Official's Choice Shirts
 

Check out this Official's Choice black shirt:

http://www.theofficialschoice.com/im...061_edited.JPG

The piping is thick, rather than the pinstripe that it's supposed to have. Their first run of shirts had a slightly thicker-than-standard stripe and it was passable, but these are twice as thick as the first one, and distinctly non-standard.

This matters to one assignor around here, but does it matter to you if your shirt doesn't match your partner's, even though it's the same color?

The Official's Choice guy said that he's going to change the way umpires dress one umpire at a time. I wonder if he changed that first umpire yet.

It doesn't matter to me (within the realm of which you are speaking).

If I had a partner wearing that I don't think I'd mind. I did see the post you made on another site about the e-mail you got back when you wrote to the owner about the stripes. I got a good laugh out of it.

I wouldn't have the shirt pictured anyway, since I bought two OC shirts last year and thought they were just all right, but not as good as Honig's IMO.

The quality is not as good. Cut a little big. Not bad to have a couple of the colors you dont wear everyday and good for first year guys not trying to spend a fortune.
The size of the stripes isint as big a deal as the MLB powder blue with black collar. The blue is a complete different color from other manuf. I had to buy 1 OC and 1 from another manuf. so I would match my partner(s)

I actually would mind if the trim of my partners shirt was not the same as mine if it was noticeably different. Now I'm not going to go booger picking either. I had no problems a few years ago when the Honigs shirts had different trim.

The only good thing about Officials Choice:

http://www.theofficialschoice.com/Pr...es/winter1.jpg
http://www.theofficialschoice.com/Pr...on%20Large.jpg
http://www.theofficialschoice.com/Pr...te%20Large.jpg

Where else can you find a gray, maroon, or chocolate shirt? If you want to try something different, these are some inexpensive offers. Other than that, their stuff isn't worth the $12.

This about nails it.

And as for their foray into the invention of alternative colors aimed at changing the industry one umpire at a time: The white with the black collar, okay; the maroon with the black collar, within sight of okay; the chocolate brown is ... well, not okay.

Back a couple of seasons ago, I was in the market for some new powder blue shirts. Decided to try the Officials Choice brand to save a few bucks (my old shirts were Cliff Keen).

My impressions:

- There is a definite "open weave" to the fabric. I guess that might be a bonus on a very hot day, but it wasn't what I was expecting. By "open weave", I mean that if you're wearing an undershirt with any type of logo on it, the logo is totally readable through the Officials Choice shirt. Same with a chest protector- every logo, pad, plate, buckle and strap can be made out right through the fabric.

Perhaps that is less of an issue with a darker colored shirt, or when the shirt is viewed from a distance.

- The light blue buttons on the shirt turned that funky "pinkish/purplely" color after a few washings. I will likely wind up replacing these buttons myself.

- The stitching around the button holes seemed to unravel and fray a bit. I found myself clipping off loose threads fairly often and this area of the shirt is looking kind of worn.

- The sizing is generous. My XL shirts were roomier than any XL shirt I've had from other brands.

- The "see through" effect, faded buttons and button hole stitching aside, these shirts are quite comfortable. As for durability, the rest of the shirt- collar, sleeves, body, pocket, seams, etc.- has held up well, with no noticable wear or damage.

Would I order these shirts again? I'm kind of on the fence. Considering the cheap price, probably, just to get a shirt color that I wouldn't use too often, or to have some back-ups for summer when I'm working tons of league games night-after-night.

I did get the white /black collar, $12.50 I like it. I hope some other guys in my assoc. buy one.

Okay, we got that. ;)

I bought a powder blue long sleeve and short sleeve and wore each once last spring. The short sleeve has the material BretMan described, which also surprised me. My long sleeve was a different material, with no holes. The issue with that one was that after one plate game I had some snags along the sides, I think from the straps on my chest protector. That hasn't happened with any of my Honig's shirts.

They started making their shirts with the stuff that snags that you described. Then they went to that loose see-through weave that Bret described. The second generation looks terrible with virtually any undershirt--especially in the lighter colors. The first generation fabric is softer and more comfortable and just as lightweight, but snags like that with very little use. At $12.00 or $15.00, I bought back-ups while they were still made of that first generation weave. I only got stuck with the MLB polo blue in the newer fabric. Check that: I got the white with the black collar, but it can't be worn with a black undershirt. I got it for one of those 105 degree games they have here in the valley. I even got an extra for partner loaner.

Cliff Keen's not the answer--not as comfortable as these, especially in hot weather. But they last longer, as do the Honig's. I rotate so many shirts, and wash them so delicately that they always look sharp and seem to last a long time. But if all I used was the Official's Choice, I'd be pretty pissed off at all the inconsistency and how they and the company perform.

