At Face Value (Magnesium Masks & Other Things)

[UAME]

8 hours ago, AL-Ump said:

Thanks for the pics to all that have it so far.  Can anyone post of picture of it on, in uniform?

Trying to figure out how big the throat guard is.

Thanks!

[The Man in Blue]

5 hours ago, MadMax said:

Ah, the famous "tailgate open" shot angle! 

Ansel Adams, eat yer heart out. 

Hot damn that was messing with my eyes for a moment . . . glad I wasn't the only one that noticed.

[ArchAngel72]

14 hours ago, 834k3r said:

Not in full uniform, but I think you get the idea:

 

So uh.. The drapes don't match the curtains... Sucks getting old eh.  🤣 

[Rock Bottom]

15 hours ago, UAME said:

Does the XTG hit your chest protector too much? If looks great, just wondering.

[UAME]

42 minutes ago, Rock Bottom said:

Does the XTG hit your chest protector too much? If looks great, just wondering.

Not at all.  I am standing completely upright (at attention) in this photo.  In natural posture (and even more, dropping into a plate stance) you have to tuck your chin to create contact.

I've always worn a DTG attached to all my masks.  My first year umpiring, we had a guy in our association take a tipped pitch to the throat and it spooked me.  I am not one for taking chances, and I do not feel at risk with this mask.  I am so pleased - I don't think it could be designed any better. 

[834k3r]

5 hours ago, UAME said:

Not at all.  I am standing completely upright (at attention) in this photo.  In natural posture (and even more, dropping into a plate stance) you have to tuck your chin to create contact.

I've always worn a DTG attached to all my masks.  My first year umpiring, we had a guy in our association take a tipped pitch to the throat and it spooked me.  I am not one for taking chances, and I do not feel at risk with this mask.  I am so pleased - I don't think it could be designed any better. 

FWIW, this experience is nearly identical to mine--except I was the one that took the ball to the throat (thankfully it was only LL). I like this mask even more than my AS Mag.

[Rock Bottom]

SOLD! I just purchased it - I'll likely have an unused (my backup) black powder coated steel All-Star FM4000 going up for sale, but won't do it until I have the Mirage in hand. My gamer FM4000 will move to back-up. Message me if you're interested in the FM4000 before I post it in the sales forum (I have unused extra pads too if I recall - I switched to the mag pads so never used them). 

The XCG (XTG) is what sold me on this, plus the weight. I'm a believer in the throat guard - especially after seeing videos of guys caught from one bouncers coming from below, but this one looks so good and the testimonials here are convincing. Thanks all for all the great info!

[cgroom]

Sold out! I decided to pull the trigger a day late and I blame @Rock Bottom for nabbing the last one.

[DerekGDS]

@cgroom i got you.

[cgroom]

 

 

[MadMax]

 

On 4/15/2025 at 5:33 PM, AL-Ump said:

Negative.

I umpire Softball and we don't really do throat guards - for whatever reason.  Didn't want to look like a "baseball guy" out there!!!  LOL.  😳

This is no cut on you, @AL-Ump, but TPTB for Softball are even more draconian of a hivemind than baseball was or ever will ever be. 

All-black accessories on/for all gear? Heather grey pants? Sky-punch after the vocal call? 

11 hours ago, Rock Bottom said:

The XCG (XTG) is what sold me on this, plus the weight. I'm a believer in the throat guard - especially after seeing videos of guys caught from one bouncers coming from below,

FWIW, I've actually witnessed (as in, I was U3, positioned in D when this happened) a very particular, detail-oriented umpire get into his plate stance, with a Force3 Defender and a full-length TG attached to it "properly" jutting out there as he leaned waaaaaay out over the F2's shoulder. Well, the pitch was fouled straight down, and hit the rock-hard packed dirt behind the plate, and bounced 'straight'-ish up – behind the plumb-straight-down DTG – to hit him right in the Adam's apple. 

😬🫣 Yeeeooowwwww... Not good. 

So, me of the practical, "math-less engineering" mind looked at that (of course, after attending to our wounded colleague) and pondered, "If he was wearing a full-sized DTG, and that happened to him... and DTGs are supposed to prevent that... then why did it still happen?... 🤔... because he has his chin jutting out there like a bow on a classic ocean liner. Why? Because we're told to."

Sorry, not sorry. My experiences-become-instincts as a catcher, for self preservation, to reduce injury, and to perform my job (of blocking the ball) are to tuck my chin to my chest. If the pitch is no longer in the zone, because it's either in the dirt or fouled off, then why this obsession with keeping my head rock-solid-still??? 

"You have to, you have to, you have to..." I swear, the imperatives are going to be the death of us. 

So! Am I against DTGs? No. I myself don't use one (never have), but I'm not going to besmirch someone using one. I simply chide @tpatience about this, any chance I get, because he loves butchering works of art (really, T, if you chopped a Wilson Titanium, I wouldn't give a 💩 😁). It's like taking a hacksaw to the roof of an Aston-Martin DB9, just because you want a convertible. Yeesh. What I do point out, and will continue to point out, is that (most) masks have reduced their XCG lengths so as to accommodate catchers; they're not doing so for us umpires. Granted, All-Star is a "catchers company", so not beholden to us, but even they eliminated their really nifty metal-frame DTG. 

I can't say that DTGs aren't useful... just look at the 4 MLBUs (as I've been able to count so far) who use Mizuno masks... that don't come with an XCG at all! Then there are the (at count so far) 2 MLBUs who have chopped their Nike Icon Titaniums, which, while cringe-worthy, are still a valid solution when paired with a DTG. But then again, an "umpire-proper" XCG is also a viable solution, as demonstrated by Jeff Nelson and Chris Guccione. 

