I've Seen It All!!
 

Had a school program for the youngest rug rat tonight, so had to miss out on games. After the program, we went to a neighboring town to eat. On the way back home I saw the lights and of course had to check things out. There was a 13-15 yr rec game in progress. One team was from home (mine), and were visiting the other city. The 13-15 leagues of both play inter-city, and I have called this same game twice this year. Definitely the best two teams in the league.

Of course from here on out, names have been omitted to protect the guilty!

When I realized who was playing, I then began to "evaluate" the umpiring crew. What a sight! They both were wearing shorts for a fastpitch game. I could have overlooked that, but...the plate guy had on a six stitch hat under his purple mask, BACKWARDS. The bill was laying on his neck! At least the BU didn't have on a backwards hat, he didn't have one on at all! I guess a hat on him would have clashed with the work boots he was wearing.

The PU with the purple mask at least had on color coordinated shingaurds. They were purple also! The kneesavers were your basic black, so I suppose they were OK (yes he actually was using the kneesavers, I mean sitting on 'em). Never was a strike, hammer, or any indication given. He would point out the foul balls though. The count was every so often, but balls on the right, strikes on the left! I always indicate the balls with my hand holding the indicator, that's how I keep my left and right apart. Well he did the same, had his indicator in the "balls" hand, musta just put 'em on the wrong arms!

The BU, (we'll call him Otis, you remember Otis Campbell from Mayberry?) was generally in the proper position, and the calls were fair, but the costume he had on (shirts were not tucked in on either) really detracted from the job.
When the PU pulled his mask (it rarely came off) I found I owed him some sympathy, there was a huge growth of some sort in his bottom lip. Not sure what it was, probably coulda' spit it out though!

To all the Henry's, Bernies, Frank's, Dicks, (who nixed my bootleg ASA beanie at Nationals) and others throughout the years who have stressed the appearnce aspect of umpiring....Thanks, tonight really illustrated the point!

Oh yeah, I have seen this group call before. This wasn't a spur of the moment need an umpire thing, that may be understandable, they are always that unkempt! You've only got one chance to make a first impression, be sure it's a good one!

I too hate the poorly dressed official. Just looks, for lack of a better word, podunk.

As a related aside, we just approved the wearing of navy shorts by the umpires for this weekend's tournament, as many of the umpires will be working 8-10 hours and it's likely to be over 100 again. But at least we will match, and shirts WILL be tucked.

In my ASA association, only about a third of the umpires give even a nod to dressing properly. Only a tenth are consistently correctly dressed. For the rest, it's gym shorts (ankle socks are a stylish complement), blue t-shirts, protective equipment outside the clothing, work boots, sneakers, backwards hats, no hats, wrong hats, multicolored belts, sweat pants.

I think that before the game, some members do check with their partners, though, to see that they match:

"I'm going with the blue gym shorts with the white stripe down the side, brown work boots, white ankle socks, no hat, blue short-sleeve polyester dress shirt from Wal-Mart, red-and-white belt with large brass buckle."

"Great. I'll do the same."

I do not understand that mentality either...although a lot of it can be blamed on the 'anybody can umpire' attitude.

I am assuming that by Bernie, you mean Profato...OUR Bernie (the late Bernie Berman, NYS UIC for many years) always stressed appearence also. We have continued this policy, especially in hs, down through the years. As a result, we get more compliments when we do summer ball tourneys on our professionaism, and dress. It really does help!

Oh...come on now. How many games have you called in 100+ degrees wearing the proper pants? You are in Texas, and Texans are supposed to be able to handle the heat! :D

the 'anybody can umpire' attitude.

Amen. Last week, after a travel FP game, guy about 40 comes up to me and asks, "Hey, do you guys need umpires? I mean, it looks pretty easy."

"Easy?" I responded.

"Well, maybe the plate would take some work."

As I drove home, I felt rather positive about what had happened. I figured I must make it look easy.

I've called 3-4 hours in 100 degrees in regular attire several times. 6 hours once or twice. But with the league's permission, we decided not to make the umpires endure that for 8-10 hours (I'm personally out there for 12 hours, but I will not be having to wear the mask or call balls and strikes for all 12 hours... should be fun).

JEL: NO!, you haven't seen everything!

