Honig's Shirts - CWS
 

Anybody else notice the big black patch with Honig's logo in white on the back of the polo blue shirts being worn by the CWS umpires? I thought it looked hideous and tacky. Any comments?

From what I have heard elsewhere. Honigs moved to a different manufacturer that used this "nameplate" style for the logo. I understand they have changed back to the old manufacturer but will probably not release the new shirts until all the old are gone.

As I understand it, that's the "standard" for Honig's shirts this year. They apparently went with a "cheaper" provider, and will not be having this next year.

I worked with a guy 21 w/e's ago that had one of these shirts on. He took the stitches out from the inside and you couldn't tell the patch was ever there. I know if you try that with the old shirts you will only waste a shirt.

I would prefer to not advertise for a company not paying me.

I agree... While Honigs has "OK" shirts, I'd prefer not to have their logo on my back. I can live with the Cliff Keen logo on the left sleeve. CK is small and one barely notices it. But the Honigs logo, right above my US flag doesn't look too good.

Put the flag over (covering) the logo?

Get over it. Do you pry the Cadillac, Ford, Saturn (or whatever) logo off of your car? Do you unravel the little horse on your shirts? Do you unstitch the swoosh on your shoes? We live in a capitalistic society, passive advertisements are one way of keeping costs lower.

When are they planning to implement this program?:confused::)

But would you like the logo superimposed across the trunk of your car on a rectangular black background in a hideous fashion?

I do not buy Nike, so no, I do not take the swoosh off of my shoes. I do take the Dealer sticker off of my car, and I will also remove anything that is easily removed. I agree that the subliminal advertising is here to stay, but this patch is not subtle in any way. It is very obvious and glaring, but it is also easily removed, so I will.

The white Honig's logo isnt nearly as terrible as this black patch.

Bob mentioned they switched to a new manufacturer - did anybody buy these shirts and was their any difference in quality compared to their previous version?

When they first introduced the MLB logo on the back of all their caps in 1993-94, I used to pluck it off all of my caps thread-by-thread. Some of the alternate fitted caps now come with a cheesy New Era logo on the side. I pluck those out too, although I have taken to leaving the MLB logo on the back now.

As for Honig's shirts: They're not very cool or comfortable; they're overpriced; they have sizing issues. Why should we even bother with them--especially if they're now making them more cheaply?

Has anyone tried these?

Cliff Keen U126-MXS Loose-fit Performance Umpire Shirt

http://www.lestersupstatesports.com/files/t_261_01.jpg

Lesters Upstate Sports :: Baseball & Softball :: Shirts & Numbers :: **NEW**Cliff Keen U126-MXS Umpire Shirt MXS Loose-fit Performance fabric

If these are anywhere near the quality of the other Cliff Keen shirts I own, I'm sure they are just great. Love me some Cliff Keen shirts!:)

What do you wear? CK?

And the CK logo is easily removable, as I have done on all my shirts.

Absolutely. The color holds up better, and they are more comfortable. I still have two navy and one powder shirts I got from them in 1998, and the navy ones are still my regular-use navy shirts. The only reason I have a Honig's shirt is because CK had a little boo-boo on their MLB blue shirts and I needed one in a hurry to match my partner.

I have been told by an MiLB friend of mine that the new shirts they were issued this year are a softer, stretchier material (more comfortable for those who choose to not wear an undershirt), but they are cut larger. His large from the previous season fits perfectly, but the large this season is too big, so keep that in mind if you order a new one this year. Also, there is no black logo patch on the navy blue shirts, just in case that hadn't been made clear previously.

I bought a light blue long sleeve and a polo blue and they both had the patch logo, but I didn't notice anything different about the material. I realized I could probably take the patch off if I wanted to, and I'm thinking about doing it. I like Honig's shirts, but it seems everyone has a preference.

I own two of these, one in navy and the other in powder blue. They are surprisingly light (perfect for hot days since about half our HS chapter doesn't own powder blue) but are really prone to wrinkling because of the nature of the "performance" fabric. If you're used to folding shirts neatly and putting them in your equipment bag, you'll pull out a giant wrinkle; these seem to work lots better on hangers.

