The Pioneer Category is totally different from the Men’s Open Category as these Pioneer players never had the opportunity to win as many All-American or All-World awards as the players today. A large number of associations did not even offer these All-tournament team awards in the early years of senior softball.
The decision on who is elected in this category is based upon the following:
• Their actual playing ability
• Their on the field accomplishments
• Level of competition ( Major Plus & Major)
• The number of years of participation in senior softball
• Their over all contribution to senior softball and its development
• Any All American or All-World team selections that they have received
Credentials Committee Pioneer Category Advisor Committee
Steve Simmons (Minnesota) Autra Ayres (Texas) Carlos Becerra (California)
Gary Tryhorn (California) Charles Collins (Ohio) Tony Castaldy (New York)
Ted Lawson (MD.) Mike DeSorbo (FL.)
Ridge Hooks (OK.)
Men’s Open Category
Who is eligible?
All nominees must be a minimum of 60 years old and have participated a minimum of 10 years in senior softball. The following are the identified categories that are available for nominations:
Player
Players may earn the following points from playing in National or World Tournaments in the following Associations: ASA, Huntsman, ISF, ISSA, LVSSA, NASCS, SPA, SSWC.
Major Plus & Major Classification 1st Team All Tournament 1 Point
AAA 1st Team All Tournament ½ Point
A player must have a minimum of 8 total points to be considered for nomination. The player must provide a booklet with the following information:
• Completed NSSHOF Application
• Picture of the nominee in uniform
• Pictures of all the All-World or All-American awards
• Newspaper Articles or written documents
• Letters of recommendation from former Managers, Players, Sponsors, or NSSHOF Members
Manager
Managers may earn the following points from play in National or World Tournaments in the following Associations :ASA, Huntsman, ISF, ISSA, LVSSA, NASCS, SPA, SSWC.
Major Plus & Major Classification 1st Team All Tournament 1 Point
AAA 1st Team All Tournament ½ Point
A manager must have a minimum of 4 total points to be considered for nomination. The player must provide a booklet with the following information:
• Completed NSSHOF Application
• Picture of the nominee in uniform
• Pictures of all the All-World or All-American awards
• Newspaper Articles or written documents
• Letters of recommendation from former Managers, Players, Sponsors, or NSSHOF Members
Director
Directors will earn 1 point for directing a National or World Tournaments in the following Associations :ASA, Huntsman, ISF, ISSA, LVSSA, NASCS, SPA, SSWC.
A Director must have directed a minimum of 8 National or World Tournaments to be considered for nomination. The Director must provide a booklet with the following information:
• Completed NSSHOF Application
• Picture of the nominee in Tournament Director uniform
• Pictures of all the association awards received as a Tournament Director.
• Newspaper Articles or written documents
• Letters of recommendation from specific Association Directors, Managers, Players, or NSSHOF Members
Umpire
Umpires will earn 1 point for umpiring in a National or World Senior Tournament in the following Associations :ASA, Huntsman, ISF, ISSA, LVSSA, NASCS, SPA, SSWC.
A Umpire must have umpired in a minimum of 10 National or World Senior Tournaments to be considered for nomination. The Umpire must provide a booklet with the following information:
• Completed NSSHOF Application
• Picture of the nominee in Umpire uniform
• Pictures of all the association awards received as a umpire.
• Newspaper Articles or written documents
• Letters of recommendation from specific Association Directors, Managers, Players, National Umpire in Chiefs or NSSHOF Members
Sponsor
Sponsors must have actively sponsored teams for a minimum of 10 years in senior softball. Their teams must have played in a minimum of 8 National or World Tournaments in senior softball with the following Associations: ASA, Huntsman, ISF, ISSA, LVSSA, NASCS, SPA, or SSWC.
The Sponsor must provide a booklet with the following information:
• Completed NSSHOF Application
• Picture of the nominee
• Pictures of all the All-World or All-American awards that their teams have won.
• Newspaper Articles or written documents
• Letters of recommendation from the above Association Directors, Managers, Players, other Sponsors, or NSSHOF Members
Who votes on these nominations?
Each of the following associations cast 1 vote. ASA, Huntsman, ISF, ISSA, LVSSA, NASCS, NSSHOF, SPA, SSWC.
Process: The Credential Committee reviews and validates all nominations. They prepare a biography of each candidate and forward it to the Hall of Fame Headquarters. The bios are reviewed again and then are sent out to each association. Each association will then cast their votes. The ballots are sent back to the Hall of Fame and counted. The winning candidates are notified and select their induction site.
What happens to the nominees that are not elected?
The remaining nominees that are not elected are carried over to the following year. They will be notified that their application will be carried over to the next election. They will be asked to send any updates concerning awards (All-World or All-American) of that year to the NSSHOF prior to January 1st.
How long does a nominee remain on the list?
The nominees are never removed after they have met the nomination requirements. The only way they are ever removed is if the nominee requests it.
Women’s Category
Players must be a minimum of 60 years old and have played a minimum of 10 years.