Official's Choice Shirts

[Kevin Finnerty]

Check out this Official's Choice black shirt:



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.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

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?

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

[SethPDX]

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.

[JR12]

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)

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by JR12

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.

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.

[BretMan]

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.

[JR12]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

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.

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

[Kevin Finnerty]

Okay, we got that.

[Emperor Ump]

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.

[tip184]

The only good thing about Officials Choice:





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.

[Delaware Blue]

Originally Posted by tip184

Where else can you find a gray, maroon, or chocolate shirt? ...

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.

[Kevin Finnerty]

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.

[Delaware Blue]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

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.

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.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I call it "hurl."

[tip184]

Originally Posted by Delaware Blue

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.

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