Games People Play — ASA Softball Umpires Honor Supplee

The Sixth District Amateur Softball Association umpires honored Court House resident Joe Supplee last Sunday with the group’s prestigious Bill Jennings Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the organization.
The tribute is bestowed annually by the local ASA group which primarily officiates slow- and fast-pitch softball in Cape May and Atlantic counties.
Supplee, 68, is widely known in the area as an affable, jovial person who is often accompanied by his trusty cup of coffee and usually enjoying a good laugh with ballplayers and spectators. A lifelong “auto parts guy,” the Philadelphia native spent many years in Wildwood before moving to Court House with his wife of 35 years, Patty. The couple has two children each from previous marriages.
A graduate of Wildwood High School, Supplee also attended Wildwood Catholic before joining the National Guard for a seven-year stint. He became involved in umpiring after attending his step-son’s little league games and finding himself calling balls and strikes as an impromptu volunteer.
“I went to watch Kenny’s games at Boyd Street and every time I’d go they had no one to umpire,” said Supplee. “After a while I started hiding in my car waiting for the game to start. Then they knew my car and they’d come and tap on the window. So I started taking my wife’s car and they still found me.”
When his step son moved past little league, Supplee signed up for high school baseball umpiring. He’s been calling balls and strikes and safe and out for high school baseball for about two decades.
“I have fun on the field because I get along with everybody,” he said. “I just enjoy it so much. The day-to-day stuff in my life goes blank when I’m on the field. It’s like a night out for me. It’s great therapy.”
Patty Supplee is battling illness and these days more than ever her husband relies upon his umpiring to help take his mind off of her situation.
An ASA official for about a dozen years, Supplee has made an army of good friends among fellow umpires and the legions of ballplayers he’s met over the years. When he’s not working games he often stops by in his pick-up truck with his trademark umpire shirt hanging just behind the driver’s side headrest.
“Joe’s always willing and available to help out the association,” said long-time ASA administrator and Dennis Township resident Bob Mauger. “He’s all about the game. He enjoys himself and believes the game is important.”
Larry Blohm is a well recognized multi-sport official. The Palermo resident appreciates Supplee’s willingness to step up. “If you need something from Joe he’ll do it right away,” said Blohm, a retired Ocean City middle school teacher and coach. “He’s always there for you. Guys like Joe are invaluable to any association.”
Rio Grande’s Bill Ackley is the ASA umpire-in-chief and another officiating colleague who appreciates Supplee’s fun-loving approach to the game of softball. “He goes out of his way to help people and offers to do anything for you,” said Ackley, a retired Lower Cape May middle school teacher and current multi-sport official. “He enjoys being around the ballplayers and has a good time on the field. He’s in umpiring for the right reasons.”
Supplee, who also enjoys working in his Goshen Road garden and following the exploits of Pittsburgh’s Steelers and Pirates, knows he’s not as young as he used to be. He realizes that umpiring can be a physically demanding vocation. He hesitates when contemplating the day he will no longer attach the ball bag to his belt, brush off the plate and hustle around the field making calls.
“I’m getting older so umpiring is more of a challenge now,” said Supplee. “But when I screw up I try to work it out and get the call right.”
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net
ASA President and Herald columnist Joe Rossi presents Joe Supplee of Court House with umpire award.