Baseball umpire gear usually refers to protective equipment worn by home plate umpires, even though all umpires wear uniforms and must be ready to work home plate in the event the scheduled home plate umpire is unavailable or must leave the game with an illness or injury. The first record of an umpire wearing a chest protector dates back to the 19th century.
Umpire Gear History
In baseball's early decades prior to the Civil War, an umpire was viewed with a little more respect than in modern times and dressed the part as an important official charged with enforcing fair play. He would often wear a top hat and a Prince Albert coat in his position between home plate and first base. The uniform gradually became less formal, and by 1885 home plate umpires had moved behind the catcher and were starting to wear chest protectors. Around that same time, umps also started wearing masks.
Chest Protector History
Baseball fans who see film footage or photographs from the 1960s and earlier may notice the bulky chest protectors worn by home plate umpires. This type of protector was standard until 1964, when the Umpire Development Program started encouraging umpires to use smaller, more flexible chest protectors inside their uniform shirts. It took many years for all veteran umpires to give up their outer chest protectors. American League umpire Jerry Neudecker, the last Major League umpire to use the outer chest protector, retired in 1985. Modern chest protectors also have padding to protect the shoulders and collarbones.
Masks and Shin Guards
Like catchers, home plate umpires always wear a mask and shin guards. The mask has undergone some changes through the years, particularly with the addition in the 1970s of an extension at the bottom of the mask to protect the throat. An umpire's shin guards are worn inside his trousers.
Other Gear
Home plate umpires wear special shoes with a hard protective covering over the top to reduce the risk of injury from foul balls or wild pitches that might hit the feet. Umpires, like most baseball players, also wear protective cups, and some wear back braces to support the spine during the hours they spend on their feet. Umpires are also required to have a rule book, and a pencil and copies of the team's lineup cards, which are given by the coaches before each game. When there's a change in the lineup, the home plate umpire must note the change. Home plate umpires also keep a bag at their side to hold extra baseballs, as well as a handheld balls-and-strikes counter to keep the count on each batter.
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