My biggest issue with them is that the powder shirt has two giant worn spots in the front where it rubs against the clips on my chest protector, and it's probably only been worn four times. The material has frayed and nearly come unraveled and if I were to wear that shirt on the bases it'd be really obvious. I haven't worn the navy shirt on the plate yet and it is in good shape after a half-dozen or so washings.

That said, I've never had anything but good dealings with Lester's, I used to make the trip every other year to stock up when I lived in western NY.

I worked with someone this weekend who was wearing the CK version of "polo" (or "MLB") blue. He said it was a new shirt. It wasn't the right color. It was more like the old powder blue, but also seemed to have a "greenish" tint to it (I dodn't have any of the powder blue shirts with me to compare).

[QUOTE=BaBa Booey;606332]I have been told by an MiLB friend of mine that the new shirts they were issued this year are a softer, stretchier material (more comfortable for those who choose to not wear an undershirt),

These two items don't seem to go together.

Laundry problem causing the off-color?

Doubtful.

have to look at those, CK always has a nice shirt.

And Lester's is great to work with also.

Thansk
David

The old CK shirts were way too thick. I used to wear them until I fell in love with the Honig's shirts a few years ago.

I don't like the patch on the back, but I like the shirts otherwise. I'm a creature of habit. I buy Honig's for baseball, football knickers, and basketball pants. I buy the Smitty striped shirts.

As far as Honig's sizes go, I can't really tell cause I've lost a fair amount of weight since last season. I do know that I'm a 44 suit coat (bought one last week) and a L shirt on the bases fits just fine (XL on the plate). This is in contrast to their online sizing guide, BTW.

Same experience here. I have older shirts by CK and Majestic that are just to heavy. I don't like the material on either of them and I've been happy with Honigs over the years. I am open to trying the CK again if they've changed.

I like the feel of the CK micro mesh football shirts but the black has lost some of its crispness. It's really apparent when you see it hanging next to one of my shirts from Honigs.

I guess everyone has different tastes, but I like the thickness of those shirts, and I especially like the stretchyness, or "give" that they have. Almost like the old "Ban-Lon" material that polo style shirts used to feature back in the day.

I also have a Logo Athletic navy blue shirt that is still in good shape, as well as a +POS micro-mesh navy blue in great shape. I can now fit into them again as base shirts, and by next season should be able to use them both for the plate! Like the Wicked Witch once said, "I'm melting!"

I wear (have worn) several different brands in many colors: Honig's, PlusPOS, Dalco, Majestic, Smitty's, Logo, Cliff Keen, Cliff Keen-Gerry Davis, Official's Choice. I constantly rotate, so they never really get worn out or faded. I try a lot of brands, but no one brand is really exceptional--even the high-priced ones like Honig's and Cliff Keen. I haven't tried the new Ump-Attire brand, because I don't need any more navy shirts. (I'll get yet another black one when they start making them.)

I can say that the shirt with the most uncomfortable fabric and the shoddiest workmanship is the Gerry Davis Signature shirt made by Cliff Keen. The regular Cliff Keen is a good (not great) shirt, but not at its inflated price. The GD version is dreadful. I won't even give it away; it just sits on a shelf. I can't believe CK put their name and logo on it. (Gerry Davis, I can believe.)

Comfort really depends on the weather. If it's over 100 degrees, the thinnest, lightest one is the most comfortable. But overall, the most comfortable, durable and best performing shirt is probably Smitty's or Majestic. The Smitty's is a little thinner than the Majestic, but not as thin as Official's Choice or Dalco, which is what you wear when it's really hot. And it's a better value. Official's Choice shirts of several years ago had a different fabric than the see-through fabric that they now produce. I had navy, cream and powder in the early-issue fabric and they are okay to wear in the heat. But I wouldn't go near anything Official's Choice made in the last two years (non-standard colors and trim styles, in addition to that awful see-through fabric.) But if I get stuck wearing powder or cream, I wear those. I prefer gray or MLB polo blue in the heat, and I have those colors in Dalco, Smitty's or PlusPOS (which is another favorite).

