Alright, let’s talk about umpire hats, specifically the New Era ones I ended up using. It started pretty casually. I got roped into helping umpire my kid’s baseball games. You know how it is, they never have enough volunteers. At first, I just grabbed whatever old baseball cap I had lying around. Big mistake. Looked sloppy, didn’t fit right over the mask gear, and the sun was always finding a way into my eyes.
I realized pretty quick I needed something actually meant for the job. Standing behind the plate, especially on hot days, you need gear that works. A regular hat just wasn’t cutting it. It felt weird, shifted around, and honestly, just looked goofy with the chest protector and mask.
Finding Something Better
So, I started looking around. Asked a couple of the other dads who’d done it before. Someone mentioned New Era made umpire hats. I knew their regular caps, of course, everyone does. But umpire hats? Didn’t even know that was a thing they did. I figured, okay, they know hats, maybe they know umpire hats too. Went online to check them out. Saw they had a few different styles, mostly variations on the brim length and the profile – how high it sits.
I decided to pull the trigger on one. Didn’t want anything too massive. I specifically went for one of the models with a shorter brim. Seemed more practical, less likely to get knocked askew by the mask. When it arrived, the first thing I noticed was the feel. It felt sturdy, you know? More substantial than a standard cap. The fabric seemed tougher.
Putting It To The Test
The real test came during the next game. Putting it on, it fit snugly. Lower profile than my old caps, which was good. It sat better on my head, especially once I put the umpire mask on over it. Here’s what I really noticed during those innings:
- Fit with Mask: It actually worked with the mask. Didn’t push the hat down into my eyes, and when I had to quickly pull the mask off for a play at the plate, the hat stayed put. That was a big deal. Less fiddling around between pitches.
- Sweat Management: This was maybe the best part. Those cheap hats just soak through and then drip sweat right into your eyes. Super annoying. The New Era hat seemed to handle sweat much better. It still got damp, obviously, but it wasn’t dripping down my face nearly as much. The built-in sweatband seemed to do its job.
- The Brim: That shorter brim was perfect for me. Kept the sun out of my direct line of sight but didn’t feel like this huge plank sticking out. Didn’t interfere with the mask cage at all.
- Looks: Okay, maybe not the most important, but it just looked more professional. Felt like I had the right gear for the role, even if it was just kids’ baseball.
I used that hat for the rest of the season, and into the next one. It got predictably dusty and sweaty, but I wiped it down, and it held its shape really well. Didn’t get all floppy or misshapen like some other hats I’ve owned. For me, spending a bit extra on the New Era umpire hat was worth it just for the comfort and the fact that I wasn’t constantly messing with it during the game. It just worked, letting me focus on, you know, actually calling balls and strikes.
