"FED Legal" Baseballs

[Tim C]

The Oregon School Activities Association really helps officials in the State of Oregon.

The OSAA wants officials to call RULES and not be involved in administrative rulings in sports.

They have specifically told umpires not to worry about certification stamps on baseballs. The OSAA is smart enough to know that the NFHS simply charges for the logo and uses it as a revenue stream.

The OSAA wants to be "informed" of administrative issues in sports and THEY will deal with it.

Administrative items include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) Illegal Uniforms
2) Players or coaches participating in a game where they should be sitting out because of a previous ejection,
3) Players participating in too many quaters (halves) on any given day,
4) Equipment bearing NFHS logos,
5) Pitchers throwing in too many innings in a time frame,
6) Teams demanding that they are using a 10 run mercy rule (illegal in Oregon).

Ciao

[Ump153]

Tim,

You have no idea how intelligent OSAA is until you move out of the state. Especially if you move south.

[Tim C]

"I crease my caps . . . "

I cannot think of any "style" issue I hate more than creased caps.

A crease NEVER appeared in any of my caps.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Nor did any of my dozens and dozens of caps have one. I even have a couple of uncreased black six-stitches to wear when I am doing a game where it doesn't matter.

But just about every high school and college evaluator and assignor down here wants a crease. (One of them nicks you if your shirt's too baggy, or if you don't wear your belt buckle lined up with the gig line.)

But when that changes, so will my caps. And the creased ones will be in the garage along with all my other treasured souvenirs. ("Check this cap out, son; it's from back in the day when they made all us umpires crease our caps.")

[RPatrino]

Kevin is going to do what he has to do based on the requirements of his association. We all know that appearance is important, but the bottom line is the product we deliver to our customers. We all know that the coaches really don't care what an umpire looks like (within reason) as long as they are competent and hustle. The appearance thing is totally on us. I have shown up to see friends work games, and their partners flaked and they were working solo, the coaches saw me and asked me to help out, in street clothes.

Two umpires of equal ability, one looks good, the other looks bad, I pick the guy who is suited up properly. So do the rest of us.

[Kevin Finnerty]

When I was touting a partner and me to a local NCAA coach to umpire his fall ball games, part of my description of us was, " ... and, of course, we always dress the part."

It's vital to follow the appearance code. And it's pretty simple. As it is, we get to wear ballcaps, golf shirts and athletic shoes for crying out loud! It wasn't long ago that umpires were saddled with wearing a coat and tie with patent leather shoes.

The only truly good coach I ever had said it the way that made the most sense: "Don't do what's required; do your best." (I took that to mean do more than what's required.)

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Tim C

I cannot think of any "style" issue I hate more than creased caps.

A crease NEVER appeared in any of my caps.

All pro umpires crease their caps, every good umpire I've worked with has creased their caps, I have always creased my caps, even all my regular baseball-style caps for off field use. I was told many years ago that you look like you are going fox hunting if you wear your hat like Elmer Fudd, without a crease in the crown. Even Ed Montague creases his beanie.

I cannot think of many "style" issues I hate more than uncreased hats.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by sandiegosteve

all pro umpires crease their caps, every good umpire i've worked with has creased their caps, i have always creased my caps, even all my regular baseball-style caps for off field use. I was told many years ago that you look like you are going fox hunting if you wear your hat like elmer fudd, without a crease in the crown. Even ed montague creases his beanie.

I cannot think of many "style" issues i hate more than uncreased hats.

... :d

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I was told many years ago that you look like you are going fox hunting if you wear your hat like Elmer Fudd, without a crease in the crown.

I cannot think of many "style" issues I hate more than uncreased hats.

I was told many moons ago that a crease in any hat makes you look like a redneck.

BTW-Elmer Fudd was hunting wabbits.

[Chris_Hickman]

When is the FED going to make The Official's Locker Room mandatory for all HS teams?

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I was told many moons ago that a crease in any hat makes you look like a redneck.

I was told many moons ago that being from Texas makes you look like a redneck.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Chris_Hickman

When is the FED going to make The Official's Locker Room mandatory for all HS teams?

Another shameless plug courtesy of Chris Hickman Enterprises.

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

I was told many moons ago that being from Texas makes you look like a redneck.

ROTFLMAO!!!

I guess that's where I must have gotten my redneck, from being raised (my most formative years) in Texas and living so much of my life there! I guess I'll just keep on creasing my hats. At least I quit dippin' Cope and Skoal!

[RPatrino]

We don't dip in California. Unless it's in the Pacific, brrrrrr...