Under your plate coat

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Ummm, yes. That's how the coat is worn.

Ok. I didn't know- which is why i asked. I wasn't trying to be a smart a$$. I've never seen anyone with a plate coat before (and i haven't payed close enough to the MLB umpires to know either).

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by bossman72

Ok. I didn't know- which is why i asked. I wasn't trying to be a smart a$$. I've never seen anyone with a plate coat before (and i haven't payed close enough to the MLB umpires to know either).

It's okay, Bossman72. It's nice to see someone actually taking an interest in using a plate coat.

You simply gear up as normal but instead of putting on a shirt or a pullover, the last thing you put on is the plate coat. As a matter of fact, the WV symbol was originally designed to be plainly visible through the "V" of the plate coat! The line-up card & pen go in the breast pocket (or the inside pocket if you wish) and game balls are balanced between the left & right side pockets. I keep my plate brush in my right rear pants pocket whether I wear a plate coat or not.

A good, stiff garment brush takes care of cleaning the coat in between games because the only drawback to these coats is the are dry clean only! I send mine at the end of the summer leagues in August and again after the fall leagues in November. I usually don't need to go to the cleaners after the high school season unless it was an exceptionally wet season.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

A good, stiff garment brush takes care of cleaning the coat in between games because the only drawback to these coats is the are dry clean only! I send mine at the end of the summer leagues in August and again after the fall leagues in November. I usually don't need to go to the cleaners after the high school season unless it was an exceptionally wet season.

I'm surprised you don't send it in more often with all the dust flying around. At least they are navy/black so they hide the dirt well. I was thinking of getting one later in my umpiring career when i save up some money because i think they'd look sharp (and i'd be the only one in my assoc with one! haha).

If i do get one in the distant future, what color would you reccommend? Navy or Black?

Also, if you wear your plate coat, does that force your partner to wear the same color on the bases? In that case, i guess i should get navy since that's what everyone has.

[RLG]

I purchased a plate coat from Gerry Davis last year and love wearing it. Looks very sharp and I am one of few in my association that has one.

[kylejt]

Both my plate coats came off of eBay, for less than one bill each. A +POS and a Fechheimer.

As for the smelly Under Armor, that's just a function of sweating and drying, over and over again. Or maybe the fans are right, and I do stink.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by bossman72

I'm surprised you don't send it in more often with all the dust flying around. At least they are navy/black so they hide the dirt well. I was thinking of getting one later in my umpiring career when i save up some money because i think they'd look sharp (and I'd be the only one in my assoc with one! haha).

That is why I suggested using a stiff garment brush between games

Originally Posted by bossman72

If i do get one in the distant future, what color would you recommend? Navy or Black?

I suggest Navy first then get a Black if you wish. It depends a lot on your association, too. If you do FED games here in CT, we have to stay on the Navy side per the State Board.

Originally Posted by bossman72

Also, if you wear your plate coat, does that force your partner to wear the same color on the bases? In that case, i guess i should get navy since that's what everyone has.

Your partner(s) can wear anything they want. The color of the plate coat has no bearing. I only own a Navy coat and many times (after FED season) my partners wear black or cream on the bases.

Now Tim C. will chime in and tell you that a Black coat would be better in that situation and he would be absolutely right. I just am not investing in another coat any more!

[Rcichon]

The Colt is Old School....you start with a bigger hole. In terms of causing leaks, bigger is better.

[nickrego]

Why in the world umpires don't wear a shirt over their CP when wearing a Plate Coat, I'll never understand ?

Isn't wearing a Coat, like dressing up for a formal occasion ?

So why look like a slob, with your equipment hanging out ?

Or is it the only chance we get to show off our equipment logo ? See, mine cost more than yours !

If we want our equipment to show, shouldn't we leave our fly un-zipped instead ?

Whenever I wear a jacket or coat, I always wear a standard shirt over my CP. Just like when I wear a Coat and Tie (collared shirt over my chest).

If for no other reason, what if I have to remove my jacket or coat ? I'm not going to work the game in my Intera-wear and CP only. Wear I live, the weather can change 20+ degrees during a game. Especially morning games. Starts out cold, then hits 80 degrees by the 6th inning.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by nickrego

Why in the world umpires don't wear a shirt over their CP when wearing a Plate Coat, I'll never understand ?

Isn't wearing a Coat, like dressing up for a formal occasion ?

So why look like a slob, with your equipment hanging out ?

Or is it the only chance we get to show off our equipment logo ? See, mine cost more than yours !

If we want our equipment to show, shouldn't we leave our fly un-zipped instead ?

Whenever I wear a jacket or coat, I always wear a standard shirt over my CP. Just like when I wear a Coat and Tie (collared shirt over my chest).

If for no other reason, what if I have to remove my jacket or coat ? I'm not going to work the game in my Intera-wear and CP only. Wear I live, the weather can change 20+ degrees during a game. Especially morning games. Starts out cold, then hits 80 degrees by the 6th inning.

Aw, come on Nick. The coat over the bare protector is the way it has always been done from MLB on down since the advent of the inside protector. If you start a ball game with your plate coat or jacket, finish the game with it on. What, do you wear a chest protector under your shirt and tie when dressing up, too? Your analogy is pretty weak here, I'm afraid. Also, comparing it to your fly being open is just plain ridiculous, don't you think?

Lee Weyer, God rest his soul, wore a cool, white chest protector with his plate coat, and it looked damn sharp, IMO. Joe West cuts a nice look in his as well. I think it looks totally b*tchin that way, myself.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by nickrego

Why in the world umpires don't wear a shirt over their CP when wearing a Plate Coat, I'll never understand ?

Isn't wearing a Coat, like dressing up for a formal occasion ?

So why look like a slob, with your equipment hanging out ?

Or is it the only chance we get to show off our equipment logo ? See, mine cost more than yours !

If we want our equipment to show, shouldn't we leave our fly un-zipped instead ?

Whenever I wear a jacket or coat, I always wear a standard shirt over my CP. Just like when I wear a Coat and Tie (collared shirt over my chest).

If for no other reason, what if I have to remove my jacket or coat ? I'm not going to work the game in my Intera-wear and CP only. Wear I live, the weather can change 20+ degrees during a game. Especially morning games. Starts out cold, then hits 80 degrees by the 6th inning.

Your point is well taken - back in MLB history. At one time, all the umpires (even the PU) wore a shirt, bow tie and a coat at every position. When the PU's were using the "raft", there was no problem. But once the NL went to the inside protector, they found that it was very uncomfortable to wear a shirt over the protector and a bow tie. They tried a shirt over the protector bot fully buttoned and open collared - both ways looked "un-presentable" according to the NL supervisor. They decided to remove the shirt and just use the protector and the coat. That style was immediately accepted both by the umpires and management of in the NL. When the AL went tot he inside protector, there was no question. Trust me, Nick, it looks stupid wearing a shirt over the protector when you are wearing a plate coat. And SanDiegoSteve is 100% correct in that if you start the game with it on, you finish the game with it on (with the only exception being gloves).