Summer rec league, (about 6 towns/schools play each other) 7th/8th grade girls fastpitch game. Umpire looks like a H.S. boy. He put on shin guards with his hometown-school-colors baggy athletic shorts, (Bad enough, right) but THEN he puts on a chest protector and pulls a tank top over it! :eek: It was one of those tank tops with the REALLY low cut armpits, too. I'm thinking, "Boy, why bother with a shirt at all"?

compliment
 

This topic is another compliment to our association, our UIC and his predecessors; and of course to those on this forum and umpires in general.

That is how I feel as well in regard to my association.

Uniform Rant
 

I don't get it. The uniform is the only thing that every umpire can consistently get right every time, but many choose not to bother. The aura of professionalism is shattered when you get a blue with pants faded to the point of light pink, along with the shirt buttons (damn things) that turn pink/purple after a year. I even cringe when I see someone with the old ASA logo (the round logo with the diamond in the middle). I know it was the logo, but there's new stuff now. Uniform purchases can be spendy, but it's all deductible, and if you get a few things each year, it's not that bad.

[/rant off]

May as well add my story.....

For the last two years, my daughter has played in a rec league sponsored and run by our church. I have called a few games in the league in that time frame and most of the coaches know who I am. The level of play is not very good, but the kids have fun and the coaches are generally well-behaved.

The league director, who is a well respected soccer official, and I have known each other for many years. I have even offered to provide trained umpires for him and train others to umpire, but he would rather do it himself. The result is that he has a "pool" of about 5-6 guys that he uses as umpires.

Most of these guys don't have a clue and look about like some of the umpires that have been described above. PU with backwards hat under the mask, one guy did buy a powder blue umpire shirt, but wears it with his jeans shorts. The shinguards are on the legs and he will occasionally wear the chest protector outside of the shirt. I have introduced myself to him and gently offered some rules help based on some of the interpretations and calls he has made during the games. I won't yell from the stands, but I will approach after the game and talk to him. There was one game last year where he called me over to the fence during a game and asked me about a ruling. He had ruled correctly, but I don't think he knew why!

I asked him a few times about joining either our HS or ASA organization and getting some formal training as he seems to enjoy umpiring and is receptive to my conversations. He has basically told me that he just wants to do this church league and feels he is doing fine.

(rant on)

Watching some of these games and seeing these types of umpires out there just irritates the h*ll out of me! I work hard and put in a great deal of time studying the rules, attending clinics, making sure my uniform looks good, and trying to be a better umpire. When the majority of people see these guys on the field, it's no wonder that the opinion of umpires is so low. Unfortunately, with all of the rec leagues, church leagues, etc., out there, there are far more of the "backward hat and work boots" umpires than those of us that take it seriously and strive to be the best at what we do!

(rant off)

AMEN. 'nuff said but the board sez the message must be at least 10 characters long.

Im gonna rant a little more.....first of all....ditto to what Andy said.... I also think that there is NEVER an excuse to wear shorts while working FP. (Or SP for that matter.) Yup....I said it..NEVER.... You should match your partners uniform, and trust me..a FP plate umpire wearing shorts and protective gear looks like a clown (In my humble opinion.) I see WAY too many umpires at non ASA tournaments (sorry) that look like they dont give a crap. I know we cant influence every church league and rec league, but if you are working a sanctioned tournament..your dress should be right up there with your rules knoweldge and mechanics. If you look professional, you and your decisions are much more likely to be respected.

az - normally I agree with you 100%. And with you being from AZ, I'm sure you have some experience with those 100 degree days (although I WILL say that 100 degrees and 5% humidity is hot - but 100 degrees and 95% humidity is downright awful).

But this is an exception to the rule - and we WILL match each other, with nice navy blue docker-style shorts (not tattered or old) with creases. And we wouldn't have even considered it except for the fact that due to shorthandedness, the umpire working the LEAST among us will be working for at least 6 hours, with most of us working 10, and one of us (me! yeah!) working 12.

Other than this one weekend, we are a professional looking group 100% of the time. It irks me when I see 2 of my guys looking sharp, and then look over at the adjoining baseball field and see the base umpire in ratty bluejeans and flipflops, sometimes with, sometimes without a hat. I don't think it's too horrible a sin to make this small concession to the elements on this one weekend.

