Sunglasses
 

Any level. Little League. High School. College. Are pitchers allowed to wear sunglasses?

Yes, unless the umpire thinks they are distracting, i.e., mirrored lenses that shine in the batter or umpire's eyes. Otherwise, perfectly fine.

I am amazed this question gets asked every year. Who's spreading this myth? Umpires, coaches, fans?

I think it is because at every travel ball tournament they get told something different. I was at one and they were told on one field completely illegal then the field right next to it they were being allowed. Drove the coaches crazy and me and my partner had to explain that there was know rule against it unless deemed distracting by the umpire.

I have never had a pitcher wanting to wear sunglasses. I am amazed one would want to.

:D
Are the sunglasses part of the bat?

Offensive Coach: Hey, that pitcher can't wear those sunglasses!
Me: Coach, they are prescription, do you really want me to have him take them off?
OC: Never mind, then.

I think a better response is "Yes he can, they are not distracting."

Continue play.

Bob's response is funnier.

Rita

I was just about to say the same thing! You beat me to it.:)

Sure, I could have said that. I chose to use a bit of 'situational humor', the coach actually smiled. Sometimes it's better to relax a bit and have try to have some fun. This is a kids game, played by kids and sometimes adults who are 'kid like'.

Ask those who have worked with me, they will tell you that I am all business when business needs to be conducted, but I have a heck of a good time working this game. When the fun is gone, so am I.

You're right, Bob's response is funnier but too many coaches have no sense of humor.

Maybe the pitcher should complain about the umpire wearing the silly visor on his mask.

And if they aren't?

Who cares?

Of course I would do nothing!! Unless of course they offend my fashion sensibilities.

Actually I meant to convey that you'd might be fibbing to the coach.

Given that the arbiter community frowns on the coach stretching the truth I'd think it would be something to avoid.

Actually this was an actual situation, I went to talk to the pitcher after the coach inquired and he informed me they were prescription. There was no 'fibbing' to anyone in this situation, which actually was an actual situation that occurred.

Then, if the situation warrants, one might have some more fun, or get more serious.

Rita

Nice side-step :D

If the glasses could clearly distract me or the batters, I'll have them removed. Many times, this request is timed just so the pitcher gets distracted. Reminds me of someone complaining that a shirt tail is partially out just before a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded.

Although yesterday I had a pitcher take the mound with sunglasses on his hat. I reminded him they were there, not because they were distracting, but because I knew they'd fall off on the first pitch and I didn't want them to get damaged. I'm a nice guy that way.

Some umpires like to find things to nit pick such as the guys that tell pitchers to tuck in back pockets or remove batting gloves from back pockets. I prefer not to be a uniform cop more than I have to.

I'm not concerned about backpockets turned insideout, but will get the batting gloves off the pitcher. I'll just mention it to the catcher, or someother player, instead of making a big deal of it.

I've found that getting others to make these small corrections works best. If I spot some missed jewelry, I'll just bring it up to the closest player or coach. "Hey, let 17 know he needs to get rid of that necklace when he gets back to the dugout." No theatrics, or calling time.

Depends on whether the rule set allows for batting gloves on the pitcher, doesn't it? NFHS rules allow it, as long as the glove isn't distracting -- guess how many coaches think that's against the rules?

Exactly. I don't believe even LL prohibits the batting glove in the back pocket though it has been a few years since I've gone over their rules.

Sorry fellas, I was thinking about batting gloves sticking out of the pitcher's back pocket. LL stopped prohibiting batting gloves worn under fielding gloves on pitchers a few years ago. As long as they're not distracting, or white, they're GTG.

I stop the game, and have them remove them right then and there. I don't want to do a second reminder.

So now he thinks there is a rule against it? Or is that preventive officiating?

He said he reminded him that they were there, not that he told him to remove them.

I said, "Hey, you don't want those falling off, do you?"

I'm a nice guy like that.

Gotcha!

Out of curiosity, what if they fell off during a pitch? Would you disallow the pitch?

Or would it be handled the same as with a hat that continues to "accidentally" fall off on every pitch?

No, however I couldn't imagine them being left up there. The pitcher sure doesn't want his Oakleys hitting the dirt.

I did make a joke with the catcher about how the pitcher was a nice guy, keeping the sun off his hat like that. He laughed.