ASA has redesigned their web site and their logo.

http://www.softball.org/images/press...me_ASALogo.jpg

The are also launching a TV show on Fox.
Softball 360

Sounds like a renewed marketing effort. I hope it pays off in more teams, players, etc.

The Softball 360 show sounds like it could be interesting. I just hope they get someone knowledgable for the <u>Hey Blue</u> segment and not someone like Timmy Mac or Joe.

SamC

Sounds like another artificial reason to force us to buy more unneeded uniforms and othermerchandise.

Actually, I wondered about that, too, especially with the spokesperson's comment something like "umpires can't wait to sport the new logo on the field" or some such, so I checked ASA's officialgear.com web site - the new logo is nowhere to be found. So, I guess we're off the hook for now, anyway.

There is no uniform changes.

Once again people jumping to conclusions to the negative side.

I agree it was a conclusion, but it was not jumped to ... more like nudged to. Here is the quote from the ASA press release...
That certainly sounds like they expect us to wear the new logo somewhere on our person. Not exactly a jump to feel the need to check out the officialgear page.

Umpire's haven't worn the ASA logo for a few years now. The last place from which it disappeared was the ball bag and now that's gone.

The move to the new logo may just be a political ploy to save ASA from an irreversable change to USA Softball.

I apologize for any negativity as it appears I was wrong; but you know that unnecessary uniform/accessory replacement or redunancy is a pet peeve of mine. My concern was all those "ASA letters" we wear being replaced by a logo. Bad enough that I have to buy new caps for CP, just for the inappropriate flag requirement.

I agree with the sentiment, but with me and hats, after a couple of years the white letters take on a permanent blend of yellow and blue (sweat stains that refuse to completely come out plus bleed over from the navy blue hat), so I replace them anyway, with the old hats relegated to rec league games in a somewhat miserly attempt to extend the life of my "good" hats. My objection to the flag is, as you infer, it (the hat) is a disrespectful place to display it.

I've never had a problem with the hats (other than goofy sizes). You didn't need to buy a new hat as the flag were sold separately and easily applied.

Yes, I have a load of hats (wool), but I just throw them in the washer with the rest of my uniform. When done, take them out and block them. They last about two-three years of full wear.

Since this thread has morphed into a laundry discussion...

OK, I admit, I don't "quite" get around to promptly laundering my hats right after I get home. I tend to collect 2 or 3 changes of uniforms before I launder them. So, my hats do start to gather faint stains after a year or 2 that never become TOO obvious, but I notice them, so I don't wear those hats anymore for tournament use.

But, I haven't figured out a way to keep the blue from bleeding over onto the white letters. And that happens with the first wash. I've tried color-fast detergent, cold water, whatever - the letters always pick up a blue tint.

Once the hat has been washed a few times, and blue dye is no longer further tinting the letters, I wash them in the dishwasher. The DW detergent seems to do a better job with stains, and the "no touch" washing seems to be easier on the hats.

I have good luck using a cap washing frame (can get these at sporting good stores) and cold water with low to medium level water and a cup of detergent. Best thing is to wash the cap by itself. Cleans it right up.

Try washing them in a cap caddy in the dish washer
on the top shelve....Use warm water and light on
the soap....works well...

What kind of soap? Where can I get a cap caddy?

Thanks, Stan

Local Wallyworld or K-Mart, and many places that sell umpire gear have the cap caddies. I use regular laundry detergent in the washing machine, though the people I know who do them in a dishwasher use the dishwasher detergents!

This thread has taken an amazing turn...

But since we are here, a little hard-won advice (learned the hard way in my bachelor days)... Some of you guys may be a bit clueless on this (like I was)...

If you use the dishwasher for anything --- <u>anything</u> --- always .... <b><big><font color=red><u>ALWAYS use ONLY dishwasher detergent.</u></font></big></b>. Unless you want to spend the next several hours cleaning up the mess.

I use the dishwasher and, yes, dishwasher detergent. Another trick I have used that works great. I bought one of those clorox pens that dispenses bleach. I use this on the white letters and it brightens them up. I rinse, throw them in the dishwasher using a caddie and they are good to go.

Duke:

I thought about that too, but was afraid that the bleach would erode the letters some. Have you noticed no deterioration?

Have only tried it so far on a couple of older hats. Haven't put it to use yet on the field as the fields are still snow covered here in Maine and wind chills have been down to -40 degrees. Not the best softball weather. It is sad when the temps get up into the twenties and comments are how nice it is out...........

I find that fitted hats invariably shrink over the winter. The 7½ that fit fine the year before has become a 7¼ or even smaller.

<b>the fields are still snow covered here in Maine</b>

Where are you in Maine, Duke? Anywhere near Waterville? I'm class of 1970 at Colby. One May we were playing at Bowdoin, and a ball that was fouled off into the woods came back with snow on it.



[Edited by greymule on Feb 12th, 2004 at 02:45 PM]

I'm 45 minutes southwest of WVL. Up until last year the board I am on was a subboard of WVL. Last year we were moved to be part of the Lewiston area board. I have called alot of JO tourneys in WVL and Augusta.

My wife works 1 day a week at the Health Center at Colby as an RN....

Tom,

I've heard that if you wash your hats separately with an old all-cotton t-shirt, that the blue dye will be absorbed by the T-shirt and not color the letters. I have to admit that I have not tried it though. There is also supposed to be a commercial product that does the same thing.

SamC

If that all cotton shirt idea actually works, look around your home for some old cloth diapers. Those things are 100 percent cotton. That way you don't have to ruin any t-shirts, and have some rags on your hands. Plus, old diapers wipe up wet plates during those games where the light rain isn't enough to rain out the games, but get the plate so wet and dirty your brush can't clean it!