GD vs. Smitty pants

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Most nonprofessional umpires do not.

Just because I do not work for MiLB or MLB does not make me an "amateur" umpire. The baseball I umpire is at the amateur level, but I don't do it volunteer, I get paid. I've always considered myself "professional," as the first 20 years of umpiring baseball were 6 to 7 days a week, with multiple games on weekends, in an area that plays nearly year-round. I studied umpiring from MiLB and MLB umpires, who were and still are associated with my former group. Plus, I believe in looking as sharp as possible on the field.

[UMP25]

For Pete's sake. There's no need to get your panties all in a bunch. Neither you nor I are professional umpires. We may be professionals, but we're nonprofessional umpires. My original comment stands.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by UMP25

For Pete's sake. There's no need to get your panties all in a bunch. Neither you nor I are professional umpires. We may be professionals, but we're nonprofessional umpires. My original comment stands.

I wasn't getting my panties in a bunch. I wouldn't even if I wore them. I really hate that expression. Having a contrary viewpoint is not getting my "panties in a bunch." I will reword it then: I umpire professionally, but I'm not a professional umpire.

I think freshly dry cleaned pants look nice, have a really sharp crease in them, and are usually good for a couple of games before they go back in. It makes the pants last longer, fade less, and did I mention look really sharp? BTW, I know plenty of 'nonprofessional' umpires who take their pants to the cleaners. I also know quite a few who roll them up, throw them in the trunk, then unroll them for the next game. I would rather belong to the first group.

[UMP25]

During the season, working almost every day of the week, I do neither. I can't afford, mainly time-wise, to keep taking my pants to the cleaners. I wash and dry them well, and my pants and rest of my uniform have always looked nice and neat.

[kylejt]

Half my polywools (the Hardwicks) go to the dry cleaners, and the other half get hand washed, and line dried (out of the sun, of course). It works for me.

90% of my work is volunteer, but I still like looking sharp.

There's a $21 difference between the Davis and the Honig's. If you don't see the difference, or advantage between the two, you've just saved yourself a double sawbuck. Congrats!

Most umpires I know think the off-colored, polyester Davis pants don't look good, have about seven extra belt loops in the back, have the feel of a leasure suit, and match no other maker.

I know other fellows that swear by their near black Official's Choice pants, and think they match other pants. I also know guys who buy their suits at Sears. Viva le difference!

I've found I have no such bunching or twisting with a thong. Just sayin'.

[UMP25]

If one also likes the look of the extra stitching in the @ss that the Honig's pants provides, I say go for it. Nothing looks gawdier than seeing your plate guy's @ss have an extra line of stitches wrap around the outline of his butt.

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by UMP25

If one also likes the look of the extra stitching in the @ss that the Honig's pants provides, I say go for it. Nothing looks gawdier than seeing your plate guy's @ss have an extra line of stitches wrap around the outline of his butt.

Lol

Wore the Honigs brand for one season, had to replace them the next because they faded and looked purple.

Had GD for three seasons now, still grey and fit great. Worth every penny!

Love the patent leather plate shoes too, get compliments all the time when I walk on the field.

BTW...Never had to take them to the cleaners. Wash 'em in cold water, med then high heat, wrinkle free.

[UMP25]

I loved the GD plate shoes, save for one main reason I gave them up--they were SO darn heavy. I've worn the Reebok's for the last few years and love them. IMHO, I don't believe anyone could beat the look of the GD plate shoes. I just wish they weren't so darn heavy, made even worse when you worked a game in sloppy conditions, where the dirt coagulated on the bottom of your plate shoes, making you feel like you were wearing cinder blocks on your feet.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by thumpferee

Lol
...get compliments all the time when I walk on the field.

In nearly 30 years of umpiring, I have appeared on the field looking like I walked out of a catalog, looking disheveled after doing 12 games in three days, and levels of dapperness in between.

I have never--not once--had anybody comment on my appearance, ever. Nobody who plays or coaches gives a damn about that, or anything except the quality of your calls. And if those go against them, they don't even care about that.

Polywools are nice pants, but they're a poor value. They are by no means the benchmark against which all others are measured. I don't even consider them. They're overpriced and offer nothing to justify the additional dollars.

Of course, that's true of just about everything Dick sells. I'm continually amused by how important northern umpires find one- or two-day delivery of orders in December. That's Honigs' biggest selling point.

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I umpire professionally, but I'm not a professional umpire.

Hmmm mm.

Maybe a professional who umpires?

Trying to get your back here steve!