Official's Choice Shirts

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

And the hurl-colored shirt's made of that see-through fabric, so your black undershirt bleeds through. How could they be this out of touch with the industry that they serve? I can't believe this company lasted this long. At first, they had a low-cost, decent product, with minor quality concerns and now they have shirts that you can't even buy because they're not even regulation shirts, or they look wrong when you wear a regulation color undershirt ... or both!

Their cream shirt is a different shade of cream but other than that the OC shirts match just fine with other brands. The trim on the black shirts is a little thicker but it is not a big enough difference that any of the participants will notice, and if they did notice I am sure they would not care at all. You are making a big deal out of nothing.

Stop worrying about the undershirt. Unless it has big words across the chest it will look fine. There are prominent posters on this forum who use OC shirts for basketball and/or football and have never complained about the undershirt showing through.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I'm sorry, but with all due respect, it may not matter to you, but it is a matter of concern to others. The black shirt was rejected for use by one assignor, and another hinted that I should not try to wear it. So I gave it away to my dad, who wears it to jazz clubs and the senior center. And to a great many other umpires, having a non-standard color or trim pattern does indeed make a difference if both or all umpires don't match. And in the case of the Official's Choice black, cream and MLB light blue, they don't match any other shirt in the entire industry.

This particular company has tried to make its way in an arrogant and non-standard fashion. If it doesn't matter to you, wear shirts that don't match your partner(s). I'm with the other faction, of which there are a great many members. (But in my outside life, I couldn't care less about such minute details.)

I've had some experience with this company--both with its products and with some personal communications--and I think it's only fair to warn everybody and give them the benefit of my experiences. They have chosen their path and it is now fraught with major problems of their own creation. They have a very arrogant approach, as opposed to the pliant, humble approach of guys like Jim Kirk (ump-attire.com) or Rex Mehrhoff (Between The Lines). The Official's Choice's price is unbeatable, but their quality, consistency, availability, reliability, marketing approach and professionalism are all routinely outdone by most of the other offerings in this industry. Cost isn't everything if you can't use it, or have to replace it, or look ridiculous wearing it.

[Durham]

When are you guys gonna start talking about umpiring, so I can lurk and read and get my mind wrapped around the trade of umpiring? BTW, just got back 12 of my 20 new shirts from the seamstress and they look great with the patches sewn on. No more tape. The shirts are honigs and i like the new little tags they put on the back.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Are you anywhere near Marin County?

[Durham]

Hour and a half. I am in Sac.

[tip184]

The powder blue shirt they have is actually a "fake" powder blue- it's more of a hybrid between navy and powder. The shirt pockets are basically a piece of cloth on top of another rag designed to look like a shirt from a distance. Overall, the officials choice shirts are fake.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Durham

Hour and a half. I am in Sac.

Got friends there, too.

[heykid41]

Up in my neck of the woods, what I wear is up to me and whoever I'm doing the game with. Trust me - I've bought most colours available it seems. I have several of the Officials Choice shirts and really like them. I am not made of money, but the truth is, I have enough shirts so that any given shirt is used less than 10 times a year. I won't be wearing any out, that is for sure. I don't have a tremendously critical eye for shades of colour, and again... I ALWAYS have the exact shirt as my partner. As for trim which is thicker, and so on... nobody worries about the minutiae - as long as both umpires are the same.

Of course, I have the benefit of NOT having someone breathing down my throat telling me what I can and cannot wear. As for The Officials Choice, my dealings there have been stellar. And from a quality and price point of view - they get my cash. I just got one of the jackets and they are terrific.

One thing - I have, in my hands, a Honigs navy and an OC navy and... I cannot see, feel or even guess at what the difference is and, absent a label... would not be able to tell one from the other.

Just an opinion from a guy who has some shirts - has had several dealings with the company and has nothing bad, and in fact, only good things to say.

Cheers... bring on the spring!