Guccione/Davis D30?

[Marcus6]

8 hours ago, tpatience said:

That looks like the Rawlings skully. Most minor league and MLB umpires wear that one 

Any reason for this? Is it free? 

[concertman1971]

On 5/8/2026 at 1:34 PM, DerekGDS said:

He's wearing the LE Orange version. 

I HIGHLY recommend picking  one up if you have not already. 

[BLWizzRanger]

You guys are reminding me of a hungry baby seeing their mother...

[tpatience]

9 hours ago, Marcus6 said:

Any reason for this? Is it free? 

In the minors, yes. They are provided to all umpires. Most guys wear the Rawlings because the all star looks goofy. I personally wear the Easton because it has better padding in my opinion

[Rock Bottom]

1 hour ago, tpatience said:

In the minors, yes. They are provided to all umpires. Most guys wear the Rawlings because the all star looks goofy. I personally wear the Easton because it has better padding in my opinion

Better padding than the All Star or the Rawlings? The All Star padding is excellent and removable and washable.

[tpatience]

4 minutes ago, Rock Bottom said:

Better padding than the All Star or the Rawlings? The All Star padding is excellent and removable and washable.

The Rawlings helmet. I don’t like the bob the builder helmet 

[Rock Bottom]

1 hour ago, tpatience said:

The Rawlings helmet. I don’t like the bob the builder helmet 

The All Star doesn't look great but the padding is excellent. 

[Thatsnotyou]

All star now has one with a longer bill - so that problem has been solved. I just bought that one. 

[Rock Bottom]

13 hours ago, Thatsnotyou said:

All star now has one with a longer bill - so that problem has been solved. I just bought that one. 

They had that one when the ump version came out, it's the catchers model.

[Thatsnotyou]

Ah OK. Seemed under the radar as an option for umpires. I haven’t had an issue with the longer bill and like the look of it. 

[Velho]

38 minutes ago, Thatsnotyou said:

I haven’t had an issue with the longer bill and like the look of it. 

 

[wolfe_man]

9 hours ago, Rock Bottom said:

There have had that one when the ump version came out, it's the catchers model.

The only difference between the two helmets, that I'm aware of, is the length of the bill. The Axis Pro (catcher version) is made for all masks and the Skully (umpire version) is made for AS MAG mainly.   The Skully was specifically created with the short bill for the AS MAG due to it's unique forehead shape making it impossible to safely wear a regular bill underneath it, so they created the short-billed umpire skull cap (aka Bob the Builder).  The Axis Pro has the same removable & washable padding and offers more colors (for catchers of course).

This is why Max is so fond of saying these companies are for catchers, because they don't normally produce umpire-only gear.  They just happen to have some gear they can throw out to umpires too, but it was made for catchers, and with them in mind, first.  

[MadMax]

On 5/11/2026 at 10:48 AM, concertman1971 said:

I HIGHLY recommend picking  one up if you have not already. 

They just had to stick a big ol' watermark right across your face, didn't they?

 

 

... or did you ask for it that way?

[MadMax]

On 5/11/2026 at 7:30 AM, Marcus6 said:

Is it free?

Rawlings is ≈ 50% owned by MLB, so I’m sure they’re supplied. 

Now, while this relationship has benefitted baseball ⚾️, with all the MLB baseballs made in a SotA facility in Costa Rica, and all the batting helmets are designed and specified for 100+ MPH impact velocities, this… attention… hasn’t been given to the “skullcap”. Why? Because who are they (predominantly) for? Catchers and field personnel. They’re largely viewed as disposable, or at least not befitting of specific sizing and padding. 

Why’s that? Because it’s way down on Rawlings’ list of design & development priorities. All-Star is much more of a catchers-centric company, so of course their D&D is going to be better-suited for catchers. Easton (which is a subsidiary-partner of Rawlings, FYI) does do a bit more, but again, to what end? The skullcap is still looked at as disposable, a triviality, because a vast part of the (immediate) market isn’t able to wear them (ie. catchers and batters / runners in HS). And those catchers that do (ie. college) go “raw dog” on most of their gear anyway, and trash ‘em. 

Again, I climb my soapbox, and the bullseye of my contempt and ire is leveled squarely at the company – singular – that is supposed to be “for us”. Where is the Big YelloW Slug in all this? Why haven’t they been compelled to “put their money where their mouth is”, and develop a hardhat for us? 

