Im sure a silly question...but is there a 'protocol' on the PU wearing sunglasses? Presciption or not amke a difference? I know its common on BUs but I dont recall specificially seeing a PU wear them.

Reason I ask is, I wear tinted and clear presciption lenses (yea, I know, no 'big time' for me ;) ) and thought about it for very sunny days, but dont want to violate any unwritten rules.....

TIA!

I have worn prescription sunglasses when working the plate, for every game but one this year. No one has ever said anything to me about it and I have worked some games with some of the senior umpires in my association.

I tend to always where my sunglasses on sunny days. It just seems to help me see better and cuts down on the glare (since my glasses are polarized). It just seems natural to wear them behind the plate when I definitely want to see as good as I can.

I always wear sunglasses behind the plate when the sun is out.

I don’t wear prescription glasses (yet). I wear polarized, glass lens models that fit close to my face. I also chose a model that folds up fairly flat, so that they fit cleanly into my pocket if the sun goes down before the game is over.

Not only do they protect you from the sun, but dirt bouncing up from the ball hitting in front of the plate. It’s amazing how far back that dirt flys.

Perscription sunglasses - surely okay
 

There was a time not to long ago - 15 years ago, that sunglasses were a complete no-no. I recall being instructed and seeing others chastised for wearing non-perscription lenses at a National ASA clinic. Then ball players started wearing those flip up things... then the major league umpires... now everybody wears them.

I think perhaps we have become more tolerant because we have become more aware of the deleterious effects of cumulative sunshine - prevent cataracts, wear sunglasses.

This year I've broken down and have worn sunglasses several times on the bases. I haven't ventured behind the plate with sunglasses but many times I have worn safety glasses to keep the wind and dust out of my eyes - safety glasses are a solid part of my personal protective equipment. (Foam ear plugs can be particulary beneficial for cutting the drumming wind noise on those nasty days too.)

I would still recommend that you have them OFF during your pregame meeting with the coaches and captains so you can make unimpeded eye contact during those conversations - well not if they are prescription!
http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/...Niro/idiot.gif

Are there any rules prohibiting the pitcher from wearing sunglasses?

Regarding the pitcher wearing sunglasses, I am not sure. It wouldn't seem "right", but I don't have anything to back me up.

When I am umpiring on sunny days, I always wear my sunglasses behind the plate. If people think it affects how you see things, then why do people wear sunglasses when they drive their cars?

Also, when I'm playing afternoon games I wear them for the whole game, whether I am in the field or at bat. Most teammates will wear them on defense, but then take them off to hit. I don't like this, as I am constantly at the same level of brightness if I keep them on. If I am pitching, I take off everything though... ie - sunglasses, wristbands, etc...

You have sunlight in Canada?

Not very often, we usually play in the snow.

It gets slippery at times.

I have always worn sunglaases on the bases in the daytime, but had never done so behind the plate until last year, when I did a HS game at a school I had never been to. As the sun set, it set in left center field, closer to center than left, and seeing the ball out of the pitcher's hand was a real chore. I was very uncomfortable. There is another field I work at fairly regular where the sun sets directly on the left field foul pole. I have had some fair/foul and foul/HR calls there that were very difficult. In fact, at this field I go over this situation in pre-game if the sun will be anywhere near to setting by the time the game ends. Now, I wear sunglasses behind the plate fairly routinely if I think it will help me see the ball.

I wear them all the time on bright sunny days... I didnt even realize there was some stigma attached to it. I squint when its bright if I dont have them on. I see no prob with it.

As long as the glasses don't reflect or have a funny tint that would distract the batter or pitcher anyone can were sunglasses. My problem is finding a good comfortable pair that fits under my mask. Any ideas out there?

Right now in Canada we have sun from about 5am to 9pm

I use polorized goggles. The same type motorcyclists use. The strap fits under my hat and they have never come off while removing my mask. The are so comfortable the tricky part is remembering to remove them for any chats with the coaches or players.

One negative thing about wearing sun glasses is, you loose eye contact with your partner.

Michael

well, based on the excellent feedback I wore sunglasses behind the plate for the first game of a DH yesterday. I didn't catch any negative comments, so it must have been OK :) Certainly helped me a great deal! All is well....

I personally do not think you should wear them, but if that is what floats your boat, who am I to tell you not to wear them. Major League Umpires wear them.

I just think that we already get comments about what we see, why give them one more thing to rip us about? But that is me.

Peace

Sunglasses, Canada, etc...
 

To wear sunglasses or not to wear sunglasses - THAT is the question. Damned if I do, and damned if I do not. I have not ever heard any chirping about sunglasses behind the plate. We have some parks where you take a 10 minute break when the sun is directly behind the pitcher and there is no way the ump, catcher or batter can see a damn thing. Sunglasses are not really an option - they are a necessity. As for sunshine up her in, "The true north, strong and free"... remember, southern Ontario is about as far south as the Oregon/California border.
Course here on the west coast - it rains a tad.

Re: Sunglasses, Canada, etc...
 

When in Rome, you do what the Romans do. But from my personal and professional opinion, they do not look good when you are constantly calling pitches. On the bases I can understand, because most fields are made when the sun is not going to be in direct line with the pitcher's mound or home plate so that both a pitcher or batter will see the sun directly when pitching or batting. But the sun will be located off to the side so that the base umpire is more likely to be looking directly into the sun. One of the reasons you see outfielders wear sunglasses to begin with.

Now in my experience, I worked at only one field that had home plate facing the sun during sunset. It was a field in Fort Madison, Iowa, on the campus of Iowa Weslyan, where the local HS team plays as well. Iowa plays there games in the summer (might be the reason this was a problem) and when they play their night games, the sun would line right up right behind the pitcher. In those cases we would stop the game and wait until the sun went down to a safe level and then continue play. Because everyone could not wear sunglasses to be safe (batters, pitchers and umpires all the same). But that was a very unusual situation. All other fields I have worked in Iowa and Illinois are faced where that is not a problem. So I have never need sunglasses to see, except for that one situation.

Peace

I understand what you are saying, hence my question. I wouldn't have considered it except that I have to wear perscrip lenses anyway, so I figured why not tinted....

Again, do what is accepted in your area. I wear contacts, because in most of my officiating experiences I have been around, wearing glasses is not an option. Now that is me. Umpiring or officiating is a personal endeavor. You have to do what you are comfortable with. And if you are doing something that is against those things that are considered common or acceptable, then you will have to deal with those consequences on your own. ;)

Peace

If every place I umpire would happily comply with OBR 1.04 and orient the field in a way that sets the sun behind my back, I would not need sunglasses when working behind the plate. But if they are going to build the field in a way that the sun sets in the outfield, and schedule games late in the day, then I need to wear sunglasses so I can see better.

it seems that sometimes the designers of the field are on drugs because there is the Northside field where i have called a game before. the sun SETS on days in the baseball time, directly in relation to the delivery of the ball of the pitcher, ie. right behind the mound.

this is a stupid design and most umpires hate it because you have to stop the game if a player says he can not see in order to protect the playes. It is dangerous to not only the players but the umpire too.

recently an umpire told me i should not wear glasses behind the dish, but i look at it his way. if i can not see whats comming in because the sun is in my eyes i am robbing the pitcher of his pitches, and the game in general so i will wear the glasses if i need too

Tim Welke is wearing shades on the plate for Orioles @ Red Sox this afternoon. Guess the pro guys don't have a problem with them. With the black hockey helmet on, he almost looks like Darth Vadar back there. Calling a good game though, so it must not affect his skills.

hehe. So if BR is caught looking at strike 3, does Tim say, "Manny, you failed me for the last time...." ;)