Shiny Plate shoes

[Fred H]

My shoes always get filthy when I’m behind the plate. I see some umpires with shiny shoes, and they don’t ever seem to get dirty when they work behind the plate. What the heck do they use on their shoes?

[JonnyCat]

They usually use nice fields that are properly groomed with lots of water! 

It's usually the field conditions, if your fields are dry and dusty, then nothing is going to help that. Turf fields will keep your shoes really clean.

I just use a clear shoe shine on all my umpire shoes, and give them a good wipe-down after each game with a damp rag.

It often depends on the level you're doing. I find that most youth fields (LL, Pony, etc) are the most dusty, especially late in the day on Saturdays when no one has groomed the field after the first game. High School fields tend to be better maintained.

[Kevin_K]

I have turf shoes and I have non-turf shoes.

The non-turf shoes are New Balance mid-cut V3 and I clean them between every game with a vegetable brush, Dawn, and warm water. The mesh is a pain in the backside to get really clean. I then use an Armor All product (I have been sworn to secrecy) to bring an extreme shine to the shoe. Overnight it all sets up, and, voila!

[Velho]

52 minutes ago, JonnyCat said:

It's usually the field conditions, if your fields are dry and dusty, then nothing is going to help that. Turf fields will keep your shoes really clean.

Further, it depends on the dirt used. Red clay looks great but makes a mess of equipment and fabrics.

[SeeingEyeDog]

I would like to take this opportunity to say, like so much of what we do...it really begins and ends with effort and desire and there are no secret sauces or techniques. Are your shoes as clean and shiny as they could be? If not, what could you do to enhance or improve their appearance? Do that. I work a lot of clay fields and as @Velho indicated, it's a mess. The reason it's a mess is because if left unattended, red clay actually sets into your shoes (especially the mesh) and will dye your shoes which means you have to spend more time with polish and buffing, etc. to return them from dull, reddish brown to black mirrors.

It's a bit of cliche but, I promise you...if you put a solid shine and buff at the end of your year (for me, November) and then you are diligent about cleaning your shoes either right after the game or immediately upon arriving home, you will maybe only need to put a polish and buff on them again prior to HS playoffs.

@Kevin_K also mentioned two pairs of shoes...YES! My turf shoes (plate or bases) only require a brushing after every game and once a week or ever other week depending on their use, I will scrub them with dish soap.

~Dawg

[834k3r]

I wear the same pair of plate shoes on turf as I do for non-turf. As a vet, I love Kiwi Black Parade Gloss. After a couple of coats of wax it does get much easier to shine them. If I have a few days between plate games, I'll give my plate shoes a shine.

If I have back-to-back plate days, I'll hit my shoes with Sprayway glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth after the game (letting them dry overnight), then as I'm getting dressed for the next day's game I'll hit it with a Pedag shoe sponge (available at U-A).

Regardless of method, the shoes will get dusty/dirty/muddy. No avoiding that, unfortunately.

[grayhawk]

They most likely have used Leather Luster on their shoes, which is why they're so shiny and seem to shed dirt.

[834k3r]

10 minutes ago, grayhawk said:

They most likely have used Leather Luster on their shoes, which is why they're so shiny and seem to shed dirt.

Leather Luster is great--but it's all in the preparation. I tried it while I was on active duty and it cracked and flaked badly--because I rushed the preparation. Leather Luster, when not applied correctly, ruins shoes.

Edit:  apparently they have a service where they'll apply the Leather Luster to your shoes for you (I would have loved that service before I retired!). To avoid the issues I mention above, I highly recommend folks opt to spend a few more dollars and have the Luster folks do it for you.

[grayhawk]

5 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

Leather Luster is great--but it's all in the preparation. I tried it while I was on active duty and it cracked and flaked badly--because I rushed the preparation. Leather Luster, when not applied correctly, ruins shoes.

But when it's done right, it's a hell of a finish.

[umpstu]

4 hours ago, grayhawk said:

They most likely have used Leather Luster on their shoes, which is why they're so shiny and seem to shed dirt.

I now use the Mizuno plate shoes and have not had to put any type of shining agent to them since getting them. That was until this weekend. I just could not buff them into a nice shine so I broke out the Leather Luster. They look nice and shiny now. Can't remember er the last time I used Leather Luster.