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I've worn the HSM for over 150 games in the past nine months.
My wife is the reason. An umpire in our league was hit in the back of his head by a batter's backswing. Result: hockey mask for me. Merely a bad headache and two staples for him.
Except:
Here in South Texas it's damned hot. I mean, inside the helmet it's damned hot.
So:
Without my wife's permission, I am wearing the HSM for night games and my trusted super-light Mizuno for day games. (My umpire colleages call it the Mitchi-Matchi-Moto.) Edit: Which is probably why I spelled it with an "a" in the original post.
The mask is titanium and cost $185 plus overseas shipping. Six umpires and one clinician tried to steal it at Jim Evans' clinic in Ft. Worth. (Just kidding about the theft, but the mask was very popular: Can I use it in the cage, Papa C?)
I was told by a clinician that it is not available in the US. I got mine from XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Who knows where he got it?
At the clinic I also used my Douglas West Vest, which I bought in 1990 (I think). The vest was so new, the patent was still pending, marked right on the protector. A guy offered $200, about $90 more than I paid 15 years ago. He collects chest protectors, he said.
Mine collects, repels, and laughs at foul balls and wild pitches.
No sale.
I bought the platinum model from Gerry Davis, used it once, and sold it to a chump with more money than brains.
[Edited by Carl Childress on Nov 25th, 2005 at 12:04 PM]
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