Please ditch the blue pants

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by bigwes68

I was there all weekend. It was nearly identical.

I worked at UNC for 4.5 years. Trust me, it's not the same. Close, but not quite.

[Texas Aggie]

I'm surprised to see even one person defend the blue pants, but hey, there's no accounting for taste.

Except for protective equipment, the baseball/softball umpire uniform is less a matter of function than in other sports. In basketball and even football, you have officials on the field standing next to players and they need to wear something obviously different to stand out so they don't, for example, receive a pass (though I've been passed the ball several times in hoops!!). In baseball/softball, you are pretty much off the field and contrast isn't a big deal. At that point, in my view, its just a matter of looking professional. In my opinion, navy blue pants with navy jackets that often don't match (not to mention a blue cap) doesn't look professional. That's why I think baseball is finally on to something with black. They have 2 colors: black and gray, and that's it (including shoes, with the occasional white trim). Black is also a good authority color.

But, as I said, that's just me. If you guys like them, great. I sort of thought that the general response would be something like, "yeah, we've been trying to get ASA to do that for years..."

[IRISHMAFIA]

Taste? Hell, from what I've read, all you taste is in your mouth!

Obviously, I disagree with your assessment. A properly worn, well maintained uniform is what makes the umpire look professional. Yes, some colors make it difficult, but I don't believe navy blue is one of them.

Also, as Steve M noted, the navy is much more forgiving. How professional does it look when an umpire is wearing grey and sweating like a bottle of cold water in the desert?

I don't necessarily disagree with your view of the jacket with the navy and I really don't have an answer to a possible change.