UMP Guard Retrofit LLC

[Umpiresrock74]

6 minutes ago, Baseballer said:

Lucky that's all that's there hahahah

Wow. Hahahahah

[HM_SanDiego]

I just sent my Wilson WV Gold chest protector hard-shell plates off to Michael for a Chicago-Nut upgrade and overall freshening up of the chest plates - once I get it back I will post before and after pictures

[JeBa]

@Umpiresrock74 - I've sent you a message with photos - I'm very interested in getting my older Wilson/WV Platinum body & shoulder padding replaced....rivets & plates are probably ok....I already have an Ump-Life harness (with T-clips) that I think is still serviceable.

Please advise estimated cost & lead time for the refurb this Fall (2024).

Best regards,

Jeff

[Umpiresrock74]

On 6/5/2024 at 6:48 PM, HM_SanDiego said:

I just sent my Wilson WV Gold chest protector hard-shell plates off to Michael for a Chicago-Nut upgrade and overall freshening up of the chest plates - once I get it back I will post before and after pictures

Cant wait to finish yours and have yours looking brand new! 

[Umpiresrock74]

On 6/5/2024 at 9:27 PM, JeBa said:

@Umpiresrock74 - I've sent you a message with photos - I'm very interested in getting my older Wilson/WV Platinum body & shoulder padding replaced....rivets & plates are probably ok....I already have an Ump-Life harness (with T-clips) that I think is still serviceable.

Please advise estimated cost & lead time for the refurb this Fall (2024).

Best regards,

Jeff

Hello Jeff, it was such a pleasure speaking with you on the phone the other day! Cant wait to get started on your CP! 

[JeBa]

Hey Michael - I appreciated chatting with you as well. I'll be in touch again when the LLBB/SB & travel season is over up here in the Northeast.

Best regards,

Jeff

[Umpiresrock74]

On 4/12/2024 at 10:52 AM, Thunderheads said:

Ahhh ....but can you do the Original West Vest by Douglas?

I own an original west vest Douglas, and yes, I can retrofit them. I am working on a pad for mine right now, when I finish it if you would like I can message you some photos of mine. 

[JeBa]

Update: Wilson Platinum refurb

I could've bought a new CP as a replacement but my Wilson Platinum is still in very, very good condition (protective plates & structural rivets)....and after my years of use, it has formed to fit me well....so after reading this community's threads regarding a chest protector rebuild/refurb, I decided to go that route.

After some conversations with Michael (Umpiresrock74) at Ump Guard Retrofit LLC, I agreed to let his team perform their magic on my old Wilson Platinum after my tournament season was done at the end of July. The refurb process took about 3 weeks. Michael is a good communicator. He initially sent me samples of his materials & then kept me up to date with the status of the refurb. I received my "new" chest protector late last week - WOW!

Excellent craftsmanship/sewing, materials and fit....(see new photos - compare to old protector/padding photos).

I installed a new Ump-Life harness & T-hooks (from Ump Attire). It'll be a couple of weeks before I get a chance to wear it during Fall Ball games....can't wait!

Thanks Michael (Umpiresrock74)!!!

 

[Marcus6]

Price?

[Umpiresrock74]

5 minutes ago, FranklinT said:

Price?

$180, including shipping. Message me for information.

[MadMax]

5 hours ago, JeBa said:

Excellent craftsmanship/sewing, materials and fit....(see new photos - compare to old protector/padding photos).

 

 

On 8/8/2024 at 3:40 PM, MadMax said:

Unlike its bulkier sibling, the Gold, the Platinum’s stock open-cell foam was only 3/4” (instead of the Gold’s 1”… which, super-curious, is befuddling… as they both have the MLB logo on them… which means that 3/4” is “adequate” for “MLB speeds”… so why is the Gold such a fat-fellow at 1”?? Hmmmm??), and it included closed-cell segments at the armpits and flanks. [Michael] reduces the foam thickness down to just at 1/2”. 

Instead of crude, cheap, irritating nylon, Michael employs a softer, technical mesh fabric. Much better feel, and much better performance on moisture-wicking. I strongly recommend to stop using caustic cleaning sprays (Lysol, etc.), and instead use a Febreze, OdoBan (my preferred product), or a sprayable soap. Your CP ain’t supposed to be clad in camping tent nylon; it’s supposed to be as comfy as camping underwear. 

Gone is that stoooooooopid, completely unnecessary billow pad. 

As per the other recent Platinum overhaul, see above ☝🏼. 

[Umpiresrock74]

2 minutes ago, MadMax said:

 

As per the other recent Platinum overhaul, see above ☝🏼. 

Yes!! The ultimate Wilson platinum design pad comes from mad max

[MadMax]

Well, @Umpiresrock74, you did a really top-notch job on @JeBa’s Platy. I just want to remind him and everyone, to avoid using Lysol, or anything with bleach in it, to “freshen” or disinfect it. Technical soaps (sport wash), OdoBan, and Febreze (weaksauce) are much less caustic. 

