The official Baseball & Softball Umpire Cap for UMPS Chicago Area Umpires. Choose between 4-stitch, 6-stitch, and 8-stitch options. For new umpires, the 4-stitch will be your plate hat and 8-stitch will be your base hat.
Note – new umpires will be doing 1-man games and you will be in charge. You can opt to have a black shirt and black hat to start. Many umpires start with the navy shirt and navy hat as their standard to identify you as an umpire. If you are brand new, you will most likely need the blue 4-stitch hat as your main hat for the plate.
Check your hat size by measuring. Hats are fitted and the umpire mask rests on the hat brim. It is important to have a well-fitting hat for comfort.
The true fitted caps are made with Richardson Surge fabric. The FlexFit caps are made using Richardson’s Pulse Performance Fabric.
Before you order – read tips and size guide below.
UMPIRE FITTED CAPS
Don’t be afraid of fitted umpire cap sizes if you don’t know yours. Simply read further and follow the chart below (or pull out your fitted baseball cap from your closet and look at the tag).
MEASURING YOUR HAT SIZE
Basically measure around (circumference) your head where your hat will fit. This means starting about a 1/2 inch above your eyebrows, going just above the top of your ears and midway on your occipital bone (that little bone in the middle of the back of your head). Don’t pull the tape too tightly or your hat will fit that tightly. If using a string, measure against a ruler. Measure 2 or 3 times to be accurate.
| Fitted Hat Size Chart | ||
| Inches | Centimeters | Hat Size |
| 21 | 53 | 6 5/8 |
| 21 1/2 | 54 | 6 3/4 |
| 21 7/8 | 55 | 6 7/8 |
| 22 1/4 | 56 | 7 |
| 22 5/8 | 57 | 7 1/8 |
| 23 | 58 | 7 1/4 |
| 23 3/8 | 59 | 7 3/8 |
| 23 3/4 | 60 | 7 1/2 |
| 24 | 61 | 7 5/8 |
| 24 1/2 | 62 | 7 3/4 |
| 25 | 63 | 7 7/8 |
| 25 1/2 | 64 | 8 |
| If you are unsure or between sizes, buy the larger size.Note that Richardson does an excellent job in the sizing of their caps. Every once in a while someone will say a cap doesn’t fit like another brand cap. Typically the sizing issue is with the other brand. | ||
OUT-OF-THE-BOX
Try it on and make sure it does not fit too tightly or so loosely that if falls off with movement. For umpires, caps worn with masks should fit snugly (some prefer only fitted sizes for this reason) so that when you take off your mask the cap does not come off easily with removal.
ADVANCED TIP FOR UMPIRES
Very important mask tip. Your mask harness MUST be loose. This will prevent injury to you as a tight mask strap will transmit force to your head. A loose mask strap will allow the mask to fly off if struck by the ball. A loose mask strap is also easier to pull the mask off when running out to cover plays. If your cap comes off easily when you pull off your mask, try one of two things before considering a different cap size. Advanced umpires know to pull their mask out first before pulling up. For new umpires, this normally takes some practice. Moving your mask harness to where it attaches to the mask, at the face, to the outermost bars may also help.