And yeah, I agree it looks a little odd to wear shinguards over bare legs. But it is what it is.

Since, I only wear a mask and steel toed shoes behind the plate, I don't look at all stupid in shorts. I wear either pleated dockers style shorts or coaches shorts, If I wear shin protection I wear soccer shin guards under my socks.

I've never been convinced that shorts are cooler than light weight slacks, especially if knee socks are required with the shorts.

BTW, for those who never know which to wear, several manufacturers now make slacks with a zipper to remove the lower part. :D

I hope you only do slowpitch or 10U.

I do all levels up to high school. My fellow TX umpires can attest to seeing me do pony, colt and palomino games.

Must have looked like a mini-Herman Munster! So we have Otis Campbell on one field and mini-Herman on one field, and perhaps a couple of Gomer Pyles on another. :)

P.S. eek is right!... But even worse that the visual you and others have described is having to view a coach yelling out "What about the base-line ump"? And hearing a few of the same comments from a few fans who don't even have a clue about the base-path rules! In watching a video of the game where I ejected the head caoch I enjoyed watching again one of the best base running performances I have seen. And this from an eight year old girl. But along with this thing of beauty I had to see, and hear, one of the worst coaching performances I've ever seen from a head-coach with his "What about the base line ump" nonsense. I also got to hear the head-coach get a mouth-full from a woman that didn't like him pulling his team into a forfeit just because he was ejected! I enjoyed hearing their 3rd base coach fighting with another assistant coach because he sent a girl home from 3rd when a throw to the catcher was off line and got passed her. During the actual game I heard all this, and almost went over to their dugout to remind them of ethics rules and sportmanship, but the kids seemed to be oblivious to him yelling back at the other coach... "I'll turn in my Jersey! I don't need you to tell me what my job is! I have to watch the whole left end of the field"!

But it really was a terrible choice to send her because (at this field the backstop is close to the plate, the runner he sent had just been held up on 3rd base, (no momentum), and there was no one out!). Bad choice for sure, especially knowing the catcher is a good player. Well, that out, and lost run that would have scored later, just added to the frustration of seeing their lead go away in the next inning. I guess it also helped put the head coach into a foul mood that ended up getting him ejected. ...Nothin like fun at the ole' ball park. ...Al


I have a question. ..When the ejected coach called his team to line up and told me the game is over should I have told him you cannot speak for the team you are no longer coaching the rest of this game? My wife watched the video and asked me why I let him line up his team and speak for his team, when he was ejected. I didn't have an answer accept to tell her I think she had a good point! ...

We can add poor or even nonexistent mechanics in with sloppy dress. Far too many umpires simply pay no attention whatsoever to where they should position themselves, how they should announce calls, etc. Last year, in a large annual FP tournament (90+ teams) run by one of our members, I saw a BU never leave the A position once, even to call a play. Bases loaded? Start in the A position and stay there as the play unfolds. I also saw a PU with no hat, improvised Wal-Mart shirt and pants, sneakers, and a towel for a plate brush. (Equipment on the outside, of course.) He was calling balls and strikes from about 8 feet behind the catcher, almost against the backstop, helpfully announcing, "A little high, also a few inches outside," "Inside corner, strike two" "Bring it up a little," and so on.

Unfortunately, umpires are in very short supply, at least around here. If the director insisted on proper dress, he couldn't cover the games, even at $45.

There's a guy who has been doing varsity HS around here for 20 years, and he still bails out on every pitch (though over the years he has learned to disguise his bailout a bit).

One thing I like about doing college FP is that every single guy I work with cares about dress, mechanics, and decorum.

No Cup?? :eek:
I hope you never take a foul ball off your knee cap or collar bone.
Most umps I have seen with this minamal protective equipment hide behind the catcher and bail out often. Some are extremely brave/tough and actually work the slot.
HS Varsity pitchers around here throw 60MPH. I am just not that brave.

I'm sorry I didn't mention the cup, I work the slot in a modified Gerry Davis stance. I never bailout. I have taken a few shots on my chest. Usually less than 3-4 a year. The most pain I have had is forgetting to wear steel toes and taking a shot on the end of the shoe. Most foul balls go over the head, it is usually missed balls that hit me anywhere else. I have seen one or two guys in my area try to go without a cp after watching me and flinching on every pitch. I tell them if they can't stay put wear the CP. It seems to me there are a bunch of umps hiding behind the catcher while wearing full armorment. The other thing I have noticed is if the catcher and pitcher are no good You get hit, but the ball is traveling with little velocity, if the pitcher is throwing heat the catcher is usally catching heat.

