Would you take the field with this guy?

[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)

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

"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!"

Part of the rating system in Missouri has coaches give scores on appearance.

[umpjong]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

When on the field, fashion means little.

You surely dont believe this? At the higher levels it means a great deal. To propose that you should only concern yourself with outs and safes is a bit short sighted.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by umpjong

You surely dont believe this? At the higher levels it means a great deal. To propose that you should only concern yourself with outs and safes is a bit short sighted.

A problem exists when we try a "one size fits all" solution. Agreed that at higher levels it means much. It can even mean getting assignments or not. But it appears that in some posters' work level there is not such an emphasis on professional appearance.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by umpjong

You surely dont believe this? At the higher levels it means a great deal. To propose that you should only concern yourself with outs and safes is a bit short sighted.

What don't I believe? Fashion is not part of the criteria with which I judge umpires. If you do, so be it. I choose to be value ability over being a model.

Read the original post again.

Would you take the field with a partner who is working the plate? His pants are obviously not plate pants. They are so tight around the legs that they barely fit over his shin guards. Because of this, his pants are about six inches too short. I was not working this game, but I was embarrassed to be watching it.

We are not talking about dusty shoes here. As I stated, I will take talent over appearance any day. This original post smacks of generalizing, arrogance and a lack of professional demeanor. I will work with whomever is assigned to that contest. I may not like them, but for a couple hours I am their best friend and support staff. How they look matters little to me, as long as they are safe and up to the job. I once worked a college game with a guy who forgot his base shoes. He worked the whole game (9 innings) in his old +POS low cuts and nailed the calls that came his way, though a step slower for certain. I have also worked games where the guy forgot to grab his plate pants before heading to work (then directly to the game) and looked like a sausage. With the crazy weather we get here, a guys may have multiple plate games in a row and in pretty ugly weather. I'll cut him some slack if he kicks packing them over a call.

In states where appearance is part of the ratings equation, he probably would suffer from those who are short sighted. Here in Illinois, high school contests are supposed to see umpires wearing navy blue shirts (or jackets)with an IHSA patch visible on the left sleeve. I see most preferring black and some don't have the patch. Amazingly, when playoff assignments come around they find their IHSA hats and shirt with patch though. Apparently, the coaches around here who rate them all year care more about quality than following official guidelines. While I would prefer them to be dressed appropriately, my partners were largely exceptional this year. That's a good trade.

[UmpJM]

Mike,

FYI, Illinois has adopted the "any color, as long as you match" by state adoption option specified in FED. At least for regular season.

The patch requirement has not been waived, though the IHSA patch looks fugly on any color other than Navy, IMO.

Black just looks "badder". Plus, it doesn't make my butt look big!

JM

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

FYI, Illinois has adopted the "any color, as long as you match" by state adoption option specified in FED. At least for regular season.

Missouri needs to take a lesson from Illinois.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by yawetag

Missouri needs to take a lesson from Illinois.

Ohio too.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by yawetag

Missouri needs to take a lesson from Illinois.

Be careful of what you wish for.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Mike,

FYI, Illinois has adopted the "any color, as long as you match" by state adoption option specified in FED. At least for regular season.

The patch requirement has not been waived, though the IHSA patch looks fugly on any color other than Navy, IMO.

Black just looks "badder". Plus, it doesn't make my butt look big!

JM

According to the IHSA Case Situation section of our site, that isn't correct.

"4/14 Umpire's uniform

Boys Baseball

Please remember that your first impression as an umpire comes from your appearance. You send a positive message regarding your professionalism when you where the appropriate uniform. This includes your IHSA officials patch or embroidery on your left sleeve of your Navy Blue shirt or pull-over. Please adhere to the uniform expectations in the officials handbook as a baseball umpire."

I spoke directly to Craig about this matter and was told in clear terms, navy blue is the official uniform for regular season baseball, as stated in the handbook. The discussion ensued after someone complained that I wore black to match my partner instead of honoring the uniform code. They sought to get me in trouble and it didn't work. It did make me more mindful of how petty some can be though. My partner didn't typically carry a navy blue shirt or jacket during regular season. The Case Situation went up on April 14 as a reminder to those who weren't following protocol.

