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United States Specialty
Sports Association (USSSA)
Homepage: http://www.usssa.com/sports/Home.asp?Sport=17
Rules and regulations: http://www.usssa.com/usssa/usssa-
general/2004SlowPitchRulebook061204.htm
History:
A group of frustrated softball
managers in Pittsburgh pioneered the United
States Slo-Pitch Softball Association (USSSA)
in 1968. Disenchanted after most of their
ideas were turned down during a national
softball association meeting, USSSA founders
Robert Mueller, James DiOrio, Ray Ernst,
Frank Ciaccia and Ted Mazza decided to organize
an experimental world tournament in 1968,
under the banner of a new organization.
Thus, before 1968 was over, USSSA was formally
established.
To advance slowpitch softball,
the founders implemented developments previously
turned down by the national association.
They constructed longer fences, implemented
65-foot base paths and smaller batter’s
box; widened media coverage; and solicited
greater financial support. The founders
also ensured the completion of the association’s
constitution and rule book.
The experimental world
tournament held before the close of the
1968 season was a huge success, with 50
teams participating from 15 different states.
The succeeding five years of USSSA, however,
was a struggle for survival due to financial
difficulties. The year 1971 was a critical
time for USSSA, with overwhelming debts
and directors resigning. The organization
fortunately recovered from this crisis in
1972, and things started to head up from
there.
By 1997, USSA was overseeing
not only slow pitch, but also fast pitch
softball, baseball, basketball, and golf.
It was also in 1997 when the association
changed its name to what it is known today:
the United States Specialty Sports Association
–becoming the first multi-sports governing
body.
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