The worst shots I have taken are fouls when the catcher shifts outside at the last minute, the pitcher misses a little inside and the batter fouls it straight back. It only happens once every few years, but I can't imagine taking that shot in the sternum or collar bone with out the CP.
You are right about umps in full gear hiding behind the catcher!

I'm originally form Alabama..so Ive seen both ends of the heat and operated in both. I gotta be honest with you...I still don't like the idea...there are lost of ways to keep cooler, and its just as important to keep that sun off your legs...

One thing we also try to do here is mid tournament field breaks. We have an 18 Gold Sector tournamnet(42 teams) here the first week of June. Its not "hot" yet then, (usually only 105 or 106), but the commisioners side grabbed an extra complex, and we are scheduling games at 7,9,11 a.m. and 6,8,and 10 pm. It sounds like a LOT of wasted time, but it works WELL. The out of town teams love it, and it gives the umpires time to stay fresh. Something like that may also help your umpire shortage issue.

Good luck this weekend. Stay cool.

If you dont think you might look a little unprofessional..there is probably nothing I could say that would convince you to consider that you do. If you are one of the FEW in your area that does it..why do you think that is? If a LOT of you do it..... oh well.......:rolleyes: Also... No chest protector? what level ball are you calling?..never mind...we had an umpire here last year take a 12u pitch OFF THE GROUND onto his collarbone and break it....consider wearing one.........

No offense meant here, but this doesn't make you a tough guy. It makes you foolish. A fastball at any level you mention there can break a collarbone or rib, and a shot right on the sternum CAN stop a heart. You're just asking for a problem. 3-4 shots a year is low, so if you're not bailing on fouls, you're EXTREMELY lucky, but even at that low rate, why take the abuse?

If ASA can approve shorts and shirts with hats, socks and belt, shoes, Why can't they be worn. How would that make you look unprofessional? I see more unprofessional looking umps in long pants then I ever look, Their pants are too small for the enormous girth around their waist. Or everything fits, but they still have that huge pot over their belt. That is unprofessional, yet the majority of my fellows in blue are too lazy to run or walk and too undisciplined to push away from the table. It also seems the vast majority of my fellow umpires spend less time reading the rule books then the coaches. I know I'm not speaking of most of us on this board.. But it seems I am working almost all my games alone even when I have a partner. The sad thing is when I work with these idiots and they make a bonehead call, and since I don't throw them under the bus, it makes me look as stupid as they are, so I tell them to make the obvious calls and I will make the close ones. If some 3rd world play occurs I have to work over time covering them. I work the majority of the games behind the plate as it seems they like to call strikes for pitches that sometimes bounce over the plate. when I try to correct their stances and giv ethem instruction on tracking pitches they say they could see it better when they hid behind the catcher and almost sat on the ground getting low., which is why they are calling shin level pitches strikes anyway, Waht really infuriates me is they get the same check I get when it is all said and done. Oh well rant over.

The real shame is, in our little corner of nort san antonio we have about 4qualified umpires to cover 16 fields anight, so we have to deal with the guys that just come out for a part time job, which is why this may be my last year to call baseball or softball.

AZ, looks like you were right.

How many others in your area wear that outfit? And do you ever give thought that your appearance and uniform might be one of the reasons they dont take your advice seriously? Uniform is only ONE part of being a good umpire, but uniform relfects attitude.

And San Antonio explains a few things....:D

Fisrt of all hoss, I only wear the shorts when I work alone and the only when working 10 and under, When I work upper levels I wear umpire uniforms, not sears blue pants, but +pos or honigs. I actually polish my shoes between games and I know what appearance is. I was picked for championship games because of my appearance and mechanics. The reason most of these guys don't take my advice is because they take no ones advice. as far as appearance. Let's meet up and see which of us looks the most proffesional even in my ASA shorts I would look more professional at 170 lbs then one of you 40" waist guys with rumpled shirts and long pants that are old and about to rip apart in the seams because they are hold 20 lbs of lard in the 10 lb bag.