With the Mirage12, the drive is to provide options. 

12 minutes ago, DerekGDS said:

@cgroom i got you.

 

 

[AL-Ump]

1 hour ago, MadMax said:

 

This is no cut on you, @AL-Ump, but TPTB for Softball are even more draconian of a hivemind than baseball was or ever will ever be. 

All-black accessories on/for all gear? Heather grey pants? Sky-punch after the vocal call? 

 

Oh, I 100% agree with you there.  We have charcoal pants now - at least in the NCAA.  But black shoes and blacking out manufacturer's logos is a PITA. 

Some baseball mechanics are being translated to our game and for the better.  Looking forward to the day I can have some white on my shoes!

On topic - I ordered my Mirage12 yesterday to be delivered on Monday.  Pairing it with All Star Mag pads from my Nike Ti and a yellow W harness.

[MadMax]

1 hour ago, AL-Ump said:

and a yellow W harness.

 

🦅 💩 on a new sculpture, sir. 

[BLWizzRanger]

I swear, you all would pay a dollar to see a mask.

[Velho]

6 minutes ago, MadMax said:

🐦‍⬛ 💩 on a new sculpture, sir. 

[Rock Bottom]

On 2/19/2025 at 12:28 AM, MadMax said:

 

This is the brand-new GerryDavis Mirage12: 

First, it is molded magnesium (alloy), just like the Rampage and the FM4KMag. Like the Rampage, there are no welds to pop or increase weight; indeed, the Rampage weighs in at ≈ 15.2 oz. Because All-Star put an emphasis on a radically angular and sloping geometry for the upper half of the FM4K, the mold had to be done in 2 pieces, with steel inserts welded together. As such, the FM4K weighs in at 16.2 oz. By paying careful attention to the geometry and the layout, @DerekGDS managed to bring the Mirage in at 11.71 oz. 

 

Just got my new Mirage today - it looks and feels great. I did weigh it and compare it to my All-Star FM4000 steel, and it actually came in at 11.78 oz vs. 11.61 for the FM4000. (This is not a calibrated scale, so maybe it's slightly off.) But - the Mirage allows me to remove my 3 oz. dangling throat guard!!! Can't wait to try it out tomorrow!

 

[The Man in Blue]

I really love my MAG.  I really love my MAG.  I love the unique style (angles vs. curves) the fit, the look . . . I love my MAG.

 

But, damn, you guys are really tempting me with that ETG.  As much as I love my MAG, I have always hated danglers.  Hated them as a catcher, hate them as an umpire.  Just started wearing one last year because of our conversations here (and one past experience).

[Rock Bottom]

15 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

I really love my MAG.  I really love my MAG.  I love the unique style (angles vs. curves) the fit, the look . . . I love my MAG.

 

But, damn, you guys are really tempting me with that ETG.  As much as I love my MAG, I have always hated danglers.  Hated them as a catcher, hate them as an umpire.  Just started wearing one last year because of our conversations here (and one past experience).

Look at how curved the Mirage is! LOL (top is Mirage, middle is FM4000 steel, as is the bottom - strange the two are so different - guessing it has to do with the manufacturing process of the steel):

[Velho]

Easter Bunny brought mine today as well. Buried with work but unboxed it. It's pretty sweet.

Bonus: it's so light that my wife didn't ask (too hard) what was in the box. (that'll change when the credit card bill come though, LOL)

[834k3r]

12 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I really love my MAG.  I really love my MAG.  I love the unique style (angles vs. curves) the fit, the look . . . I love my MAG.

 

But, damn, you guys are really tempting me with that ETG.  As much as I love my MAG, I have always hated danglers.  Hated them as a catcher, hate them as an umpire.  Just started wearing one last year because of our conversations here (and one past experience).

I am/was with you. But the vision out of the Mirage so much better to me, I haven't worn my AS Mag all season. I had doubts about the XTG, but I'm sold.

[The Man in Blue]

13 hours ago, Rock Bottom said:

Look at how curved the Mirage is! LOL (top is Mirage, middle is FM4000 steel, as is the bottom - strange the two are so different - guessing it has to do with the manufacturing process of the steel):

I’m referring to the front view.  
 

MAG is just sexy.  

[Go Navy Beat Army]

So, I received my Mirage in the mail this past Friday. Although I ordered a new harness (Ump Life) and pads (All Star LUC pads) for it, they weren't here yet. So, I had to temporarily reallocate resources from my Mag to give this new mask a proper introduction for a Saturday double-header. I'm SOLD! I have one of the old Magnesium throat guards on my All Star mask. I love not having to wear it and still being protected. Between this mask and the D30 Enduro CP, I truly love the new gear available to us umpires from Gerry Davis! Thank God my wife doesn't ask what I spend on gear when the boxes show up at the house........

[Go Navy Beat Army]

On 2/20/2025 at 8:18 AM, DerekGDS said:

I can't comment on the specifics yet but I will say you can expect HDPE distribution plates (top and bottom) and a 3-layer laminate foam stack.

I'll say this respectfully; hurry up!

[concertman1971]

41 minutes ago, Go Navy Beat Army said:

I'll say this respectfully; hurry up!

@DerekGDS is doing some cool things with the new Mirage Pads...........you will just have to Trust The Process on these. 

As for now, 10000% the AS LUC pads from a MAG are the best option (in my opinion). 

[DerekGDS]

Working on it!