Additional Notes from Umpire Committee

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I'm not sure wearing proper footwear that's common in our professional circles in their straight-from-the-box form is "styling." New Balance isn't a flashy brand, and I don't think the silver "N" on their shoes draw attention to the umpire any more than the bright "ASA" letters do on a navy ball bag.

ASA on the ball bag draws attention to the organization not the umpire. And every home plate umpire has the 'same' ball bag with the same ASA on it. I know I have been approached as a UIC about that umpire with the white marks on their shoes. So I know for a fact people seperate umpires by their shoes, among other things, (brown pads on their mask, carrying a red water bottle, etc.) so again all black shoes is just one more thing to keep us looking the same. Still I don't see the big deal, I have had 4 pairs of shoes that I can think of right now (probably more that part-timers is kicking in) that I have had to remove white from in my career. Not a huge deal next to trying them on, it was the first thing I did when I got them.