I have never seen a black baseball umpire's shirt with IHSA patch on it. They may be out there but I haven't seen them. I do like the black, except on days like today - 92 with a heat index near 100. Light blue will do just fine when the mercury climbs, unless you are working IHSA ball, that is. I know of one guy who breaks out the balloon when it gets this hot. Good umpire, smart guy...I lost a gallon of sweat last weekend. Take it easy, JM!

[Rich]

WI is about as stubborn with the navy blue nonsense.

They say it's because they don't want people to feel they have to go out and buy new stuff to feel they need to keep up with the times. Instead, those of us that work HS and college need to maintain two complete sets of uniforms, including jackets and plate coats to be "in compliance." I love the plate coat, but I'm not buying two of them. So they'll probably get black when I buy one for next season and I'll say it's a really, really dark navy.

We are allowed to wear "light blue" so we wear either the polo blue / black or the new Majestic Pro Sky Blue shirts. Those require a black hat, but again, those are just a dark navy blue if you look closely enough. Fortunately, the one thing WI gets right is that there is no patch and we have a "clean shirt" policy -- no association or state patches anywhere on the uniform.

I work with the same people all season. They are all college umpires, as well, so I would probably never buy another navy anything if they just loosened up the uniform requirements. Till then, I have to keep two sets.

[umpjong]

The use of different colored shirts, as long as you match your partner, is still the standard in regular season games in Illinois. This is what we are told to teach at clinics and that has not changed. Navy blue is standard for tournament play. The patch should always be worn on the left shirt sleeve or embroidered.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

According to the IHSA Case Situation section of our site, that isn't correct.

"4/14 Umpire's uniform

Boys Baseball

Please remember that your first impression as an umpire comes from your appearance. You send a positive message regarding your professionalism when you where the appropriate uniform. This includes your IHSA officials patch or embroidery on your left sleeve of your Navy Blue shirt or pull-over. Please adhere to the uniform expectations in the officials handbook as a baseball umpire."

I spoke directly to Craig about this matter and was told in clear terms, navy blue is the official uniform for regular season baseball, as stated in the handbook. The discussion ensued after someone complained that I wore black to match my partner instead of honoring the uniform code. They sought to get me in trouble and it didn't work. It did make me more mindful of how petty some can be though. My partner didn't typically carry a navy blue shirt or jacket during regular season. The Case Situation went up on April 14 as a reminder to those who weren't following protocol.

I have never seen a black baseball umpire's shirt with IHSA patch on it. They may be out there but I haven't seen them. I do like the black, except on days like today - 92 with a heat index near 100. Light blue will do just fine when the mercury climbs, unless you are working IHSA ball, that is. I know of one guy who breaks out the balloon when it gets this hot. Good umpire, smart guy...I lost a gallon of sweat last weekend. Take it easy, JM!

Interesting. The Certified IHSA State Clinician at the certified pre-season clinic I attended the year FED changed the language said "any color as long as you match your partner". I've always taken that as "gospel".

I actually have seen a black umpire shirt with an IHSA patch on it, and, I assure you, it looks fugly.

Edited to add....

Kind of ironic that the cover of said Officials' Handbook features a picture of a Base Umpire wearing a black hat and black jacket, eh? http://www.ihsa.org/official/SOH10.pdf

Also, I'd never wear a "penis hat" on the dish and don't believe I've ever seen a Navy belt. (WTF???)

JM

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

In states where appearance is part of the ratings equation, he probably would suffer from those who are short sighted. Here in Illinois, high school contests are supposed to see umpires wearing navy blue shirts (or jackets)with an IHSA patch visible on the left sleeve. I see most preferring black and some don't have the patch. Amazingly, when playoff assignments come around they find their IHSA hats and shirt with patch though. Apparently, the coaches around here who rate them all year care more about quality than following official guidelines. While I would prefer them to be dressed appropriately, my partners were largely exceptional this year. That's a good trade.

Considering that the coaches ratings are only a very small percentage of the overall rating system I am not sure that makes as much of a difference. Then again in all my years of working baseball in this state, I can only think of one guy that did not wear a patch and worked the post season. He did not work the next year (I think someone told on him).

Peace