I guess that I was thinking about some other "performance" factor or "functional' factor. But I am now also curious with respect to what it is it about the bag (I assume something about its appearance) that makes it "scream" small diamond umpire. I must admit that I did not know that, other than color coordination with uniform, the fashion police would be critiquing ball bags on other grounds.

Obviously, I am a small diamond umpire, but am willing to be educated at every opportunity.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the leather ones from Honig's. :eek:

Here they are.

Those don't scream "small diamond," they scream, "screaming queen!!!":D

Do "small" umpires get their own unique bags, too? (Someone doesn't know their English.)

Large umpires ball bag

Not that there's anything wrong with it. (With a nod to Jerry, Elaine, and the gang.)

Okay, here goes:

Anything other than solid color, cloth, minimum 10" length (but preferably 11-1/2"), navy or black, no zippers, no drawstrings, no elastic ball bags are considered "small diamond." Only pro-style ball pockets are considered "professional" looking. The others look like slow-pitch softball equipment.

Hey all,

A leather bag to put your balls in?!?!?!? The S&M leagues ought to love that one!!:eek:

LomUmp:cool:

Does anyone know ANYbody who has used one of those leather ones?

the only time i ever saw one was at our winter clinic at the honigs table. luke and i checked it out and even the honigs guy working the table thought they were ridiculous.

it would go well with some heather grey chaps

I'm holding out for the patent leather ones. Match those with a patent leather beanie, and you've got a spot waiting for you in the Village People's next tour.

Leather ball bags are just wrong.

Somewhere, someplace, in some LL association there is an "umpire" who is very proud to be the only one wearing leather ball bags...and on the bases at that.

I think I'm going to puke!

Okay, this is a nice article about ball bags and all the wonderful things that a user can stuff into them! Let's face it, why do you want all that garbage hanging off your belt anyway? Your car keys can go into your pants pocket. Go to the hardware store and get a duplicate made. You don't need a ring with 100 keys with you on the field. Those you can keep in the car. You don't need towels, rags and other dodad's either. Try wearing UnderArmor, or Interawear or other "sweat control" garments. That will help keep you cooler.

Now this is a picture of a basic ball bag. No frills, no pockets, just a bag.

http://www.gerrydavis.com/Merchant2/...00001/bb10.jpg

Here is a picture of the same bag with pockets sewn in for indicators, pens and brushes. If you wear two bags, you could put a wash cloth in one to wipe off (if you really need to).

http://www.gerrydavis.com/Merchant2/.../bBb10npgp.jpg

The reason that the Ultimate Ball Bag screams of "inexperience" is because it was designed for people who think that they need to take everything (including the kitchen sink) with them onto the field. The worst problem is because of all the compartments and all the junk many people take with them, it takes forever to find what you need - when you need it! This bag also looks like an amateur's bag just by the design alone! Compare the belt loops on the Ultimate Ball Bag with the full loop design of the ones above. There is no comparison. So if you want to look like a schmuck out there, by the Ultimate Ball Bag and enjoy yourself. If you want to look like you belong to the S&M crowd, get the leather bag and a couple of "butch collars" for after the game. If you want to look professional then get bags like the ones above.

Lastly, a pen contains ink an a pencil contains "lead" (graphite). There is no such thing as an ink-pen because they do not make pencil-pens. Just call it a pen, please.

Ball Bags
 

I like to wear two. Doing so gives me an opportunity to rotate the balls evenly. I leave my keys usually in the fuel door or use a magnetic key holder and place it somewhere under the car or I put them in my back pocket.

I wear two of the large umpires ball bags from Honig's, color depending on what shirt I'm wearing.