If that day comes that they begin to take us seriously, and in mind, I’ll know it if/when they put the “advanced” foam structure at the front of the hardhat. Ya know, like where umpires (and coaches, you can lump them in) need it. Better yet, how ‘bout bringing us in to consult? Hmm? 

[TheLovejoy]

On 5/10/2026 at 9:20 AM, Marcus6 said:

 

 

Ok, I've seen all of the talk about umpires pulling the skully off with the mask being for all kinds of different reasons. I believe it's one that hasn't been talked about yet.

You see in this picture how far down the back of the skully the all star harness goes? Like, all the way to the bottom of the helmet?

When you pull up the front of your mask, that back harness doesn't come disconnected from the skully very easily. It's almost 'grippy'.  So it's much easier to remove the entire rig, rather than have to fight with it. 

The solution, is to shorten the top strap of the harness, so the harness doesn't come all the way to the bottom of the back of the helmet. If it sits up from the bottom roughly an inch or so, when you lift the front of the mask up, 'tilting the chin out', and lifting the top, the harness just flies off the back of the helmet.

Source: I have owned all of the skullys on the market, and have messed with them all to figure out exactly how to take it off, because I struggled with it for a long time. 
I'll post a pic, and create a skully thread with pics this week.

[umpintosh]

On 5/11/2026 at 11:48 AM, concertman1971 said:

I HIGHLY recommend picking  one up if you have not already. 

Nice look!

Also, wasn't there a thread about a year ago about GD making a plate coat? Did anything ever take off with that?

[concertman1971]

5 minutes ago, umpintosh said:

Nice look!

Also, wasn't there a thread about a year ago about GD making a plate coat? Did anything ever take off with that?

im sure @DerekGDShas some input on this.....

[DerekGDS]

We suspended our plate coat program August of last year. Changes in US economic policy no longer made it viable as a made to order product. We're looking into alternatives but it isn't a top priority for us so I don't expect us to resurrect in the near term.

[MadMax]

The following soapbox moment isn't directed at you, @TheLovejoy ... your statement simply triggered me: 

On 5/13/2026 at 4:57 PM, TheLovejoy said:

Ok, I've seen all of the talk about umpires pulling the skully off with the mask being for all kinds of different reasons. I believe it's one that hasn't been talked about yet.

Really, I do not care if you (or anybody) takes the skullcap off with the mask, or leaves it on. It doesn't matter a hill of beans... or even a small pile... or even a handful... or even the Himalayas of beans! They likely have their reasons, whether that be conscious or unconscious awareness, it does not matter. 

I'm of the qualified belief (thru investigation) that MLBUs keep their masks far too way too much too tight because there is a behind-the-curtain protocol involving the insurance lawyers and underwriters – that if an umpire's mask hits the ground, it can no longer be used (reliably), and that any subsequent claims of injury will be scrutinized, contested, and possibly denied. That's a valid position. 

Those guys aside, what does matter is that we – collectively – must keep what dwindling numbers of umpires we have active and healthy, and we must find ways of attracting, recruiting, engaging, and retaining a new generation of umpires. If that means they opt for wearing skullcaps, of any sort or brand, who cares? If that means that they wear a HSM 🤨 cuz that's what they're familiar with (being a former HS catcher), who cares? If that means they find and use a... <gulp> Wilson Gold 🤢... that they got from PIAS, who cares? If that means they use the side-shot instead of the hammer, who cares? If that means that they wear an 8-stitch instead of a 6-stitch on the bases, who cares? Who freakin' cares?! They're working, dammit!!

What does not matter is some "evaluator's" opinion that <this> is a "bad look". Or, that <this> gold belt buckle on a polished leather belt is the mark of a "better" umpire. Or, flippantly telling a guy, "You'll never make it as an umpire if you don't do <this> in <this way>". 

Keyboard Crusaders will always drop derisive comments on guys, simply because they can... and they're cantankerous and have a burr up their a$$. The guys that get my goat are those that sit or stand aloof and "take notes", and the bulk of what "issues they have to address" with the guys that actually worked (that game) boil down to "style". I'll tell you something, this latest/next generation – they are craving feedback and review, and (this is important) they crave self-expression, or at least learning / accomplishing something in their own way. It's part of their identity. They do not want to do things simply because "that's the way we've been doing it for 30 years", especially – and this is critical – if you yourself don't model what you're saying, or someone else who is idolized (or held aloft) as a "gold" standard is himself fallible or does things that amount to, yet again, personal style. 

