Gear for new umpire

[mjbofficial]

Hello all. This will be my first year working baseball games and I am looking for advice on what gear I will need. Since it's my first year, do I need to get everything? Looking at the prices, it will cost me ~ $500 and I'm just out of college, so that's quite a bit .

Anyone have advice on what and where to buy? For the most part, I use Honings for basketball gear.

Thanks for any help!

[uxley11]

Everyone helped me out tremendously. I will tell you what they told me. West Vest Platnium, and Gold $130-$160 are THE CP. They convinced me to buy one. Also, everyone says a light mask is best which I agree. I am going to buy a Wilson Dyna-Lite $35-$65. For plate shoes I will be buying Tanel 360 $100. For the leg guards it is preference, but I am going with Gerry Davis Guards,$60. Also, buy some good pants and a shirt. $500 sounds about right. You'll want the best so you dont have to upgrade later. Good luck.

[LMan]

Amazing. The exact same question, exactly one thread apart.

[ranmc]

Originally Posted by uxley11

You'll want the best so you dont have to upgrade later. Good luck.

Even the best wears out, after 12 years of umpiring, I am always upgrading one thing or another every season, no sport costs as much to officiate, but then no other sport is called baseball either!

[uxley11]

Outside of apparel, and the +POS shoes I will be buying, I can't see myself purchasing another piece of equipment for the next couple of years. I bought a WV Gold Chest Protector, Wilson Dyna-Lite Mask, OHSAA Hat, +POS pants, OHSAA shirt, and an OHSAA jacket for under $250. How did I do it? Ebay and Delaware blue of course. I bought my chest protector and a pair of Davis shin guards off Blue for just over $100 and then I sold the shin guards for $60. I bought everything else on Ebay, and with even had a pair of +POS shin guards thrown in for, wait for it, FREE. And +POS shoes I am buying are brand new, and I am getting them for $75. I think I cleaned up pretty well.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by SAump

The pre-Christmas West Vest sale notice was the best advice I have ever read.

Me, too. I bought eight of them. I'm re-selling them to members of my association.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Me, too. I bought eight of them. I'm re-selling them to members of my association.

Made a nice $100+ pure profit after selling 2 on Ebay. A great deal.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by mjbofficial

Hello all. This will be my first year working baseball games and I am looking for advice on what gear I will need. Since it's my first year, do I need to get everything? Looking at the prices, it will cost me ~ $500 and I'm just out of college, so that's quite a bit .

Anyone have advice on what and where to buy? For the most part, I use Honings for basketball gear.

Thanks for any help!

Read this thread:

equipment help

[BretMan]

500 bucks will get you in the game. It is a big up-front hit, but if you want to play you got to pay!

(Actually, you can probably get by for a little less if you shop around or hit eBay.)

Think of it as an investment. Depending on what you spend, you should make it all back in 10 or 15 games. After that, it's all gravy and you'll be rolling in the cash!

As for Honig's, I have had nothing but positive experiences with respect to ordering baseball equipment from them.

[budjones05]

I got everything I need, except the uniform, off ebay. Things like an awesome chest protector, leg guards, and a hockey style mask. the rest i got from one of my local sports stores including the steal toe plate shoes

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by mjbofficial

Hello all. This will be my first year working baseball games and I am looking for advice on what gear I will need. Since it's my first year, do I need to get everything? Looking at the prices, it will cost me ~ $500 and I'm just out of college, so that's quite a bit .

Anyone have advice on what and where to buy? For the most part, I use Honings for basketball gear.

Thanks for any help!

This CP and shin guards I found on ebay looks like a pretty good deal.


Tim.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

This CP and shin guards I found on ebay looks like a pretty good deal.


Tim.

Tim,
That would be good...if he wears 15" shins.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by SAump

I can't make up my mind between cheap high tops and cheap low tops.
Would you please advise?

Choice #1
http://cgi.ebay.com/MENS-RUCKS-FOOT-...QQcmdZViewItem

or

Choice #2
http://cgi.ebay.com/MENS-HYTEST-FOOT...QQcmdZViewItem

Please hurry. I only have two days to decide.

Thanks

I'd say that if you're going for the welder look the high tops should do the trick.


Tim.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Originally Posted by SAump

I can't make up my mind between cheap high tops and cheap low tops.
Would you please advise?

Choice #1
http://cgi.ebay.com/MENS-RUCKS-FOOT-...QQcmdZViewItem

or

Choice #2
http://cgi.ebay.com/MENS-HYTEST-FOOT...QQcmdZViewItem

Please hurry. I only have two days to decide.

Thanks

If you go high tops there, find shin guards that do not have the toe protector or if you go with the low tops, Get WV 3409's or something with metetarsal protection. Eitherway, those arent "Umpire plate shoes" but i suppose they will due for a beginner.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

If you go high tops there, find shin guards that do not have the toe protector or if you go with the low tops, Get WV 3409's or something with metetarsal protection. Eitherway, those arent "Umpire plate shoes" but i suppose they will due for a beginner.

I think you failed to detect the sarcasm in SAump's post...