NSA Hall of Fame: Steve Endress (2023)
CATEGORY: Umpire
YEAR INDUCTED: 2023
AWARDS WON:
- 2018 Eddie Ray Cantrell (Slow Pitch Umpire of the Year)
In 1998 the Kankakee River Road Complex began sanctioning their leagues with NSA and that year also started a lengthy career for a NSA Umpire as Steve Endress began calling games for the league action. Steve was assigned to work most State, NIT, Regionals, and Worlds that were hosted at Kankakee River Road Complex. In 2002 Steve began traveling outside of Illinois to umpire for the NSA with his first trip was to Muncie, Indiana to work the NSA “D” Super World and was selected to work the Championship Game. In 2001 Steve retired from playing slow pitch and began umpiring girl’s fast pitch. Steve found his passion for the fast pitch game and in addition to NSA he also umpired for IHSA up to Illinois State Championships.
While working both slow and fast pitch games one thing never changes for Steve the umpire. He understands that that in both games the players and coaches are “our customers”, and without those customers there would be no work for umpires. He takes pride in being approachable and working through issues as they arise.
During Steve’s NSA career, he has received the Northern Zone 110% Award in 2002, 2004 Umpire Directors’ Award of Excellence for the Kankakee area, 2014 Northern Zone Iron Man award, and 2018 the Eddie Cantrell Slow Pitch Umpire of the Year Award.
Steve has been married to Susie for 50 years, has two children, and seven grandchildren. With five of those grandchildren currently playing travel ball all over the country, Steve’s priority is enjoying watching his grandchildren and he travels nationwide to accomplish that passion.
On November 8, 2023 Steven Endress became the 39th Umpire inducted into the NSA-BPA Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2023.
