An Umpire's Protective Gear Should Include Sunscreen

As an  umpire, you are required to protect yourself at all times on the field. No umpire would dream of working a game without a mask to protect his head and face, a chest protector to protect his body, shin guards, a cup, plate shoes, and so on. Yet many umpires take the field every day with their skin unprotected, and skin cancer can do a lot more damage than a baseball!

After reading a news article about an umpire battling back from skin cancer, we were curious to know whether our customers were making a point to protect their skin while umpiring, and we were glad to hear back from many guys that they do indeed keep SPF in their gear bags.

Umpire Clint Sherbet says of wearing sunscreen, "ALWAYS! And reapply in between games... Not wearing any is not worth the risk!" 

We couldn't agree more! With most games being played between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun's rays are at their strongest, you are risking sun damage every time you take the field, even on overcast days.


The American Cancer Society offers several tips for protecting your skin while you are outside, including using at least 1 ounce of broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher, as well as lip balm with SPF and UV absorbing sunglasses. While your umpire cap may provide some shade for your face, it's important to apply SPF on your face as well as the back of your neck and the tops of your ears. Make sure to apply sunscreen in the locker room or in your vehicle before you go outside, so the lotion will absorb into your skin. Be sure to reapply if you get sweaty.