Assorted Staff Photos Reveal Diverse Roles

Krista Wolf, office manager, works with Adam Carter, regional and group sales director on NCAA Baseball Clinic planning

Myra Breit, customer service representative answers an email from a customer

Paul Hugues (far left), VP/Director of Operations, advises photographer/umpire Tim Hendrick and model/referee Michael Neel on which lanyard to wear in photo shoot

Krista steams a shirt for a recent photo shoot.

Charlie Tierney, in-season Minor League Umpire and off-season warehouse staff strikes a pose for the camera in a recent photo shoot.

Customer Service - Serious Business at Ump-Attire.com

At Ump-Attire.com we take customer service seriously. We have a culture among all staff to provide excellent service. Any feedback from customers good or bad is shared by all staff at all levels.

Our CEO, Jim Kirk, recently stumbled across this comment posted on a blog mentioning an experience with Ump-Attire.com:

"I ordered a pair of plate shoes just before Christmas. Right after I did I got an ad for the same thing at a reduced price. They reduced the order price for me."

It inspired Jim to send this memo to all Ump-Attire.com employees as a reminder of just how important good customer service is and what it means to our customers:

I want to take this time to reiterate that service is not just what is done in the customer service department. To our customers, it's that they trust we'll take up for them and look out for them. That is from having stock of what they need when they need it, we are being honest in our descriptions, they feel they are getting a fair price, get their order quickly, get what they ordered, that we won't nickel and dime them and that we back them up if something goes awry.

The formula for satisfying our customers is not all that complicated and always boils down to "Treat others as you would hope to be treated".

There you have it - Customer Service- it's part of our vision! Keep the feedback coming!


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UMPS Care Golf Classic 2013

Jim Kirk  and Tim Timmons

I enjoyed yet another Umps Care Golf Classic where MLB umpires played golf and raised money.

The misty morning rain didn't dampen spirits at the Raven Golf Club is Mesa, Arizona. "It's for the kids" was a frequent motto of the day.

Although my team did not win the scramble, I feel I had the best crew there. I had the honor of playing with MLB umpire Tim Timmons and three umpire/customers Dan McGinnis and his two sons Daniel and Dave.

These guys were celebrities in their own right. Tim was the MC of the post-scramble auction. Dan won the first ever Umps Care Ambassadors Award. Daniel won the long drive contest (holy crap can that kid hit a golf ball!). Dave, well, he's studying to be an aerospace engineer. How often do you play golf with a rocket scientist, let alone one who also umpires?

Great day. Great event. Great cause. Thanks to Umps Care for allowing us to be a part of this worthwhile event.

Tim Timmons, Dan, Daniel and Dave McGinnis at the Golf Classic

UMPS CARE Charities was established by (MLB) umpires to provide financial, in-kind and emotional support for America’s youth and families in need. For more information about UMPS CARE Charities, visit www.umpscare.com.


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Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere. Find Jim on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

Student Ejects President/CEO Jim Kirk at The Umpire School

At The Umpire School, field work occurs with instructors creating situations for umpires using runners and fielders then hitting fungo to mimic live play. The runners and fielders are students.

In the latter weeks, instructors act as managers and argue with the umpire students to help them learn handling situations. At times, this results in “managers” being ejected.

On the final day of the 4-week school, Field Lead Instructor Darren Spagnardi had President/CEO Jim Kirk of Ump-Attire.com play the role of player antagonist to umpire students getting their reps.

After a few minor arguments, Skylar Shown of Owensboro, Kentucky eventually ejects Jim. He had argued a particular call then said the magic-ejection-word “You”.

Jim and Darren plan scenarios.

Jim at first base with student-runner

Jim vehemently makes his case with Skylar that the runner should have been out at home.

Darren plays manager and Skylar handles the situation by telling him that he will talk to him when his player walks away.

Not shown: Jim utters a few choice words and is deservedly tossed from the game. Nicely done Skylar!

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Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere. Find Jim on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

Fake Umps Sighting at Umps Care Event

Jim and (retired) Fake Umps and Umps Care Supporters Tim Williams and Joe Farrell

See the 'Fake Umps' in action with this video http://vimeo.com/8874881


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Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere. Find Jim on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

Just Part of the Job - Ump-Attire.com Checks out the LIT Tournament

Ramsey, Gray and Zirbel

One of the best parts of our job here at Ump-Attire.com?  Getting to see some of the officials we outfit in action!  Adam Carter, our Regional and Group Sales Director, recently had the opportunity to attend the Louisville Invitational Tournament (LIT) on January 15th. 

Dale Ramsey and Gerald Gray (a former Harlen Globetrotter) as well as Keith Zirbel officiated the tournament and sported our KHSAA logo shirts.  We think they looked pretty sharp out there!

When you are not officiating - do you check out other games and other officials?


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Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere. Find Jim on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

Congrats and a Pair of Manzella Gloves to Witmer William!

Manzella Trekker Windstopper Gloves

Winter weather can be unpredictable and extremely cold for those of you officiating outside.  We asked our Facebook fans the following question: 

BRRRR! If you think it's the coldest where you live today, tell us where and what the temperature is. Coldest gets warmed up by a free pair of Manzella Gloves.


58 of you responded and here are some of the chilliest results:

Chad Leidall -12 with a wind chill of -25 in St. Paul, MN.

Harvey McCarthy - I won't win but it is 27. When I start umpiring this year, it will probably be a lot damn colder. Working in Colorado, I have seen it go from t-shirts to winter jackets within three innings.

Dana Motter -14 in Findlay, Ohio

Thomas Hamkens - Bismarck, ND 3* right now but yesterday it felt like -56* with the wind.

Chuck Watterson - LaPorte, IN and its 1 degree with -15 wind chill!

John Aebischer - Well, in St. Louis we went from 70 degrees and wearing shorts on Monday to in the 20's and snow showers by Wednesday. This morning it was 5 degrees at my house in St. Charles.

Scott Moore - 20 here in NH but wind speed on MT. Washington 118... won't even tell you what that wind chill is....

Marty Gerich Sr. - Hayward Wisconsin -21, -38 with the wind chill

Whll Umpires - We are freezing here in Spring Hill, Fl. It's 54

Scott Costello - Barrie, Ontario 1 degree -9 degrees with the windchill

Turns out there are a lot of you dealing with some pretty cold temps and wind chills but one fan was the clear winner:

Witmer William - Fairbanks, Alaska -48 below

Congratulations Witmer William - we hope the gloves help keep you warm in Alaska!

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Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere. Find Jim on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.