Would you take the field with this guy?

[MikeStrybel]

This thread reminds of the movie "Dumb and Dumber" when the guy appears on the slopes wearing racing apparel. I've worked with a few guys who had all the latest gear, carried it in an MLB roller, possessed a library of JEAPU-J/R-Carl C. books and looked like they stepped out of a 'how to make an umpire' factory. Their gear betrayed their talent and it wasn't fun to see them berated by coaches, players or fans.

I'll take talent over appearance any day. Still, those who write how they would encourage a post game or private phone call to promote a more professional look are on target. Constructive criticism is par and parcel of post game.

[Rita C]

I have two experiences.

One day I was to work a game with a young man, 17. As we left his house, his dad asked him if he had all that he needed. He said he did, in the annoyed manner of teenagers. When we arrived at the site and started to dress, he let out an oath and "How does he do that!" He had forgotten his pants.

By chance, since he was a young man, I had a pair of pants that would fit him. (When I started umpiring, only men's pants were available.) They only just fit him. He did a quality job on the plate, we were both complemented by the coaches on the job we did. The coaches were able to look past the uniform.

The second experience was a bit different. I arrived at a Little League game to work with a new partner. He was wearing khaki pants. His shirt hung over his pants. I asked if he wanted the plate. Sure, he let me know he had been umpiring for 30 years. He showed up on the field with shinguards on the outside and hat on backwards. (I did say something about that.) You should understand that around here, Little League umpires hold themselves to a higher uniform standard.

It wasn't how he was dressed that was the real issue. Once he learned how we try to dress a little more professionally around here, he has done the same. No, it was how he umpired. His plate conference was mainly warnings, he signaled strikes with his left hand. He overall sucked. He has repeatedly shown that he is an umpire who has had "one year experience 30 times". He has used his "30 years experience" as a hammer to show how what he thinks goes.

So it's not how my partner is dressed. It's how my partner umpires that counts.

Rita

[MrUmpire]

I have worked with umpires who wore neatly pressed new unis, looked like a million dollars and couldn't umpire worth a nickel.

However, I have never worked with, nor met, a quality umpire who looked like sh!t. I have never seen a truly good umpire who did not understand the importance of appearance.

I'll repeat my answer to the original question...would you work with this guy? Not twice.

[MikeStrybel]

My son plays 11U baseball and we've seen our share of umpires who work without mirrors. A couple days ago I saw a guy work a game in a blue polo type shirt, khakis and tennis shoes - he was in his early 50s. I was set to roll my eyes with his every call only to be pleasantly surprised. After the game I told him that he did a great job and asked if he always works in street clothes. He said that he was laid off from his job at Motorola a few months ago and has a daughter who will be attending college in the Fall. He had promised her a graduation gift and took on umpiring to pay for it. He couldn't afford to buy a uniform and this league didn't care. His equipment came out of a shared box at the field. He now has two of my shirts, ball bags, indicator and brush. I don't like working underlevel ball any more but I would work any game with that guy. He knew his stuff and his heart was in the right place. Appearance never trumps talent and spirit.

[justanotherblue]

I often work with one or two of "those guys". They live check to check, working as many games as they can get, to put food on their tables and gas in their cars. Their uniforms are rarely clean, let alone neat. One's hygene is questionable at best. When on the field they work hard, that's all one can ask. It's not that they wouldn't like new base and or plate pants, new shirts and gear, it's a financial crisis they live daily.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

I often work with one or two of "those guys". They live check to check, working as many games as they can get, to put food on their tables and gas in their cars. Their uniforms are rarely clean, let alone neat. One's hygene is questionable at best. When on the field they work hard, that's all one can ask. It's not that they wouldn't like new base and or plate pants, new shirts and gear, it's a financial crisis they live daily.

It takes only a minute to wash the dirt off the shoes from the previous game.

New uniforms? Sure, not everyone can afford those. But clean ones? I've seen guys pull pants from the trunk with a belt and ball bags still attached. No hangar, no pride.

[MikeStrybel]

Of course it's the level of ball being worked. (sigh) The problem here is some want to condemn a guy for not being them. I have worked with plenty of guys who have a clothes rod full of two of every color shirts, a variety of colored undershirts, three or four pairs of pants, four different jackets and various ball bags to match his fashion statement of the day. When on the field, fashion means little. I can just see the coach's report to the NCAA or local high school association. "Bill simply didn't have a clue outh there. He was out of position, hesitated too long on easy calls and acted too quickly on difficult ones that blew up on him. On the plus side, he looked great!"

I worked with one guy who chastised me for mixing brands in my gear. He actually had a problem with my Nike compression shirt not matching my Reebok shoes. (roll eyes and hale the fashion police)

[justanotherblue]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It takes only a minute to wash the dirt off the shoes from the previous game.

New uniforms? Sure, not everyone can afford those. But clean ones? I've seen guys pull pants from the trunk with a belt and ball bags still attached. No hangar, no pride.

I'm not saying I like or enjoy working with them, I also agree, washing machines are avaliable just about everywhere. For me it's a matter of personnal pride and more importantly, respect for the game. I don't go have an adult beverage with them after the game. My assignor is well aware of their appearance and keeps giving them games. As I said, for the most part, they work hard on the field. If I was working in a JUCO or above game, I would work the game, call my assignor and refuse to work with him again. I do agree with the upper levels, (I've done some Independent baseball), I would be hesitant to walk on the field with them. Than again, at that level, they wouldn't be there anyway, so it's a moot point.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It takes only a minute to wash the dirt off the shoes from the previous game.

New uniforms? Sure, not everyone can afford those. But clean ones? I've seen guys pull pants from the trunk with a belt and ball bags still attached. No hangar, no pride.

For my education on this subject, can you tell me if those you've seen do that were upper quality umpires?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It takes only a minute to wash the dirt off the shoes from the previous game.

New uniforms? Sure, not everyone can afford those. But clean ones? I've seen guys pull pants from the trunk with a belt and ball bags still attached. No hangar, no pride.

I started when I was in college and did not have a lot of money. Had to take a loan from my parents to buy my equipment. I did buy quality off the bat (no pun intended) and I would clean anything that was dirty or out of place. I hung up all my uniform and made sure they could last without having to wash them all the time. You do not have to have a lot of stuff to just keep it looking good. In all my sports I might go weeks without washing some of my outer uniform. Now baseball is hard to do when you can get muddy and dirty really quick. But I always shined or cleaned off my shoes and I took care of my equipment. I think some guys get away with being sloppy, but that would not fly very long here. You would stick out like a sore thumb with sweats or some wind pants.

Peace