As I recall the SSOTY Award was inaugurated in 2000 as part of the Silver Strikers at a time that the Silver Strikers Club was being embraced (for lack of a better term) by the . The SSOTY was held concurrent to the OTY Awards that year, but it was done by the Silver Strikers. At the time, the OTY Awards pertained only to Chip of the Year and Token of the Year.

The following year (2001), with the Silver Strikers Club operating as a Chapter unto the the SSOTY Award was enfolded into the OTY Awards process. And the has been executing a SSOTY Award ever since.

For years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 the SSOTY was the strike recognized by the OTY Awards contest, by the Silver Strikers. Since 2005, the Silver Strikers conduct a separate awards program for Strike of the Year and the also continues it's SSOTY Awards. Since the 2005 contests, different strikes have been recognized by the two different Clubs.

Note also that the Silver Strikers Club also conducts an annual Hall of Fame recognition contest.

Jim