Balloon Chest Protector - Outside Protector

[jicecone]

Absolutely the best for youth games and hot days. Throw out the different color shirts, the whatevergrey color pants, 2 stich, 4 stich, 6 stich a dollar hats and just do it with the balloon, shorts and hat on backwards with a mask. Now thats umpiring. I like it, go for it.

For years, I have said that the field umpires should be allowed to wear shorts during the hot weather but, we still have too many officials that get the word "professionalism" confused with "style."

So go for it for youth games but, don't forget to tuck your jacket in your pants because then you'll be "cool."

Oh , they are really not hard to use, put your arms in the straps and protect yourself.

Have fun.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I used to borrow my assignor's old foam rubber-filled outside protector to do a certain brutal Sr. Little League triple-header on some Saturdays (I was the only sucker, er, umpire that would help him out and do the league--I must like him a lot!). I would just hide back there behind the catcher and call it American League over the top style as at least 20-25 balls would hit me every Saturday like clockwork. I did this for 5 straight weeks. I should have gotten a Purple Heart or something!