The Sam McQuade Sr. softball tournament is an annual charity softball event held in the Bismarck–Mandan area of North Dakota. Officially the "Sam McQuade Sr./Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament", this event draws approximately 400 teams from the United States and Canada areas, as well as roughly 15,000 fans that attend the event.[1] The event is hosted at several softball complexes around the Bismarck-Mandan area every June, and claims to be the largest charity softball event in the world.[2]
The Sam McQuade Sr. softball tournament is a non-profit, one-weekend slow-pitch softball tournament founded in 1976 by Sam McQuade Sr. of McQuade Distributing Co., Inc., the local distributor of Budweiser beer of the Bismarck–Mandan Area. The father of a special needs son, McQuade was aware of the financial challenges of local charities and organizations. The first year of the tournament raised over $1,000 and brought 103 teams in 4 divisions to Bismarck, ND. The event grew to over 400 teams in 13 divisions and raised over $30,000 in total donations in 1992, the year McQuade died. In 2009, the tournament raised over $75,000. Today, the tournament is run by a Board of Directors, which includes Sam McQuade Jr., his daughter Shannon McQuade-Ely and several other community leaders.[3]
Teams have come from neighboring states, such as Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana; and as far away as Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Washington state and Wyoming. Teams also come from 2 Canadian provinces. In addition, the tournament also helped sponsor international divisions in 2006 in Bosnia, three in Baghdad (2007, 2008 & 2009), and one in Kosovo in 2010. The tournament also showcases the North Dakota Military All Stars team, which includes active and retired military members.[4] All of the proceeds benefit local charities and organizations, especially those that help run the tournament.[3]
| Division | Team | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's A / Supers | Long Haul / Hortenbach Auto / Easton | Cicero, New York | |
| Men's C | Corral / Grind Athletics / Bud Lt / Heart River | Bismarck, North Dakota | |
| Men's D | Quality Alignment / NuBar | Valley City, North Dakota | |
| Men's Rec 1 | Berger Chiropractic | Mandan, North Dakota | |
| Men's Rec 2 | Center Merchants | Center, North Dakota | |
| Men's Rec 3 (Budweiser) | Warning Track Power | Bismarck, North Dakota | |
| Men's Rec 3 (Bud Light) | Wings & Rings / Shuler Repair | Minot, North Dakota | |
| Men's Rec 4 | Lovable Losers | Gilbert, Arizona | |
| Masters 35-49 (Michelob Ultra) | All Airforce Alumni | Converse, Texas | |
| Masters 35-49 (Michelob Amber Bock) | Wild Bills / Bootlegrz | Minot, North Dakota | |
| Masters 50 | Bellerud Transport | Fargo, North Dakota | |
| Women's C/D | Amundson Farms / Tharaldson | Fargo, North Dakota | |
| Women's Rec 1 | Capri Bar | Minot, North Dakota | |
| Women's Rec 2 | Buffalo Wild Wings / Slater Const. / Bud Light | Williston, North Dakota | |
| Women's Rec 3 | Prairie Wind / Dinkerson Animal Hospital | Minot, North Dakota |