 

[Umpiresrock74]

59 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Well, @Umpiresrock74, you did a really top-notch job on @JeBa’s Platy. I just want to remind him and everyone, to avoid using Lysol, or anything with bleach in it, to “freshen” or disinfect it. Technical soaps (sport wash), OdoBan, and Febreze (weaksauce) are much less caustic. 

 

Yes, and to add to that we won't replace it if it is damaged because you used a chemical spray on it, i suggest warm water and soap. 

[Rock Bottom]

On 9/5/2024 at 7:28 PM, MadMax said:

Well, @Umpiresrock74, you did a really top-notch job on @JeBa’s Platy. I just want to remind him and everyone, to avoid using Lysol, or anything with bleach in it, to “freshen” or disinfect it. Technical soaps (sport wash), OdoBan, and Febreze (weaksauce) are much less caustic. 

 

MadMax,

Does that caution against using Lysol apply to the OEM pads on the All-Star System 7 (CPU4000)?  I've been using Lysol for years on them and now I'm wondering if I'm causing some long term deterioration (although I haven't noticed any). 

[Marcus6]

Has anybody taken a good hit with this upgraded padding?  Any reviews/feedback?

[MadMax]

6 hours ago, FranklinT said:

Has anybody taken a good hit with this upgraded padding?  Any reviews/feedback?

 

"You have helped our work considerably! Jolly good! Thank you very, very, very much!"

[JeBa]

1st game with the refurbed Platinum 2 nights ago.

11-12yr LLBB, inside foul ball straight back in the slot to the left side of the chest plate....although I saw the pitch deflect off the bat & heard it hit me, I didn't feel any discomfort at all....just some slight pressure as the plastic plate & padding absorbed the velocity of the ball.

Not much of an example, but I was impressed.

Jeff

[Umpiresrock74]

Well, everyone, in about 17 days, it will be a year since I first posted the question. Does anyone know where I can get my equipment retrofitted? Since then, a journey has begun; I know I haven't posted, and people have asked if I stopped this. No, I have not; I have invested most of my resources into MILB/MLB baseball, as I have about 10-15 orders of retrofit pads this month alone for MILB and MLB umpires. I don't share this to brag but to reflect on how far I have come. I couldn't have done it without everyone's help on this forum and their input. We now post on Instagram at UMP Guard Retrofit LLC. 

 

This has been a blast! 

[Umpiresrock74]

On 9/13/2024 at 1:11 PM, FranklinT said:

Has anybody taken a good hit with this upgraded padding?  Any reviews/feedback?

I know John Libka took some shots; he said he felt fine. Another guy on this forum took about 90 and said they felt fine. I know @Kelly McNary took about 85MPH and said he also felt fine. @Kelly McNary let me know if I have that wrong 

[Umpiresrock74]

Hello, Everyone.  I figured it was about time I measured  the pros and cons of our pad, and Team Wendy. Just so you know, I am not saying our pad is better than Team Wendy's.

 

Our pad has a couple of upsides that Team Wendy didn't, the first being its lightweight design. Coming in around 10 -12 oz is lighter than the heavier team Wendy pad. The second pro to our pad compared to the Team Wendy pad is the fact that the pad can be worn in all weather conditions without the padding getting hard. The third thing is breathability; many people complained about Team Wendie's being hot; in my opinion this had much to do with the fact that Team Wendy CP was insulated and heavy. What do I mean by that? Well, in taking apart a Team Wendy pad sample I had, I noticed two things: the mesh was coated with plastic vinyl inside, and the foam itself was an open-cell foam. Two problems with that are that an Open Cell Foam tends to hold water/moisture and get heavier and heavier with time. With plastic-coated vinyl on the back of the mesh, it wasn't allowing for the extra breathability the mesh could fully offer. 

 

With that being said, Team Wendy had time and experience on their hands. It is used and has been used by many MLB umpires. As my company continues to grow, I have had the opportunity to retrofit some MLB/MILB umpire's chest protectors, who you will be see wearing on the field this upcoming year. 

I don't knock Team Wendy at all for saying that we were able to make some improvements in the pad. I owe it a lot to Team Wendy as they have helped me figure out how to innovate. I have become on a first-name basis with some people over at Team Wendy, great people!  I wish they would have continued with retrofitting because it truly was iconic. I hope to be as half as good as they were in my retrofitting; I appreciate all the support, constructive feedback, photos, etc. that Everyone has given me on this forum this past year! 

It's wild to think I asked a simple question almost a year ago: "Hi, everyone! So, does anyone know who to contact to get a chest protector retrofitted like Team Wendy used to do? I have called upholsters, and all say they can’t do it. Does anyone have any ideas?" since then I have made so many friends on this forum, and learned so much! I am truly humbled to have been able to talk to amazing guys like @MadMax @Kelly McNary@Razzer, and so many other great guys! 

 

God Bless you guys, 

 

Michael Materasso

[Umpiresrock74]

Photo dump.

[Umpiresrock74]

Part 2

[Umpiresrock74]

[Umpiresrock74]

Part 3