So sittin' there, telling a new umpire, "Yeah, you gotta leave your skullcap on, cuz it's a bad look" ain't gonna hold water, ya putz. 

[TheLovejoy]

17 minutes ago, MadMax said:

The following soapbox moment isn't directed at you, @TheLovejoy ... your statement simply triggered me: 

Really, I do not care if you (or anybody) takes the skullcap off with the mask, or leaves it on. It doesn't matter a hill of beans... or even a small pile... or even a handful... or even the Himalayas of beans! They likely have their reasons, whether that be conscious or unconscious awareness, it does not matter. 

I'm of the qualified belief (thru investigation) that MLBUs keep their masks far too way too much too tight because there is a behind-the-curtain protocol involving the insurance lawyers and underwriters – that if an umpire's mask hits the ground, it can no longer be used (reliably), and that any subsequent claims of injury will be scrutinized, contested, and possibly denied. That's a valid position. 

Those guys aside, what does matter is that we – collectively – must keep what dwindling numbers of umpires we have active and healthy, and we must find ways of attracting, recruiting, engaging, and retaining a new generation of umpires. If that means they opt for wearing skullcaps, of any sort or brand, who cares? If that means that they wear a HSM 🤨 cuz that's what they're familiar with (being a former HS catcher), who cares? If that means they find and use a... <gulp> Wilson Gold 🤢... that they got from PIAS, who cares? If that means they use the side-shot instead of the hammer, who cares? If that means that they wear an 8-stitch instead of a 6-stitch on the bases, who cares? Who freakin' cares?! They're working, dammit!!

What does not matter is some "evaluator's" opinion that <this> is a "bad look". Or, that <this> gold belt buckle on a polished leather belt is the mark of a "better" umpire. Or, flippantly telling a guy, "You'll never make it as an umpire if you don't do <this> in <this way>". 

Keyboard Crusaders will always drop derisive comments on guys, simply because they can... and they're cantankerous and have a burr up their a$$. The guys that get my goat are those that sit or stand aloof and "take notes", and the bulk of what "issues they have to address" with the guys that actually worked (that game) boil down to "style". I'll tell you something, this latest/next generation – they are craving feedback and review, and (this is important) they crave self-expression, or at least learning / accomplishing something in their own way. It's part of their identity. They do not want to do things simply because "that's the way we've been doing it for 30 years", especially – and this is critical – if you yourself don't model what you're saying, or someone else who is idolized (or held aloft) as a "gold" standard is himself fallible or does things that amount to, yet again, personal style. 

So sittin' there, telling a new umpire, "Yeah, you gotta leave your skullcap on, cuz it's a bad look" ain't gonna hold water, ya putz. 

You said it wasn't directed at me, and I'm going to believe you.... haha...because I really don't care why or why not they do or do not take it all off as one.
  I was simply replying to a two page thread of people clamoring about umpires who take off the entire thing, why, why not, because their hair is nice, because they don't know what they are doing, or whatever the reason might actually be that you (nor I) care about at all. 

  I think part of the reason is as you say, some keep their mask too tight (I actually think this is the biggest inadvertent reason), some find it easier, some are lazy, some just don't want to; I don't have any room to care any less.
So yes, I do agree with you 100%. 

[MadMax]

20 minutes ago, TheLovejoy said:

I don't have any room to care any less.

Here's where I care the most, Lovejoy... 

A multi-billion dollar professional sport directs – not "encourages", not "requests", directs – its umpires to wear a particular piece of equipment, and yes, I'll concede, they supply it... but that piece of equipment is not intended for said umpires, and to make matters worse, said multi-billion dollar professional sport does not hold the multi-billion dollar sports equipment company, with whom they have a "sweet ol' lady" deal, responsible to produce something for those umpires. 

That's where my cares sit. Literally, figuratively, metaphysically, rhetorically... take your pick. I will not ever sit there again and listen to a stool pigeon from "that company" ever, ever "impress" upon a group of umpires like that. Got it past me once, when I was a "younger" umpire. 

[WIUMP]

Wilson has been somewhat innovative with their Evoshield catchers gear. Reimagined shin guards, Windpact mask pads, chest protectors with a brassière-like wire to provide better fitting. Not all have have survived the 2.0 version of the product but they are doing something on the catcher side. Nothing on the umpire side remotely reflects this innovation through the leap from one to the other is relatively small, especially with masks.

