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Several years ago, I bought a pair of inexpensive adult softball cleats (hard plastic cleats, not metal) to use as base shoes. I had been using a pair of black tennis shoes before this, and I wanted something that would provide greater grip, but couldn't bring myself to spend ~$75 on "name brand, official base shoes." I've never seen another umpire using cleats for base shoes.
Now, it is time to replace these shoes, and I have been looking around in the various catalogs and web sites at shoes that are marketed as turf shoes, officials shoes (e.g. NFL), base shoes, etc., and I am having a hard time giving up the security I get with the cleats for the much less aggressive tread pattern I see on the base, turf, whatever shoes. So, I've decided to replace my worn-out cleats with another pair of cleats.
Long-winded intro to this question...
Given that softball cleats are light-weight, give good support, have leather uppers that can take a shine, and provide excellent grip in all conditions (dirt infield, mud, wet grass, whatever), and can be found in all black (at most, you would have to die the white swipe) why don't more umpires use ordinary cleats for base shoes?
Do you use (or know anybody who uses) cleats for base shoes?
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Tom
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