Ball Bags
 

Good Morning,
Just wondering what kind of ball bags you guys wear. Right now I wear the Carllucci bag and its pretty good. I see the one that POS sells is no longer available as it looked pretty nice. I like the idea of the zippered back to hold keys and cash. Also how many of you wear 2 bags behind the plate???
Thanks Mike

Is this the bag you are looking for?

The only time I have two bags behind the plate is when my wife and mother-in-law show up.

Serious, though, I've never been handed enough game balls to need two bags.

:D

I wear two. Usually, I don't get enough game balls to fill both bags, but it just looks better. I carry a small towel in the left hand bag, and any extra baseballs.

There have been quite a few occasions when I've received more game balls than even two bags could handle. That's always a good problem to have.

Hmmm,
 

Every year as we move into the new season someone brings forth the "UmpAttire" ball bag.

It is a very good bag for softball and small diamond umpires. I do not know of any upper divison umpires that wear the "UmpAttire" bag.

When not wearing a plate coat I always wear two ball bags.

"Most" game balls go in the left bag (as I am left handed) and any extras drop in the right bag. Since I wear Honig's bags there is a pocket inside the right bag where I keep my plate brush . . . I also keep lineup cards and pens (cool small slot for the red pen) in the right bag.

I just like the "level" look of two bags.

Wear what you want and are comfortable with . . .

Regards,

Is this the bag you are looking for?

That one looks pretty good, but it's not the one that +POS had a while back. Too bad that's one's no longer available. Not only did it have the zippered compartment, it was also tough and well put together. I've had one for years and have experienced none of the usual loosening of threads at stress points.

doesn't that take the hair off?

1 for reg. season since i only get 2 game balls (:eek: ) and two for tournaments where im given 6 or more. Im left handed, but when i wear only one its on my right side :p

I use two ball bags a-la Gerry Davis Sports unless I am wearing a plate coat. My brush is kept in the right fanny pocket. I do not keep seeds or any of that paraphernalia in my bags. Pen and pencil in the right bag, line up card in the shirt pocket (or inside pocket on the plate coat). No zippers, no flash, no flair, just plain old ball bags with inside pockets.

i always wear two. black when the shirt color calls for it, and navy when the shirt color calls for it.

Being right handed I am similar but opposite. My right ball bag carries only balls. The left bag has plate brush in the front pocket, ink pen in the small center pocket, and lineup holder in the rear pocket. I keep a small blue wash cloth size rag in the rear also during warm weather. My car key is in the left bag.

If I have 5 balls then 3 are in the right and 2 on the left. If 4 then 3 are on the right and 1 on the left. If 3 then 2 are on the right and 1 on the left. If 2 they are both on the right. If 1 it is on the right. If I throw my last ball in I don't stop play but I make sure the home team knows it. It's a nearly unconscious system, two bags, all the "stuff" in the left bag, and the right bag is the "working" bag.

Just curious why you acknowledge that the UmpAttire bag is "very good" for softball and small diamond, but apparently not for "upper division". You mention the "level" look of two bags. Is the "UmpAttire" too large (it looks big in the images) to wear two of them, so it would only be worn on one side? Or is there some other factor that makes it not so good for upper level ball? Not trying to be contentious, just trying to understand the point you are making.

"Or is there some other factor that makes it not so good for upper level ball?"

Pretty simple: the bag SCREAMS small diamond umpire.

In my opinion it rivals a "fanny pack" on the PU.

Stick with real ball bags.

Regards,

I like some things about the Ump-Attire bags. I really like the quality and thickness of the bag. For some reason, I am able to reach in grab out baseballs easier than I can in other bags that are constructed out of thinner materials. I don't care for the zipper pockets because I don't want a lot of junk rolling around in there and frankly you really can't access them easily enough during games anyway. I don't care for the elastic top. Unneccesary and it does scream rookie. Give me an Ump-Attire bag without the zipper pocket and elastic and I'll use them more often.

Lawrence

Indeed. When I wear only one ball bag, I feel out of balance, as if i'm going to lean right and fall over. Having that other bag on my left side keeps me level. :D

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.

Hmmmm.....

so I guess rhinestones are out, too, huh.

1 or 2 depending on the level of the game and the number of baseballs i expect to be used.

Bags
 

Wow lots of thoughts here. I plan on using 2 bags this year (my second) I think it looks much better and balanced as I saw a PU with 2 and really liked the look. As far as which bag I'm a little surprised as to the negitave response to the ultimate bag but I can understand why. I think I will just get another Carlucci bag and use 2 of his but they are a little big for 2 bags but great for 1 bag. I think that a good bag would have rounded bottom corners as balls are round and a little taper on top not elastic and of course a pocket for brush and penciles.
Thanks for all your time and thoughts

Ok, does it really matter which ball bag you wear. Sure I wear the Honigs black ones, but they all serve the same purpose- to hold balls.

