The / version of the SSOTY is on hiatus, not gone. We did this same thing for slot machine tokens (TOTY) some years ago, and still allow for candidate submissions. However, we never receive 10 or more each year, so the TOTY remains on hiatus.

This year (for SSOTY 2017) I had less than 10 different candidate nominations, from about 3 people. I posted multiple times here and on the other message boards, my Call for Nominations, but did not receive enough to make the contest competitive.

My earlier comment about colorized strikes was only meant to show why non-collectors of strikes have moved their interest elsewhere, as in the past I received plenty of non-strike collector nominations. But they have left, leaving only the strike collectors, which have been dwindling (participation wise) in recent years and almost completely for the 2017 Awards.

I have known Shaun Webster for years and speak with him from time to time about the "Silver Strike" Program. I applaud his efforts to revitalize the Program and would love to have a competitive field. After all, as the then OTY Awards Chairman in 2001, I brought the SSOTY Award into the OTY Awards Program.

I very much want the SSOTY to continue, but it requires Nominees.

Respectfully,

Jim Follis, LM 3872-53
/ OTY Awards Chairman