Umpire Products of the Year Suggestions

Just received a request from a customer asking to supply my nominations for top items of the year for the Umpy Awards that the Midwest Blog does.

Last year, I wrote a post on suggested nominations. This year maybe I just provide my favorite suggestions strictly from my perspective.

Best Umpire Gear
Anything in All-Star umpire gear from the helmet on down to the shin guards. Those of you who know me know I'm a huge Wilson supporter, and I know Jacquie Rooney, product manager of Wilson will read this (Hi Jacquie) so I mention this with a little bit of heavy heart. Wilson has plans in the future, likely late 2012 or 2013, that may just change all of this, but right now the All-Star items have a lot of nice features we and you have not seen before.

Best Umpire Shoes
There are those that love New Balance and those that love Reebok, and this year we definitely have had more Reebok lovers which makes sense over the older New Balance plate shoes. With the new New Balance shoes coming up, I'm very curious to see the thoughts on the new plate shoes. But on the new base shoes, I just think they are going to be a run away best seller because of the lighter weight and newer looks that will have an option with a silver N and white sole, not to mention new MLB logos.

Best Umpire Jacket
The Majestic ThermaBase Umpire Jacket (no contest) which when we add the special order exclusive with black and white stripes that will make it more so.

Best Umpire Shirt
We have to continue to go with Ump-Attire Ultimate Shirts, soon with now anti-microbial treatment in black, navy and powder. Then again, the Dalco pink shirt was just so very popular this year, and the response there was both great and nice.

Best Umpire Pants
Honig's hit a home run with their poly-wools, so much that we had to try to come up with something to compete there. We have a Made in the USA Ump-Attire product coming with a poly-wool fabric but with new features including an expandable waistband.

Best Umpire Accessory
To each his own here. Could be anything there from the Rite-Temp products that we are still considering adding but have our questions, the Stay in the Game sweatband for Prostate Cancer Awareness just because of its intention to make a difference. Perhaps it could be the Team Wendy's pads that I do see people wearing, but I have not seen the technology or the anecdotal evidence from those who use it yet.

What am I missing?

2011 Umps Care Charities Golf Marathon

As a sponsor of Umps Care, I wanted you to be aware of an upcoming event.

It's the Annual 100 Holes Golf Marathon
Augusta Ranch Golf Resort
Mesa, Arizona
November 11th

While it's closed to MLB Umpires and their invites, you can still be a part of it by donating per hole played as golfers attempt to play 100 holes in a day.

Funds for all events go to UMPS CARE Charities children's hospital program, youth ticket program, and family care programs.

We are providing a dollar per hole to our following umpires and friends: Gary Darling, Marvin Hudson, Jim Reynolds and Ted Barrett. Other notable umpires include Eric Cooper, Tim Timmons, Tim Tschida and Jim Wolf. See the full list of whose playing and consider sponsoring.

 For more information on Umps Care Charities, visit www.umpscare.com.

The Umpire School Sponsorship

Our company Ump-Attire.com hasn't been around for very long. There are advantages and disadvantages to being in the sports officials' sporting goods retail market for only 5 1/2 years.

One advantage is you can shape your company in a new way. One disadvantage is there are institutions to which you'd like to be a part of, but it's often rightfully difficult to get one's foot-in-the-door.

One such institution has been that of professional umpire schools. Until now, there have been two umpire schools accredited to send umpires to be evaluated for placement into Minor League Baseball, the Wendelstedt Umpire School and the Jim Evans Academy. Both have been providing umpire training for over 20 years and both have long-standing partnerships with two of our competitors. I tip my cap to those institutions, their relationships and their alumni.

As of 2012, a new professional umpire school, The Umpire School, will have its inaugural session on January 8th at the Vero Beach Sports Village in Vero Beach, Florida. The 4-week school will have core instruction in an all-inclusive setting - with dining and housing in one location - provided by staff of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp (PBUC), the same organization responsible for recruitment, evaluating and training of Minor League umpires.

This not only changes things in the world of professional umpire schools, but it also provides a great opportunity for us.

After a few months of discussion with Minor League Baseball, we are proud and excited to announce that we are now an Official Supplier of The Umpire School.

As part of our agreement, we'll provide financial, service and product support including an on-site store and special benefits for students. Read the full press release on the MiLB.com website.

Consider enrolling and come see us in Vero Beach in January. For more information on The Umpire School, please visit therightcall.net.

For more information on the Vero Beach Sports Village, the former spring training facility of the LA Dodgers, visit vbsportsvillage.com. For photos of my recent on-site tour, see our Facebook fan page.

Local Umpires Golf Scramble Photos

Enjoyed my time at the KBUA (Kentuckiana Baseball Umpires Association) Golf Scramble sponsored by Ump-Attire.com at Sun Valley Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky. Here are a few photos. (10/9/2011)

The Winning Foursome
(l to r) Jim Mohr, Bill Sims, Jenny Dunn and James McGowan

The Not in Last Place Foursome
(l to r) Don Hudson, Jim Kirk, Don Distler and Dale Goodwin

(l to r) KBUA Umpires Clarence Coleman, Lee Walker and Eric Soergel with other golf scramble participants 

Anthony Wilder - KBUA Treasurer Gives Out the Awards

I "was" closest to the pin (which is somewhat of a minor miracle the way I swing)

But this guy, Bill Sims, was the Closest to the Pin Winner

Dale Goodwin and Clarence Coleman share a post-scramble laugh