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Originally Posted by BigFarns
Hi everyone. I'm normally in the football forum as I've been a football official for 2 years. Well, I just contacted someone local here and expressed my interest in umpiring a bit this coming spring/summer. He sent me a list of stuff to buy and holy crap it cost alot to be an Ump. Now I am a catcher still on a local adult league so would it be ok to use my shin guards, mask and even chest protector as an ump too? I mean aren't the shin guards and protector covered by your uniform anyhow so it shouldn't look too bad and the mask looks exactly the same in my mind though I'll admit I never looked to close at the umps.
Also why do they sell Plate shoes and base shoes. Can't you just have one pair of shoes and then your shin guards could just have a flap to cover the tops of your feet. Would it be tacky to use my playing spikes as an Ump. The spikes are mainly black with some white (the Nike swoosh, the word nike and I think a little trim) plus a little red on the sole of the spike.
Anyhow, I was hoping to keep the initial cost down on this. I'm younger and a little short on the money side most the time but I think it'd be great to be involved in baseball just like I am football. I've always loved and played both sports and I just want to stay involved in them.
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You will need to make some kind of investment. Listed below is a link to Gerry Davis Sports and a starter package which includes chest protector, Chin Guards, mask etc.
As others mentioned, catching is way different from umpiring. I believe most of us have taken a "straight on shot" right in the midle of the chest protector so it beehoves one to get max protection. As Garth said, when you catch you have a glove.
Side Note: If you are only going to umpire "kids who do not shave" then you do not need the "heavy artilliary" so to speak. You can probably get some used equipment from a fellow baseball official and save some money that way.
You said you officiate Football so perhaps you can save some football game FEES and use that to invest in umpire equipment.
Pete Booth
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