I have fun with all the brands and colors. I like to match no matter what color is called for. I like to have a clean shirt no matter how many games I work in a week, and I like to have a nice, crisp, new-looking shirt no matter what. Also, some of the assignments require shirts without patches, so I have sets of black and MLB blue with and without patches. It's worth a few extra bucks to have plenty of shirts, and it's also worth it to have each color in two sizes for plate and base work.

This is hilarious. It's part of the latest Official's Choice semi-coherent email campaign:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...rkguy/1-OC.jpg

Well then, it's settled. If Steve (not to be confused with SDS) said it, it's got to be true. Where can I get me some of those maroon shirts? Do they come with a matching ball bag?

Damn, they misquoted me again! That's the last testimonial I ever give THIS place!!!:rolleyes:

and another
 

who can forget the popular Chocolate colored :confused: shirt from last year.............

I never got one ... because they refused to offer matching chocolate brown ball bags.

Well I can't seem to get enough out of my Elbeco shirts. Color is good and nice fabric too.

I just bought a couple of the Smitty's Comfortech shirts (1 white, 1 Polo--Jayhawk League started using the white last year) and got them in the other day. I really like the color and the "feel" of the shirts. Plus, Purchase Officials has them buy one at 24, get another for 16 bucks. Looking forward to getting them on the field tomorrow night. Sizing feels just like my Honig's shirts.

My cream shirts are Smitty. I really like them. They aren't quite as roomy as my Dalco shirts, but they are still nice. The material is nicer than the Dalco material. I need to get gray for my next color, and I'll get Smitty.

They are definitely a good value and have a comfortable feel, but they are sized a bit more generously than Honig's, and the fabric is more forgiving.

Does anyone know if Honigs has gone back to the old style logo on the back without the patch? Anyone ordered a shirt from them recently?

I am looking at buying new shirts for the 2010 season, so I am seeing the different views and opinions about the umpire shirts.

As of right now, I am seeing that shirts offered by Cliff Keen and Smitty are the best shirts to buy right now. If anyone has another distributor that they really like, please chime in.

Btl
 

I really like the Dalco shirts. Got a red one (I know, I know. I use the "off" colors to check out new shirts and then when I like them I will get the "uni-colors.") last year and it was great. I like to go through Between The Lines Officials Gear. Rex is great, I was getting the shirt for 1 league, but they are the supplier for another league, and I still got a referral discount. My other association is going to pair with him in the future. BTL also does numbers, both sizes, which is nice.

Best combination of value, comfort, sizing and price in the medium-weight fabric: Smitty

Best quality and durability in the medium-weight fabric, but undersized and pricey: Honig's

Very good lightweight pinhole mesh shirt: Dalco

Another quality medium-weight shirt, but very pricey: PlusPOS (what you can find of them)

Yet another very pricey quality shirt: Cliff Keen (however, their Gerry Davis Signature line is an awful shirt at any price.)

Jock-sniffer's choice: Majestic

Ump-Attire's line is well-received, but I haven't tried one yet

But the main thing is to not get sucked into buying any of those ridiculous, non-standard Official's Choice shirts. They are routinely an off-color shade, or sport non-standard trim patterns. (I think that when you consider that they make red ball bags, it's a questionable operation at the least.)

Unless CK changed their fabric...they're brutal if it's hot outside

Correct. And Honig's are similar.

The Smitty's--as far as the closed mesh ones go--has the most breathable and forgiving fabric.

If the Smitty shirts are anywhere near the quality of their pants, I will be stocking up on a few colors. I love the pants Purchase Officials has the best prices that I've seen for both the Smitty pants and shirts.

And in case anybody hasn't already heard this, Ump-Attire has the Reebok low-cut plate shoes on sale right now for $69.99. They are making room for the new improved model.

