BISMARCK, N.D. – For the first time in its 45- year history, the Sam McQuade Sr. Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament has been canceled.
“I am extremely disappointed that the 2020 McQuade Tournament must be canceled due to Covid-19 fears,” said tournament Co-Director Jack Jones. “The tasks required of us to meet all suggested guidelines would have been monumental. It was a necessary decision. I apologize to all teams, players, fans, and volunteers who make our tournament the event it has become.”
The softball tournament Board of Directors were not able to consider pushing the tournament back to a later date, nor running a tournament over a few different weekends due to logistics with umpires, teams and volunteers.
“I also acknowledge that this tournament is a boom for our local economy which is clearly in need right now,” said Shannon McQuade-Ely, President of McQuade Distributing Co. “We did not make this decision lightly knowing that, and knowing over 70 organizations and charities will also be affected”.
The USA’s largest non-profit, single weekend slow-pitch softball tournament was founded in 1976 by Sam McQuade Sr. of McQuade Distributing Co., Inc., a local beer distributer. Being a father of a special needs son, Sam was keenly aware of the financial challenges of local charities and organizations that were involved in helping such less fortunate people. In 1976, the first year of the tournament, Sam and countless volunteers raised over $1,000 and brought 103 teams in 4 divisions to Bismarck-Mandan, ND. The event grew to over 475 teams and raised over $140,000 in total donations for more than 70 local charities and organizations in 2019.
“My hope is 2021 returnss us to the best McQuade ever….but today…my heart aches.” Said McQuade-Ely.
*Courtesy McQuade Softball Tournament
