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Dairyland Classic Returns to Milwaukee
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BY PAUL MASTERSON
fter its 2020 cancelation due to COVID-19, Milwaukee’s LGBTQ softball league, SSBL (Saturday Softball Beer League), announced the return of its annual softball tournament, the Dairyland Classic (DLC) on August 7 and 8. Cream City’s long standing gay softball tradition dates back to 1978, when it began as the Wreck Room Classic, played on Memorial Day Weekend. The tournament has since evolved and expanded from its humble beginnings when a handful of gay teams met for an opening summer weekend of jockish camaraderie. In 1986 it became the Milwaukee Classic and in 2002, the Dairyland Classic with ever more national and international teams competing. The 1992 tournament was marked by a game played with players enduring wind chills in the teens. That may have helped convince SSBL to hold the tournament at the end of the season, over Labor Day weekend. Since then, to accommodate other tournaments or the Gay Softball World sSries, it has shifted dates, sometimes drifting into October, or, like this year, earlier in August. The event traditionally culminated in either an old-fashioned awards banquet or, in later years, a street bash or send-off brunch.
MILWAUKEE HOSPITALITY Whenever held, the DLC has always maintained consistency as a showcase of both Milwaukee’s unique hospitality and its historic participation in national LGBTQ athletics. A founding city of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA), Milwaukee hosted, the Gay Softball World Series in 1979 with eight teams attending, again in 1985 including a women’s division, and, most recently, the spectacular NAGAAA-Fest in 2009. That event brought 127 teams and 2500 players to Milwaukee. NAGAAA-Fest’s success has been largely attributed to the many years of organizational experience gained from producing the DLC.
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Beyond the LGBTQ community, with local business sponsorships and recognition not only by local city leaders but also of state and federal ones, SSBL tournaments (this year’s DLC will be the 42nd) have become an integral part of Milwaukee’s summer festscape. They also provide a financial boost to the city (NAGAAA-Fest brought in an estimated $4 million) while raising the city’s reputation as an event destination for all. It’s a win-win for all, in fact, with SSBL volunteers staffing a concession stand at American Family Park during Milwaukee Brewers home games to raise money for league operating costs. SSBL Commissioner Kurt Baldwin noted the challenges of scheduling DLC 2021 while negotiating these uncertain pandemic times. “We started our regular season later than usual due to COVID-19. Now, especially with fears of the Delta variant, everyone is trying to squeeze in a lot. We still have some regular games after the DLC and Chicago is wrapping up their season. State Fair is on the same weekend. Then the Gay Softball World Series takes place August 29 through September 4 in Columbus Ohio,” Baldwin said. Still, the DLC expects to host 22 teams from across the country. Games will be played at Brookfield’s Wirth Park and at VFW Park in New Berlin. Because capacity restrictions were still in place for the bars during the early stages of DLC planning, Baldwin noted no bar-sponsored parties were officially organized and trophy presentation will take place at the fields rather than in an indoor venue. However, the DoubleTree, DLC’s host hotel, will hold the traditional tournament registration party on its rooftop deck on August 7. For more Dairyland Classic 2021 details and volunteer opportunities visit http://www.ssblmilwaukee.com/
Paul Masterson is an LGBTQ activist and writer and has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee Pride, GAMMA and other organizations.
Illustrations by Ali Bachmann.
