I look forward to meeting you, Scooby. Will you be there for the social on Saturday evening?

When would you suggest people start preparing, a couple of months before you get the contract. In the real world, seven weeks prior to the tournament should be plenty to order, receive and alter a pair of pants.

I agree, but I didn't want to take that chance myself, especially with a pant size that I correctly suspected as being quite common: 38. I placed my order on May 30, 3 months in advance.

If ASA is backordered, maybe they'll lighten up on allowing umpires to purchase them directly from ASA. There are a number of third-party vendors that, if I've heard correctly, are ASA-approved. There's one here in the Triangle area, if anyone's interested. I'd want an official statement from ASA before ordering from this guy first.

If ASA does allow this, I'll be happy to send you guys his way. I'm sure he has plenty of Fechheimers in stock.

From Official Gear:

I won't put the person's name in there, but if you've dealt with Official Gear long enough, you know who I got that from. Granted, this is not an official statement from ASA, but it's an indication in the right direction.

I ordered my new ASA pants back in the spring.

Although I was not assigned a national at that time, my UIC (the guy that Darrell knows), indicated that he would require the ASA pants for any qualifiers or other tournaments that led to ASA nationals.

No problems getting them in a few days.

Sounds like a Crock :D

Can't wear those unless they're all black, remember? :eek:

Ok you tell me, if they are Fleck's western cut pockets and no pleats, how are they going to prove they are not from ASA properties? I don't remember there being any tags or identification inside my pants does anyone else? Now granted the above has to be the case, western pockets no pleats and they better say Fleckheimer (sp?) around the waistband or it's easy to tell they aren't the right ones!

I've never seen flat-front, western pocket, heather gray Fechheimers except at ASA properties. But then, I haven't looked very hard - but they aren't at any of the big name internet umpire supply houses.

BTW, were you aware that Fechheimer is part of the same company that makes Fruit of the Looms?

Robbie,

If I remember correctly you are from Indiana. I am not sure that you can order from officialgear.com. We've been told in the past that Wayne (our state commissioner) has gotten the national office to agree not to sell equipment to anyone from Indiana. I don't know if that's true or not, as I've always bought all my ASA equipment from Wayne as each year he attends all the state schools and clinics. Saves the cost of shipping, plus you get to try on anything before you buy it. I also don't believe that he will sell equipment to anyone who is not an ASA registered umpire.

YMMV, but that is my understanding!

I have ordered from Officialgear.com several times this year and I was never asked whether I was an ASA umpire. No questions were asked of any kind. Kinda got the impression that if you had the money they had the product. Have also ordered ASA stuff from TexasSportsServices.com and what I received was exactly the same as what I got from Officalgear. They also did not ask any questions- just accepted my money and shipped the product. TexasSportServices offers pretty much the same line-up of ASA uniforms and gear as Officialgear at the same prices.

Are you serious? :eek:

I wouldn't doubt that there is a relationship there that is a bit more than just the product line.

That's what I assumed and I suspect there are other suppliers like that as well. Since some folks are having a hard time finding items in stock, it occurred to me that they could get "official" uniform pants from other suppliers.

Yes I will. We should be pulling in about an hour before it starts.