Force 3 and All-Star have almost completely cornered the MLB catcher market on face and head protection. Yadi wore an All-Star bucket with Rawlings and then Jordan (Nike) gear. William Contreras wears a F3 mask with Jordan gear. I'm watching the Padres right now and their catcher is wearing a F3 mask with Rawlings gear. It seems that catchers are willing to take the payday from Rawlings and Nike but when it comes to protection that matters, they go with the companies who actually put some R&D behind their product.

[MadMax]

17 hours ago, WIUMP said:

Force3 and All-Star have almost completely cornered the MLB catcher market on face and head protection. Yadi wore an All-Star bucket with Rawlings and then Jordan (Nike) gear. William Contreras wears a F3 mask with Jordan gear. I'm watching the Padres right now and their catcher is wearing a F3 mask… 

Right, but we (umpires) “lost” Force3, to catchers. 

Jason Klein started Force3 for one primary reason – to mitigate the severe, career-altering concussion that he himself suffered as a AAA umpire, an injury that pretty much kept him from advancing to “the Show”. His was a mechanical solution. It’s not perfect, but as you said, it is innovative. But, it has its shortcomings, especially in terms of weight and “sight window”. So, most Umpires didn’t choose it. Catchers, by contrast, glommed onto it, and invariably, they invested in it, to such an extent that Klein was bought out, and the bulk of the BoDs are professional catchers. 

It took a sizable amount of persistence for MLB to Officially Endorse Force3, but, of course, there was a hitch or limitation to that “benevolence” – it was for the mask only, and could not be applied to any other (umpire) gear (specifically). Why does this matter? 

Because there are professional Umpires who will stand at the front of a gathering of impressionable umpires, and point at that iconic logo and say, “You (must) buy this.”

Sure, you can say that EvoShield has been innovative, but two things jump out when you say that – 1) why hasn’t anything crossed over from EvoShield to Wilson, or at least been shared*??, and 2) why did it have to be EvoShield thru which to do those innovation “experiments”? 

You know why? Because Wilson is a virtually dead brand in amateur catching markets. Name one professional catcher who wears Wilson; you can’t, as the last one to do so was AJ Ellis. That space is dominated by All-Star, Easton, Under-Armour, and now, EvoShield. Nike / Jordan still has a presence (as does Adidas) largely due to their ties to college athletics, but I can tell you – Nike isn’t putting any money into innovating the next best catcher’s CP, or shinguards. In fact, I think they ended “official” production of the Icon Titanium back in 2018(?). What they are doing is sourcing it to put their logo on it, because they, more than anyone on the market, know the power of strategic branding. They could give a rat’s a$$ about some HS catcher trying to buy catchers gear, because it’s the “best”. No, instead, they want a whole freakin’ state buying all sorts of clothing and shoes because Michigan, Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon U & State, Texas, and FSU are all Nike schools. 

Wilson’s done the same thing with Umpire gear; they’ve placed far more resources into securing and ensuring their stupid W on MLBU gear than actually improving that gear. 

Molina never wore All-Star; he always wore the “home-state favorite” of Rawlings, which is (was) HQ’d in Missouri. Even when he was endorsed and supplied by Nike, he still wore his trademark Rawlings HSM. 

* - The Wilson Pro-Stock HSM and EvoShield Pro-SRZ share the same shell planform; why? So they can clear NOCSAE certification. But why not equip the Pro-Stock with WindPacts, just like the EvoShield? Hmm? I’m not sure on this one, but likely something to do with licensing. WindPact is its own company, not a subsidiary or development of Wilson. 

[WIUMP]

[MadMax]

Okay, I was wrong, I stand corrected… 

partly… 

Until he was sponsored by Nike-Jordan (Jumpman logo), he was Rawlings and wore “his” Gold-Glove edition CP. 

That HSM was where I made an ignorant assumption; that’s an old MVP 2200/2300 (?) that Yadier never upgraded from. That’s pre-System 7, which All-Star labeled as the MVP 2500 / 4000 (MLB-level removable pads). Since Yadi never accepted the improved model, I simply ASSumed that it was a Rawlings HSM. 

That’s how much I don’t care for the Redbirds. 
EDIT: 

Wait a minute… 

So this is an old Rawlings HSM: 

Huh. Wouldja look at that? Looks awfully similar doesn’t it?