If I remember correctly, ITECH used to make the Gerry Davis Chest Protector and maybe even the Gerry Davis shin guards (both now made by Wilson). As far as I know, ITECH is out of the umpire equipment business - at least under their own brand name.

I found a bunch of ITECH stuff on a liquidation site two or three years ago and ordered several ITECH masks and Ump3000s for a local Little League. The ITECH Ump3000 was selling for $15 and originally had sold for as much as $85. The masks were a fairly light weight single bar with vinyl/fabric pads. They were going for $10 and probably worth three or four times that price. I remember seeing an ITECH helmet on one or two sites.

I haven't seen one since early 90's, maybe 90 or 91.

I work often with a guy who uses the Balloon
 

I have probably done 400+ games with a guy who currently wears one. He has done HS state tournament and College BB with one, even in this decade. When you see him work, you can see the holes using an outside protector cause these days in your zone, but he is pretty consistent is his zone, and does a nice job behind the plate.

Last year he got a new one. He said he was buying his last one, I guess he's retiring in the next 5 years or so. I'll miss him when he's done.

I did one game about 20 years ago with one. I remember feeling VERY safe behind it. :) But yeah, pretty hard to manage.

worked with a Smitty last week who used the raft because "it's too hot out". Also wore and HSM with it. It was a 5:45 weekday game and was perhaps 85-90 degrees at start time. Also did not have any appropriate patches on his uniform. Wp

The balloon is hard to manage but back then/when, less mobility was expected of us and less protection was expected from F2. I was watching a history of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the catchers were 1 to 2 meters behind the plate.

My goodness, no kidding, he may be one of a few left. Good for him. Where are these "holes"?

Yeah, DelBlue, I think you're right, I don't see them at Dick's or Sports Authority, etc.

I bought a bunch of there stuff two, maybe three years ago, cheap, gave it(sold for price paid) to newbie umps. Good value.

LOL :D :D Nothing like tucking the balloon under chin to feel comfy.

The inside protectors have progressed from catcher's gear to umpire specific gear. Add the HSM and you don't have too many "holes" where you can take a shot. Working umpires need to work, getting injured means no work. If you take a hit and it puts you out for a week, that could cost you $200 to $600 or more? The best equipment, regardless of whether it is an inside or outside, or HSM, is like income insurance.

Imo
 

56,

IMO,

Just from watching him and other balloon guys, I think they have a little harder time being consistent on the low pitch, and the outside low pitch in particular.

I think there are ways people try to adjust to compensate for that, but when you are working over the head or shoulder of a catcher, unless he is very, very good at framing pitches, getting a look at low strikes is harder to do than working the slot w/ an inside protector. And with other people I have seen, not my partner, their adjustments make their zone worse instead of better.

But, hey, don't get me wrong, my friend is a pretty consistent umpire, and a good friend. I trust his zone a lot more than other people I know.

I can see that issue especially if the balloon rides out from your body.

I have seen some great PU zones behind those balloons, like to think I had one, probably didn't. :eek:

But remember how the zone used to be
 

56,

Remember, in the history of Baseball the zone was much different than today. With a higher zone in Baseball for most of its history, the high strike was as important as the low strike. Now, everybody has to keep the ball down esp. w/metal bats.

Everything has adjusted to the low pitch, and the outside corner, where the Balloon has a hard time making such adjustments.

Maybe one day the balloon will rise again in some form, some way that you can deinflate and reinflate a bladder very, very quickly so you can run with it easily, and carry a mask. For protection it's a no contest for the balloon.

That's a great idea, jk, inflate/deflate. Why not?

True about the zone, it has come vertically full circle (??). In the 80s, anything at or above the belt was a "Ball". In the 90s, we had umpires like Eric Gregg calling strikes in the opposite batter's box.