Hoss?

Hey, "Hoss", we're just going off of what you said. Now you change the story - don't blame him for commenting on what you said you wore - YOU SAID YOU WORE IT. I'm wearing shorts this weekend, as I said, but I would never say we were going to be looking professional this weekend - we're making a concious decision to give in to the elements just this once. You, however, seem to think you look good in what OBVIOUSLY (to everyone else) doesn't.

Your attitude is likely representative of EXACTLY the reason no one listens to you. You may know what you are talking about on the field, but if you present it the way you come across here, I can't blame people for blowing you off.

Im not talking about how YOU look physically...I am asking you to consider how you look wearing shorts with FP gear. In my OPINION, you look less professional by DEFAULT. I actually am MUCH more concerned by the fact that you dont wear a chest protector for your personal safety. but like I said earlier....I could reason with you all day...


and WHY arent 10u girls worth your best uniform? you have something against them?

I have heard all about why you believe we should be wearing a chest protector. I have just not needed one. I noticed after about 5 years of wearing one that I almost never got hit where I needed one. As far as my best uniform If all I have on is a mask, how is this not a good uniform if it is acceptable for slow pitch why not fast pitch, I would never wear shorts with shin guard or even plate shoes with the metatarsal guard. And I agree that we should all look our best, I just believe that physical size makes many umpires look sloppy and slow as well. My uniforms are always clean and pressed, My shoes and belt always shined. My bib line always straight. I even press my ball bags. I buy new hats every year and rotate them to make sure they are clean and with a garrison crease. I apologize for my attitude, It comes from a season of working 2 games a night with clueless joes. That are wearing pants, but nothing is pressedor shined and their rule books haven't even had the spine creased in them as of yet.

I'm staying out of the "shorts don't look professional" discussion - at least this time around.

But, heck, guy, I get hit more at 10U than any other age level. Sure, the pitches are not 65 mph, but the "foul tips" :rolleyes: still hurt, and I can't imagine calling a FP game at any level without shin guards. I'm not into pain, no matter how temporary.

Please don't get too big a bruise from the doorknob hitting you on the way out.

Milkman - I wear shorts and look cool

Everyone else - Wearing shorts cannot look good.

Milkman - No I look cool because everyone else is fat. Plus, I'm tough because I don't wear a chest protector or normal shinguards.

Everyone else - Wearing shorts cannot look good, and you're really endangering yourself by not wearing at least the chest protector.

Milkman - Nuh, uh, Hoss... everyone else is fat - they look horrible. Besides, I only look cool in shorts for 10U, which don't deserve the full uniform.

Everyone else - Wearing shorts cannot look good.

Milkman - Yuh, huh - cause everyone else is fat.

I can't help but picture Ben Stiller in Dodgeball when I read toughguy's posts...

STFU.

ok I'll be a real smart ***, how do you get hit by a foul tip?

Quotes and smiley apparently lost on this one...

So if I concede the point on shorts, How do you feel about out of shape overweight officials?

I think they are great and are some of my favorite people !!

I work softball, baseball, and football. I would say that locally I have only really worked with one softball umpire that I would consider significantly overweight - and he buys clothes that fit and busts his hump to get in position. He's very knowledgeable and fun to work with. OTOH, I would have a problem with a sloppily dressed umpire (whether overweight or not), and I would have a problem with a lazy umpire (whether overweight or not).

In football, however, we seem to have more than our fair share of plus-size officials. Some of them hustle, look good, and do their job well. Some of them don't. I do have a problem with those that don't, although again I would say I have the same problem with "in-shape" officials that look crappy or don't get into position.

Perhaps in your locale, you just have more than your fair share of overweight guys, and those guys also happen to be either lazy, sloppy, or both. I have no problem with you focusing some ire on their laziness or sloppiness. I'm not sure I agree with the bitterness solely directed to their eating habits though.

ASA does not approve of wearing shorts. They are simply made accessible for purchase as a convenience to the membership.
That doesn't make you look any more professional, just makes them look bad, also. What does Walt think about you wearing shorts doing FP games?


That is a reflection on YOUR association. Instead of "covering" for them, maybe there should be some instruction taking place by the association.