I really like Smitty's shirts. The large fits great over my CP. The only problem is that the medium is just a bit small for the bases. Maybe I'll start using a large for both if I get more of them.

My black Dalco shirt was torn last weekend. A ball hit the shirt where the clip is on the CP.

I'm going to get either the Honigs or Smitty to replace it.

Smitty's is the only brand that I have tried that doesn't require me to wear two sizes. I still do mostly, but in a couple of the colors that I had to put patches on, I only wear an XL, and it's not too loose on the bases, or too tight around the CP. The fabric is very comfortable and forgiving.

With most brands that are seriously oversized, I wear a L on the bases and a XL at the plate. The Smitty's are only slightly oversized, so I go XL and XXL. But like I said, I can get away with just the XL in that particular brand.

Well, based on the posts I have read so far it looks the Smitty shirts or Cliff Keen shirts are the best ones out there right now.

I bought a Smitty to replace my shirt that was torn a couple of weeks ago. They're my favorite at this point.

My gray and black Smitty shirts should arrive today, and also my new Reebok plate shoes. I can't wait to try them out this weekend.

I have always bought from Honigs and Gerry Davis. Maybe because I haven't found anywhere else who provides the level of service that they do? I have personal contacts at both and feel very secure in what they offer. The only exception was buying my plate and base shoes direct from New Balance.

Ump-Attire and Between the Lines are both very good as well.

I ordered my shoes and hats from Ump-Attire on Monday and they arrived today. I also ordered my shirts from Purchase Officials on Monday, and they also arrived today. Excellent service from both places every time I order. I have everything sent Priority Mail from the post office, which is much cheaper than UPS 2nd day air and the same delivery time.

I forgot about Purchase Officials Northeast. I also ordered a shirt from them and got it quickly. I've bought several things from them in the past, and they're top notch as well.

The Purchase Officials guy, Mike Shields, is a real pro. They have a poor web presence like Lester's, but they are very professional and reliable.

One of the main units in our area is showing signs of going to black and MLB blue at the high school level in 2010. It sounds like navy, powder and navy caps and ball bags are all finally going to be out. Also, it looks like they're thinking of relaxing the all-black shoe standard as well.

For those of us who wear black whenever allowed, it's good to see. I've also been waiting to try those Reeboks. ;)

Around here, you can pretty much wear what you want in the spring as long as you match, but a bunch of guys either A) Don't want to buy other color shirts, B) Are too cheap to buy them, or C) Don't know anything besides navy and powder blue (softball blue) exist. It's kind of frustrating when you have to wear navy all the time.

:D ... It's that way here, too. And it goes just like you described about the default colors---A, B and C. One of the reasons I carry two of every color is so I have a plate size and a base size. But another reason is so that a partner can borrow one and we can wear the color I prefer (black or gray). But the new regulations---if they go into effect---will just eliminate navy and powder as the default color scheme (along with the navy ball bags and cap).

Funny story about uniforms and the all-black shoe debate...

A fellow umpire was selected to work the Final Four for the state tournament, which is held locally. The state office told the umpires working these games that they need to wear all black shoes, so my friend couldn't wear his Reebok base shoes, and instead wears some all black basketball referee shoes. So I'm looking at a photo album online from the state championships. In one of the pictures of the umpires, the three guys (Not the crew my friend was on) are wearing three different styles of navy jackets. One with the red/white stripes, one with the powder stripes, and one that's all navy.

I want to know who the guy is at the state level who is an all black shoe Nazi but will let three guys walk on the field for a state championship game in three different jackets.

I always just go with what is preferred by leadership. They want creased caps and all-black shoes, that's what I wear. I just hope they relax the all-black shoe thng so we can all try the Reeboks.

I was at one of the California League play-off games in San Jose this year and the plate guy was wearing a Navy shirt and the base guys were wearing the black smocks. I thought they looked awful. Called a great game though, IMHO.

I think black jackets are okay with black or MLB blue shirts, but would look awful with navy.