We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mr Manuel Ferrero III. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Manuel, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I don’t really have normal days. Life as the ISPS Commissioner is anything but routine. When I’m in Miami, my mornings have a rhythm. I’m up before the sun because I believe early hours win the day. First stop: the bathroom, to get ready for the day.
I feed my English Bulldog, Theodore Lincoln Ferrero I. Theo runs the house, I just pay the bills. Then I take him for a quick walk. After that, I scan my inbox for anything urgent like events, meetings, or international calls.
Next, I switch hats from Commissioner to Dad. I get my son, Manuel, ready for school and we drive together. It is our daily time to talk, laugh, and plan big dreams before I dive into a day that might take me from a city meeting in Miami to a slow pitch diamond halfway across the world.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Manuel Teodorico Ferrero III, founder and Commissioner of the International Slow Pitch Softball (ISPS) the global home of slow pitch. We’re not just running tournaments; we’re building a worldwide community where players can compete, travel, and create unforgettable memories.
What makes ISPS special? We bring the game to places it’s never been, from Miami streets to stadiums in Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and soon Asia and Australia. I started ISPS after losing my brother in Iraq, and that loss fuels my mission to connect people through the sport we love.
Right now, we’re pushing the game forward with the ISPS Slow Pitch Academy, world championships on multiple continents, and new tech to unite players everywhere. My take? Slow pitch isn’t just a game, it’s a passport to the world.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My paternal grandmother, Modesta, saw me before I ever saw myself. I was her golden child. She didn’t just believe in me, she expected greatness from me. She had that unshakable conviction that I was meant to do something big and she treated me like it was already a fact, not a possibility. When someone loves you like that, it becomes impossible to play small.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wound of my life was losing my only brother, PFC Marius L. Ferrero, in Iraq. That kind of pain never fully heals. It becomes part of you.
I created MARIO’S SOLDIERS to honor his service and sacrifice, and ISPS is also part of his legacy because it’s about bringing people together, just like he did. I have learned that grief doesn’t disappear. You just learn to carry it and turn it into something that matters.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in our industry is that slow pitch is just a weekend hobby. People underestimate the impact it can have on communities, tourism, and even international relations. Another lie is that growth only happens in traditional markets. I have seen slow pitch explode in places most people never thought about, from Central America to Asia.
There is also a myth that the sport does not need innovation. The truth is, if you are not evolving formats, using technology, and finding new ideas to grow the sport, you are falling behind. Slow pitch is more than a game. It is an economic driver, a cultural bridge, and a global movement.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
People might misunderstand my legacy by thinking ISPS was only about running tournaments. The truth is, it was always about building a global community and giving people life experiences they would never have without the game.
Some might see the trophies and championships, but miss the friendships formed, the barriers broken, and the cultures connected. My legacy is not just in scoreboards. It is in the lives we touched and the worlds we brought closer together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://playisps.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ispso
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-slow-pitch-softball/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ispso
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ispso
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/international-slow-pitch-softball-miami?osq=International+Slow+Pitch+Softball
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ispssoftball
Image Credits
International Slow Pitch Softball, Inc.
