Steve Kordek

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Steve Kordek
Born
Steven Francis Kordek

(1911-12-26)December 26, 1911
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 19, 2012(2012-02-19) (aged 100)
Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.
Resting place
St. Adalbert Cemetery,
Niles, Illinois, U.S.
Known forPinball machine innovator
SpouseHarriet (Pieniazek) Kordek

Steven Francis Kordek (December 26, 1911 – February 19, 2012) was an American businessman of Polish descent who was best known for the design of pinball machines.

Kordek is credited with designing over 100 pinball machines, which in total sold about 180,000 units.[1] Notable games include Grand Prix.The last game Kordek helped design was 2003's Vacation America,[2][3] after his retirement from full time work in 2000.[4] Among the companies that Kordek designed for are Genco, Williams and Bally.

Kordek's grave at St. Adalbert Cemetery

He inadvertently entered the pinball business when visiting Chicago in 1937, and took shelter from the rain in Genco's building.[5][6][7] He was mentored by game designer Harvey Heiss. After seeing the newly invented flippers on Gottlieb's Humpty Dumpty, Kordek designed a game in time for the January 1958 trade show, Triple Action, using two flippers at the bottom of the machine in what would become the traditional place.[8] He remained at Genco until the company closed in 1958,[9] joining Bally. 18 months later he accepted an offer from Sam Stern to join Williams, taking over design from Harry Mabs. In the period 1961-1963 as the sole designer for Williams he designed 28 games, including Vagabond, the first pinball machine with a modern type of drop-target. Norm Clark joined as a second designer at Williams, releasing games from 1964, alternating with Kordek's designs.[8]

Kordek was credited with many innovations to pinball machines. He revised the pin game machines of the 1930s by putting two inward-facing flippers at the bottom of the playing field that were controlled by two buttons on the side of the machine.[2] Other innovations still used today are drop targets and multi-ball mode.

Kordek can be seen at the age of 81 when the television show Wild Chicago toured the Williams factory in 1993.

Kordek died on February 19, 2012, at age 100, and was buried at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, Illinois.[10]

References

  1. "Num83r5 1n p1n84ll". Pinball Magazine. No. 1. 2016 [2012]. p. 13. ISBN 978-90-816266-0-6.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  2. Hevesi, Dennis (February 23, 2012). "Steve Kordek, a Pinball Innovator, Dies at 100". New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  3. Schelberg, Jim (November 21, 2002). "Churchill's coming home". Pinball News. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  4. "End of an Era". Pinball News. December 8, 2000. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  5. Pevtzow, Lisa (July 8, 2009). "Chicago's 98-year-old pinball wizard has the magic touch for game design". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  6. Peckham, Matt (February 24, 2012). "Pinball Machine Wizard Steve Kordek Dies at 100". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  7. Kordek, Steve (April 4, 2007). "TOPcast Show 23" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by Clay Harrell.
  8. Kordek, Steve (2006). "Pinball Expo 2006 - Reminiscing with Steve and Michael - Steve Kordek and Michael Gottlieb". Pinball News. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  9. Kordek, Steve (December 2003). "Pinball Expo 2003 - Steve Kordek - My Days At Genco". Pinball News. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  10. Montano, Nick (February 19, 2012). "Steve Kordek, A Pinball Legend, Dies At 100". Vending Times. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2023.