I have to agree with everyone here. We wear black under both black and MLB polo, so the open weave on the black shirts is not an issue (Other than the wider striping).

The MLB polo is a different story: I ordered a couple as spares for tournament time last summer and really do not like the change. Keeping them as spares and ordering more shirts from Honigs.

Shame, as I like the light weight for our six months of hot weather.

Why that double-posted, I don't know...but I do hate double posts.

One of them shall die!

I hope that I helped.

If you sew an orange VT on the maroon shirt it makes a good golf shirt.

Their gray shirt is more of a blue/gray than the gray shirt by Dalco and the quality is not nearly as good as the Dalco.

As for chocolate? I would not be caught dead on a baseball field wearing a crap colored shirt.

I have the 2nd generation gray. A couple of partners called for it and I had it. I actually like it--at least better than powder blue.

Thanks for the tip. Now I know only to order the maroon and the chocolate.

I have one as well (received it when working a tournament). I also have the Dalco gray shirt. Both look decent with heather gray pants and it's a different look for summer ball. There is a difference in quality - the Dalco is a superior shirt.

Whatever you do, do not order a cream shirt from theofficialschoice.com. They should call the color "puke" instead of cream. It's terrible.

I call it "hurl."

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.

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.

So when ....
 

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.

Are you anywhere near Marin County?

Hour and a half. I am in Sac.

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.

Got friends there, too.

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!

You do not have any of the shirts made from the second generation fabric if you can't see or tell the difference. The first generation I was thrilled with--especially for the price. I rotate like you and I won't wear out my stock of shirts for many years. The second generation is the one with all the quality and consistency problems.

Interesting site at today's clinic in Los Angeles: No less than three guys trying to unload their hideous Official's Choice cream shirts--the absolute worst-looking cream umpire's shirt ever manufactured. The wide stripes look even more ridiculous on these things than they do on the black--far more.

And your contact with the company sure beats mine. I encountered the most arrogant, unprofessional and out-of-touch supplier in the entire umpire gear industry.

This is how the owner responded to my question about whether his black shirt was going to return to the industry-standard design. (I didn't even address the hideous cream shirts. I mean, these things are downright laughable.):

Hello Kevin Finnerty,

I am sorry I think we will not be able to accommodate you and your shirt needs.

Our company is CHANGING one umpire at a time and will continue to change the way the umpire industry is outfitted. The BLACK shirt with the wider WHITE stripe is the way it is by design, and this color is the most popular shirt in our line. The reason is you can see our WHITE stripes clear. The reasons why the competition made the stripes thin I don't understand and is very unfortunate. But it is either just to copy the MLB Umpire shirt and/or the most likely reason is because they may not understand fabric and/or design. My hope is they keep is the same way as they do today.

The competition (industry standards) are/will continue to move to our design of The Officials Choice, Inc. referee and umpire shirts. More and more satisfied people from coast to coast buy and wear the BEST shirts on the market made by The Official's Choice, Inc.

Forward me the email of your group President and/or group Assignor and we
will be glad to send them a sample to compare side-by-side with the competitions thin stripe black shirt. After they show your entire group I am sure the overwhelming response of the group will be to convert to our shirt.



"... You can see our white stripes clear."

Suggestion to owner guy: Secretary

I will never wear shirts from this supplier, ever.

This brings to mind the saying "you are not bigger than the game".

Well said by a man with a clear belief in and healthy respect for the baseball gods.

That's the letter I saw on the other board.

Man, that's funny.

Isn't that something, Seth? Incredible, really.

Contrast that guy's attitude with that of Rex's at Between The Lines, Jim at ump-attire or Mike at Purchase Officials Supplies. Good grief!

Rex is by far my favorite supplier. A tremendous selection when compared to the competition.

Or perhaps English 110.:rolleyes:

Steve -- keep up the good work (on the weight loss).

Thanks, I'm going to! I should be down 50 lbs. or more total by my Saturday weigh in. I'm excited about getting my 50 lb. Nutrisystem teddy bear to go with the other four I have received already! Seems kind of hokey, but it is a motivator for me, so what the heck.

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...oSteve/50m.gif

Just remember, its not what you weigh, its how you play! Or, put another way (in a more fitness minded context) body weight varies due to muscle size, not necessarily amount of unhealthy fat. I recommend you get on a weight/resistance training program (if you aren't already) and then at some point, not worry about the weight but rather the fat loss. If you wear a 48 jacket and size 34 pants, who cares what your weight is (except the insurance company, but that's a different issue).

A weight loss quest is a refocusing on an area that got out of focus. It is a remarkable achievement that opens the door to other monumental achievements by bringing about a mental and physical balance that a person needs to perform at their best at whatever they do. Many people overlook what a wonderful thing it does to the mind when the body improves.

Steve's a good example for everyone, and I am sure everyone pulls hard that he continues his quest with aplomb.