Scrap Iron Softball Club Inducted into Hall of Fame

The Scrap Iron Softball Club was inducted into the SSUSA and National Senior Softball Hall of Fame on September 21, 2026. The ceremony was held at the Las Vegas Big League Dreams – Fenway Park. Here is the abbreviated speech given by John Parisi to a crowd of over a hundred in attendance.

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Scrap Iron: More Than a Softball Club

Scrap Iron has always been more than just the name of a softball club.

Our club was built by players who loved the game, respected competition, and wanted to continue playing at a high level as they grew older.

The Scrap Iron Softball Club was formed in 1992. When the club was officially recognized by the State of Colorado as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2004, it consisted of seven teams. That effort was led by six men whose vision helped shape the organization we know today.

Those founders created a structure that gave passionate players an opportunity to continue pursuing excellence in the sport they love. One of our long-standing mottos is that no player should be left behind. Their vision strengthened senior softball in Colorado and contributed to the growth of the national senior softball community, including SSUSA.

But the true legacy of Scrap Iron is not measured by championships, the number of teams, or awards won.

It is measured by friendships, competition, loyalty, and the simple joy of continuing to play the game we love.

Our mission has always been, and will continue to be, encouraging senior players of all skill levels to stay active, involved, and connected through softball.

Our Values are simple:

• Represent the club with integrity, sportsmanship, and respect toward opponents, fans, and umpires.

• Strive for participation and inclusion.

• Be loyal to your team and the club.

• Be a great teammate. Encourage and support one another on and off the field. Give and receive constructive feedback for the good of the team.

• Foster a free exchange of ideas among players and teams.

People sometimes ask, "What is Scrap Iron?" or "Who sponsors all these teams?" Some assume Scrap Iron must be a large corporation to support teams across so many age levels.

Our club president, Andy Shapiro, likes to have a little fun with that question. He'll sometimes say that Scrap Iron processes lithium, plutonium, uranium, and other highly hazardous materials.

Of course, the real story is much different.

When Scrap Iron became our name, one of our founding members, Kenny Green, wrote a short poem that perfectly captured its meaning:

When I was young,

With skin like rubber,

I'd stretch and bend,

Quick to recover.

But the years, it seems,Have tarnished me.

Like old Scrap Iron,I've come to be.

And maybe that's who we are.

We may have a little more rust than we used to. We may take a little longer to recover after a tournament weekend. But we still show up. We still compete. We still support one another. And most importantly, we still play this game with the same joy we felt as 12-year-olds.

That's what Scrap Iron is all about.