Pitcher & Sunglasses
 

Was working a 13u tourney game yesterday. DC comes out to make pitching change. Pitcher starts warm-ups when OC comes up and questions whether pitcher can wear sunglasses while on the mound? Told him I had never read anything in regards to this but I would try and find out. He was OK with letting kid wear glasses since he didn't have rule (said it was kind of unspoken).
Opinions? Anyone else ever dealt with situation like this?

I didn't see how I could justify making kid remove them with no rule to govern this situation.

Only if you think they're a distraction, then you can ask that they be removed. Otherwise, they're fine. It's a judgement call on your part.

That "rule" is not only unspoken, it's unwritten, too.

+1

For me, it's never a distraction. Maybe if they were mirrored on a sunny day... ;)

I'm sure the eye doctor is glad the sunglasses are being worn. Maybe 10 years ago, my eye doctor said sunglasses would be required for me on the bases and on the golf course. She relented on me not wearing them behind the dish. The reason--I had good eyes and she wanted them staying that way.

Yes, I will side with a complaining player if they are mirrored. How silly to wear such things on a baseball field. Otherwise, I do not find sunglasses the least bit distracting.

No rule to prevent, except the distracting rule, which typically means no mirrowed sunglasses. I never see it, and quite frankly can't imagine why a pitcher would want to

How would you like to deal with the coach (or worse the parent) of a pitcher who gets hit by a ball that he couldn't see because you made him/her take off their sunglasses.

It's a safety issue. Why do we wear sunglasses on the field?

I never ask a pitcher to remove their sunglasses. (unless they were very reflective and caused problems with the batter/catcher/myself from seeing the ball)

(or worse... their lawyer)

In a post season game F8 came in to pitch. Opposing coach wanted me to make him go take his eye black off. I laughed.

I've never heard of an umpire being found liable for asking a player to remove distracting wear, including sunglasses. Are you aware of any? Just asking, not insinuating.

I haven't heard of any, but I just don't want to be the first.