Again I apologize for my bitterness, it comes from a couple of seasons of working with these clowns that are fat, slow, lazy , unlearned and unkempt. I joined the high school association to work with the proffesional guys and found the same guys there for the most part, maybe we are handicapped by the fact that San Antonio is considered one of the fattest cities in the world. Any way I got to polish the shoes and shave the face for a double header tonight with a guy that will probably be wearing track shoes, dickies and have a strike zone that is everywhere but in the zone

Well, I am one! I like me! My wife is one! I like her! Worked with another tonight! I like her! Watched a MLB game this afternoon, saw a couple there too. I like them. Watched Miami vs Ga Tech tonight, saw at least one big guy there. I like him too. All were very professional in appearance and practice.


My wife and I called an NCAA game earlier this year, and went out to eat afterwards. Us fat folks gotta keep shoveling it in you know. While eating, in walks one of the catchers from the game, with her family and a couple of teammates. This young lady is rather rotund, perhaps more so than I and the mrs combined! Her shirt caught my eye, on the front it said "I AM IN SHAPE" and on the back was "ROUND IS A SHAPE". And yes she was an awesome player.

milkmandog; You may look fine to yourself, but from what I've seen of you...........

I have resisted the urge all day to respond to this and other statements, because I generally detest prejudice. But that's what it is, and I will respond anyway.

I have seen it and been subjected to it. I would definitely fit in the "round" category. Mine is a long story and I won't bore you with everything...I need to write a book ... because you obviously don't give a rat's ***. You just see a "fat guy" and think we can't do our job, et cetera et cetera.

Trust me, I know and have heard all the et ceteras. Let's see, what have I run into ...

"Can't put you on that game. It's appearances, ya know? You understand, right." Of course, I just shake my head.

"Can't put you out there on the field with him/her. Him/her thinks you can't pull your load. I know you can, but him/her did (high level TV tournament) and I respect his/her wishes."

On and on and on. There's more, but I will spare you. Of course the fact that I am one hell of an umpire, that I go out of my way to be sure my shirts and pants and shoes and hats and ball bags and brushes and indicators and lineup card holders and pencils and socks and McDavids (yes, they do make them in my size) are in excellent order (because they are supposed to be - it's call uniform for a reason), that I can get to where I need to be EVERY time (and get there surprisingly quickly) doesn't make a bit of difference to folks like you because of one thing: prejudice.

Good umpires come in all shapes and sizes - and so do not so good umpires. Being HWP doesn't make one a good umpire. Hell, it doesn't even mean good health. A good friend of mine had a big scare recently. He's 6-1 and about 180, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke. He was a walking heart attack because his cholesterol was over 500.

Some might say, fine, exercise, do whatever, lose it. Wish I could. I was the white hat (referee for those who aren't football officials) in a game about 15 years ago in TX...opening game of the season, two good 5A teams. Got hurt. Saw a quack in the ER. Gave me some medicine and a prescription for same. Turns out we had a little toxic shock deal that ruined me...plus almost lost my leg. Another quack put me on the wrong kind of steroids. Next thing you know I look like Alvin the chipmunk. Oh, did I mention the eight skin grafts and the other surgeries?

I will never get my old body back, but I did work HARD for YEARS to get back to where I can umpire. Of course I will never set foot on an NCAA field. Hell, maybe never another national, or regional, or a HS playoff game Who knows? I might get hit by the beer truck on the way to the 7-11 for a Slurpee, three bags of chips and a couple ice creams (did I leave anything out?). Of course, never will I escape the stereotypes and prejudices.

But you know something else? I will NEVER let folks like you prevent me from having fun out there on the diamond with an avocation I love.

That's because we have to!

Bottom line is, some of those officials you deem to be overweight and out shape, may be physically in better shape than you are.

I go to the gym faithfully, 4-6 times a week. I do weight training and aerobic training. I run 5 miles in an hour 3-4 times a week. I don't eat all that much. Yet at 6'2", I am still unable to break that 220 barrier, and even with all the crunches that I do, I still have a noticeable gut. I am no where near out of shape, but the shape that genetics deems "in shape" for me, is not the "ideal" shape to be in. :D

So, your prejudices sometimes bely other aspects of your character. Not saying that it is true in your case, just "food" for thought.