New Mizuno Base Shoes

[BSUmpire]

Just saw an Ump-Attire Facebook post that looks like there is a black patent leather Mizuno base shoe coming out. Does anyone know what these are called? Are they available on the Japan market? Can we get them in the US through eBay?

 

Thanks!

 

 

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[Marcus6]

There’s another post about these. The Purchase Officials catalog is calling these Mizuno pro umpire turf patent. It appears they will be available at UA, Purchase Officials, and Davis (and probably more places) in 2027. It’s not clear if these are the exact shoes the MLB guys are wearing as @Chris Hickman indicated these were a special order from Mizuno’s Japan custom shoe program. I’d doubt they are the exact same but look similar.

[DerekGDS]

Got basically 3 things coming to our offerings. The shoe furthest to the left is what I am guessing is what UA shows.

1. Plate shoes in all black
2. Shoe 2nd from left
3. And below

[834k3r]

12 hours ago, DerekGDS said:

3. And below

[The Man in Blue]

On 7/21/2026 at 9:11 PM, DerekGDS said:

 

 

I am not harshing on your mellow, but, for me, no.  Just no.  

 

 

[834k3r]

4 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

 

I am not harshing on your mellow, but, for me, no.  Just no.  

 

 

Robin Williams' best movie, IMHO.

And no offense taken. If I can think harshly about the Reebok Magistrates, you can think harshly about those Mizunos.

[BSUmpire]

Got basically 3 things coming to our offerings. The shoe furthest to the left is what I am guessing is what UA shows.

1. Plate shoes in all black
2. Shoe 2nd from left
3. And below

Here’s an updated picture from UA:

The one they posted looks like a patent version of the Ambition 3. Do you have any more information on these?


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[BlueRanger]

Based on all the glowing feedback on the UA FB page, I think the demographic that loves the patent leather monstrosities exclusively belong to states and groups that still mandate navy shirts and plate/base pay differential. I will die on this hil lol

[BSUmpire]

Based on all the glowing feedback on the UA FB page, I think the demographic that loves the patent leather monstrosities exclusively belong to states and groups that still mandate navy shirts and plate/base pay differential. I will die on this hil lol

Easy now, I’m offended. If you’re talking about Michigan, then yes, we’re still rocking the mandatory navy… but at least we’ve evolved past the plate/base pay difference (at least around me). Even softball pays the same as baseball now.

And I’ll defend patent leather too. I like how ridiculously easy it is to clean, and how it looks different from every other pair of turf or running shoes. Different in a good, professional way.


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[834k3r]

11 hours ago, BlueRanger said:

Based on all the glowing feedback on the UA FB page, I think the demographic that loves the patent leather monstrosities exclusively belong to states and groups that still mandate navy shirts and plate/base pay differential. I will die on this hil lol

10 hours ago, BSUmpire said:

And I’ll defend patent leather too. I like how ridiculously easy it is to clean, and how it looks different from every other pair of turf or running shoes. Different in a good, professional way.

Mark me in the camp of patent leather too. I blame it on my military time (21 years). I see the umpire uniform as exactly that--a uniform. And I try to look as professional as I can when in uniform. Patent leather is part of it. Same reason why I have my plate shoes prettied up by Leather Luster.

But if we're trying to offend each other for comedic effect, I personally think the Reebok Magistrate shoes look like a war crime. Point being, we all have a different sense of style and that's okay.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, 834k3r said:

Mark me in the camp of patent leather too

Ok, let's get serious then...

Cap crease or no crease?

[BSUmpire]

Ok, let's get serious then...
Cap crease or no crease?

Crease!




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[834k3r]

6 hours ago, Velho said:

Ok, let's get serious then...

Cap crease or no crease?

I'm considering a crease.

[umpstu]

10 hours ago, 834k3r said:

Mark me in the camp of patent leather too. I blame it on my military time (21 years). I see the umpire uniform as exactly that--a uniform. And I try to look as professional as I can when in uniform. Patent leather is part of it. Same reason why I have my plate shoes prettied up by Leather Luster.

But if we're trying to offend each other for comedic effect, I personally think the Reebok Magistrate shoes look like a war crime. Point being, we all have a different sense of style and that's okay.

The Gerry Davis patent leather plate shoes were the bomb. Gashed easy though.

