Do the participants really care how we are dressed

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

Hi all:
Do the participants really care how we are dressed ?

Pete Booth

In a word, yes.

Years ago I was discussing this with a D-iii skipper. He made this observation:

"I have seen a few sh!tty umpires come out looking like top flight umpires, but I have never seen real top flight umpires come out looking like sh!tty umpires."

[justanotherblue]

I recently had the opportunity to watch my fearless Commissioner work a Dimaggio championship game. He was U1, wearing shorts, with white socks, his partner behind the plate was properly dressed. Both had different powder blue shirts on. Mr. Commissioner had the powder with navy/white piping, the plate umpire was wearing the powder with black. The comments ran from, "these guys are a joke", to "these guys don't care about the game", to "these guys are clowns". And they were putting on a show for the crowd. The plate umpire engaged the crowd several times, as U1 was OOO, with his mechanics and game managment. To the degree of having more comments from the crowd saying how they think the game is about them. I had worked multiple games for both of these teams, and I was un-recognized as an official. As I was talking to another official whose son was playing, and another players father who made these comments. I take that as a compliment to not be recognized as an official. So does appearance matter, I guess it's just how you want to be perceived.

Overall, It's a matter of respect.

It's respect for the game, there is no reason or excuse to show up with a mustard, dirt and sweat stained shirt, that hasn't seen a washing machine all season.

It's respect for the league your representing.

Most importantly it's respect for yourself.

You can be an average at best umpire, there isn't any reason not to have over all respect for the game, league and especially yourself. Coach's can see if your out there working hard, trying to get into position to make the correct call. They can tell if your out there attending clinics and at least trying to improve yourself. They can and will argue just about anything that happens on the field, fighting for their team. It's your actions that will take away that respect, why take it away before the first pitch with your appearance.

[piaa_ump]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

In a word, yes.

Years ago I was discussing this with a D-iii skipper. He made this observation:

"I have seen a few sh!tty umpires come out looking like top flight umpires, but I have never seen real top flight umpires come out looking like sh!tty umpires."

I took this thought to heart...I applied this to my 2 associations....man by man with my regular partner and our assignor...The 3 of us went down the roster and almost to a man we agreed that the umpires that are consistently rated as the best are also the better dressed umpires...

The only few (3) exceptions were very senior umpires who have allowed thier uniforms standards to lag as they transistion out ...

[Emperor Ump]

Originally Posted by piaa_ump

I took this thought to heart...I applied this to my 2 associations....man by man with my regular partner and our assignor...The 3 of us went down the roster and almost to a man we agreed that the umpires that are consistently rated as the best are also the better dressed umpires...

The only few (3) exceptions were very senior umpires who have allowed thier uniforms standards to lag as they transistion out ...

This is a great point...

It goes to pride. Those who take pride in their work are going to dress better, work harder on their mechanics, study the rules more in depth and therefore be better umpires.

Back to the original post do the participants care? I believe yes, to a lesser extent than other umpires, but they do still care. Maybe in my area and it sounds like in SoCal too (based on SDS & Kyles comments) the expectation has been set and the participants and parents know what an umpire should look like. I do also agree that they will probably be able to set aside their prejudices once an umpire demonstrates his ability, for better or worse.

[PeteBooth]

Originally Posted by Emperor Ump

This is a great point...

It goes to pride. Those who take pride in their work are going to dress better, work harder on their mechanics, study the rules more in depth and therefore be better umpires.

Back to the original post do the participants care? I believe yes, to a lesser extent than other umpires, but they do still care. Maybe in my area and it sounds like in SoCal too (based on SDS & Kyles comments) the expectation has been set and the participants and parents know what an umpire should look like. I do also agree that they will probably be able to set aside their prejudices once an umpire demonstrates his ability, for better or worse.

IMO, Tee's response sums it up best

"I am only saying that a well dressed umpire will normally command a certain amount of respect UNTIL THE FIRST MISSED PITCH OR CLOSE CALL ON THE BASES!"

IMO, it's like many things in life.

When we played and had to pick players that we have not seen before etc. we picked those players based upon how they dressed meaning did they look like a ball player or an athlete because that's all we had to go on, however,

Once we saw them play if they were good they could come to the next game "naked" for all we cared

We all come from different parts of the country and YES it's been known that a well dressed umpire will command a certain amount of respect etc. however, once the game begins the coach inevitably wll be concerned with the following:

1. Positioning of the umpire crew.
2. PU's consistency calling balls / strikes
3. Umpire teammwork meaning does the PU bust his but covering third base when needed.
4. Overall hustle of the umpiring crew and perhaps one of the most important
5. Umpire demeanor.

Now if the umpires in addition to looking bad also call a horrible game then I agree the first words from the coaches would be based upon dress and then get into all the other stuff.

I have umpired games when I didn't have my apparel because of emergencies etc. Ultimately how I called the game was how I was judged.

I dress appropriately becasue of pride just like when I go to work and also as many of us - To remain in good standing with our various umpire associations. BUT

Suppose we were independent meaning had no association to report to so to speak and no mandates on dress code what would happen.

The umpires who indeed dressed the best would most likely get the first assignments however, after the "dust settled" those umpires who were qualified would start getting the bulk of the work.

Not a bad topic when things are as slow as they have been.

Pete Booth