Frozen rags for umpires - professional?
 

It wasn't long ago that I was catching. I would bring a cooler full of ice and wet rags to the field to use during my team's at bat to stay cool.

What do you all think of the umpire that puts a wet/frozen rag on his neck for 1/2 an inning?

I think it looks unprofessional and amateur, but if its the only way to keep yourself in the game, maybe its more professional to not care what you look like and do what you have to do in order to stay in the game mentally.

Thoughts?

just drink water

Half an inning? Maybe discretely between innings - actually, if he goes back to the backstop area during warmups not a bad idea at all since of the 6 billion people on earth exactly NONE are watching a plate umpire between innings. But how the heck does a PU work with a rag on the back of his neck for half an inning?

I have navy rags that are thin and will fit all the way around my neck. I tuck them under my collar and I doubt anyone knows but me, and even if they do I prefer getting some relief to having a heat stroke. And once I tuck a rag under collar I generally leave it there for a whole inning. I keep a small cooler of slushy ice water near one of the dugouts and wipe down when I feel like I need it. I also put a tablespoon of spirits of ammonia in there which helps.

I also drink plenty of water.

Just out of curiosity I'd like to know if any of you have tried one of these interesting accessories. It's sold by Gerry Davis Sports.

http://www.gerrydavis.com/Merchant2/...001/hl1266.jpg


Tim.

I made fun of it last time you trotted it out, but now after heat stroke, I'm considering it!

Tim - Try to get that through an airport security screener and I'll think about it.

Someone would probably get away with it if they decided to lose the turbin.:D


Tim.

i always thought that thing looked like an ice pack flak jacket

Between Tim and Brian I've spent half the evening laughing my ... off!

Seems I recall a game where Doug Harvey was really laboring in the heat.

I remember a game in August of some year, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis where it was something like 120 degrees on the field and very humid. Dutch Rennert was working the plate, and received cold towels and drinks on the Cardinal's bench between innings. He even had his shirt and protector off between innings.

I know someone who has a vest like that. I've never seen it but I know he buys from Gerry Davis often. If this is the one he has he loves it.

does he actually wear it when umpiring, or does he have one for other purposes?

Keeping Cool