The black leather ones? I heard they're really great for holding balls.:D

Dan
 

I am afraid, that in your quest to fake as a "kid umpire", you have mistaken this entire issue.

Coaches "evaluate" umpires as they walk on the field. Ball bags, as with the remainder of your uniform, establish who you are (and sadly, your ability) before you call a pitch.

If you really feel "bags just hold balls" then your fake as persona is again exposed . . . we are, sadly, judged before we call a pitch . . . and (again) sadly everything from ball bags to clean pants make a difference in your advancement to success.

See, RATS, want anything to attack . . . we just need to redirect that to our performance . . .

Dress the part and you have one step up on the "others".

Regards,

No Steve I wasnt referring to the honigs leather ones. im talking about the regular black ones (narrow top) ones. They dont look much different, but they fit better on your belt and belt loops. And Tim, sure i know how important dress is, we have a specific dress code too. But i dont think that a coach will really care what type of ball bag you are wearing unless its an unorthodox style, such as pink or orange. To bobjenkins, when will you get the pooper-scooper out here? You have mess to clean :p

the ball bags go on the sides of your pants, dan.
not in the back.

God forgive me for asking, but which "regular ones" are narrow at the top?

http://www.honigs.com/detail.asp?Cat=2&Sub=38&Item=1061
http://www.honigs.com/img_item_full/K41.jpg

Hey all,

Do you use the tapered bags to make it harder for things to go in or come out?:confused: Anything but a regular square, fabric, non-tapered ball bag gives the impression that you might not be a proficient umpire because it isn't considered to be "normal".

BTW, 2 ball bags, color dependent on the shirt color. Second bag is also useful to separate damp, not soaked, baseballs from dry ones.

LomUmp:cool:

Pa-leeze.

Now beanies on the other hand........

I agree. They always made Ed Montague look smittyish.

Nahhh. It just made him look like a dork.

<sigh>

You can take the umpire out of Little League, but can you take the Little League out of the umpire?

It's just that most of the Smitties I have encountered have coincedently worn beanie plate hats.

This will probably start something, but honest to God, the sign of a smitty around here is a hockey stye helmet.

For some reason, the higher level umpires locally eschew them, but the raw newbies and smitties love them.

As time goes by and the some of the newbies learn the craft and move up, this will change, I'm sure. But as of now, scratch a PU with a HSM and you'll find a BU with ball bags.

Well after reading all these posts what I am going to do is make my own bags. They will look and feel just like the Honigs taper top bags but will have rounded bottoms with a small bellow on the bottom like the Carlucci bag which I think is a better idea. I agree that the zipper is not needed but I do like the idea of adding a slight elastic around the top but with the taper it may not be needed. Has anyone here ever lost a ball out of thier bag running down to 1st or 3rd????

I just harken back to what Jimmy Dugan said about the umpire who was wearing a beanie at the time. That line alone will swear most off those goofy little caps.

And what's with all the LL cracks. Around here, in SoCal, the best dressed arbiters are LL guys. The hobos are the ones who work high school games.

my .02
 

I wear 2 standard ball bags for many of the reasons stated before me. I like the balanced look and the ability to keep lineup cards, and brush in one and rotate the gamers in the other.

whatever you do just make sure you wear the bags correctly...they go on your sides.....do not wear a ball bag as a fanny pack (too far back) or as a loin cloth (too far forward)......one guy in a local association wears his one ball bag so far forward, it looks like a navy loin cloth....


Stan

I haven't.

Here are some prototypes you can pattern yours after. These are the latest rage in Korean baseball umpiring, from Mizuno:

http://www.mizuno.co.kr/baseball/up_file/2za-2611.gif

That hasn't been my experience. This is what the best dressed LL umpires look like around here.

http://images.inmagine.com/img/photo...pdgr045900.jpg

Where's his raft ? :D

What's he doing, hitchhiking?

It's either his "out" call, or a super-secret LL signal to his partner to brush off second base.

Hey all,

He looks more like the CR/BR umpires that I have seen, rather than the LL ones!

LomUmp:cool:

no you cant

Wow. Too much kool aid rots more than your teeth.

Smoking hasn't been permitted anywhere on school grounds in the state of Washington for many years.

I don't celebrate fesitvus or "the holidays". I celebrate Christmas, as un-PC as that may be.

Sorry ozzy, that cant be me. We switched to navy/light blue polo before i was even an umpire. And besides, i like to wear my shin guards UNDER my pants :D

Glad to hear you're wearing the shin guards under your pants. I do have to wonder about the black ball bags you wear with your blue shirts though. :confused:

Um, you wear black ball bags with everything. They match your shoes and belt. Ask your wife, she'll tell you about color coordination of accessories.

Colored bags are for high school umpires.