[The Man in Blue]

8 hours ago, Velho said:

Ok, let's get serious then...

Cap crease or no crease?

 

Oh, Crease . . . No.  Heck no.  What are you doing next, flat brim and leaving the tags on it?

Yes, I have worked with two different umpires who left the tags/stickers on their hats.  🤯

[Thatsnotyou]

Yeah, I think the crease looks ridiculous. Military tie to it, right? Well this isn’t the military. I’m not in the military, either. This is a baseball field. It’ll be clean, but it’ll be worn like a hat, not like…someone who doesn’t know how to wear a hat. 

[umpstu]

1 hour ago, Thatsnotyou said:

Yeah, I think the crease looks ridiculous. Military tie to it, right? Well this isn’t the military. I’m not in the military, either. This is a baseball field. It’ll be clean, but it’ll be worn like a hat, not like…someone who doesn’t know how to wear a hat. 

I was in the Navy for 20 years and never saw a single ball cap with a crease. I like to crease my umpire hats and it has nothing to do with my Navy service. Just think it looks sharp. And I don't shine any of my shoes. Maybe the soles on the plate shoes. I like white on my base shoes. I saw a comment on this site by somebody claiming that military personnel only like all black shoes. Not true. You do you.

 

[umpintosh]

On 7/28/2026 at 12:40 PM, Velho said:

Ok, let's get serious then...

Cap crease or no crease?

Some days, yes; some days, no. Depends on how I'm feeling.

[Kevin_K]

On 7/28/2026 at 12:40 PM, Velho said:

Ok, let's get serious then...

Cap crease or no crease?

Crease for sure on my base caps. Far more difficult to crease my skull though.

[Marcus6]

Love the cap crease 

[boyinr]

I’m rocking a cap crease on the bases. Wearing a helmet on the plate now. But to put this back on track I just saw John Tumpane wearing these. Those are very sweet. 

[MadMax]

On 7/27/2026 at 11:06 PM, BSUmpire said:

and how it looks different from every other pair of turf or running shoes.

Your “foot Ferrari” is this guy’s foot fryer. 

No thank you. 

If we’re equating to cars, and polish-&-patent is a gleaming black sedan, out here in the wild? Gimme a land rover with the top off, if ya please. If I gotta stand out here for 2-3 hours while you scrutinize the strike zone, then I’m going to need something comfy. 
 

#PizzazBeDamned

[concertman1971]

Im sure when the State org Heads and assignors are not 60+ and stop using the "back in my day" phrase like its a Biblical quote, creased hats, patent shoes, all black ONLY requirements, and (sorry @MadMax) NAVY shirts will all but disappear.

Look at any younger (below 35) umpire out on a field. They are not creasing hats (unless pressured by those 55+ guys) and they certainly aint wearing patent leather shoes. Sh&*t, even softball is coming around on the pant color!

I am at an age and a space in my career that I wear what is comfortable. Nike Golf shoes with  the FORBIDDEN white logo on the bases, and whatever plate shoes I have in the car on game day.

Just look at the 50th anniversary of Referee Magazine. The advertisements in that thing CATERED to the 55+ crowd, but articles were written about the "aging out of officials" and the "lack of officials". Im guessing the marketing departments at these places are the same Old Heads (for you Old guys, thats what the young generations calls you, and they most definitely mean it with all of the respect you think it carries) that run the state orgs.

[The Man in Blue]

On 8/6/2026 at 1:09 PM, MadMax said:

Your “foot Ferrari” is this guy’s foot fryer. 

No thank you. 🙂‍↔️ 

If we’re equating to cars, and polish-&-patent is a gleaming black sedan, out here in the wild? Gimme a land rover with the top off, if ya please. If I gotta stand out here for 2-3 hours while you scrutinize the strike zone, then I’m going to need something comfy. 
 

#PizzazBeDamned

 

With the top off and comfy, eh?  Ok.

 

[MadMax]

On 8/7/2026 at 9:06 PM, The Man in Blue said:

 

With the top off and comfy, eh?  Ok.

Don’t be absurd! 

Those aren’t black. 

If ya get the call right in 115° heat, or during a steady rainfall, and you are in an existential quandary (“Why am I here??”), does your style of footwear really matter?