeit that game's fee, and risk not being assigned further. 

On 4/30/2023 at 9:44 AM, The Man in Blue said:

or, gasp, the USSSA floppy brim hat

Floppy sun hats are actually approved here in Arizona (yes, it gets that bad). So instead of resisting it, the assigners allow it, and actually enable it by selling TS hats and assigner-association floppy sun hats. Or, we can always wear a plain black or charcoal grey one. I have one (grey digital camo). It's been necessary here. 

On 4/26/2023 at 8:48 AM, Ump242 said:

I carry all 4 panels and pin stripes. Some guys still use the old mlb black collar with stripes.

That's some dedication. I applaud that, but I gotta raise the ante... 

I've got over 30 shirts, covering all the styles and colors post-Elbeco. I've got partners who actually light up when they're assigned with me, cuz they burst out, "Cool! I get to haul out my <insert obscure color / style that very few others have>!" The only shirt I don't have, and won't wear or own, is a flag-shirt. 

Yes, I've even worn cream.  Infamously, I had to "write one off" after trying to launder it over a dozen times, trying to remove the golf-cart tire marks that were run over it during a USA Baseball Tournament in 117º. 
Yup, that's a story. 

19 hours ago, JonnyCat said:

in my car transmissions!

 ... Transmission??!! Bud Light??!!

Do you not see the comedic irony??!!!

I'm dying. 

[JonnyCat]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

 ... Transmission??!! Bud Light??!!

Do you not see the comedic irony??!!!

I'm dying. 

No irony intended. I was trying to be a subtle as possible.