Papa Hops Softball Tournament Wins 'Event Of The Year' Showdown

CHICAGO — The city's Far Southwest Side Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods have so many great events that bring the community together that it was tough enough to only include eight in our friendly "Event of the Year" bracket-style showdown.

But the public has spoken, and picked a dark horse as the best yearly event in our neighborhood. The Papa Hops 16'' Softball Tournament, seeded No. 5 in the bracket, has won the competition. Papa Hops fans shared the poll numerous times on Twitter and Facebook, leading to a one-sided win in the championship round against the No. 3 seed Beverly Breast Cancer Walk.

Better neighborhood event?
— Beverly-MtG Patch (@BeverlyMtGPatch) August 12, 2019

Papa Hops does know a thing or two about brackets. Their 32-team bracket-style true Chicago 16'' Softball Tournament is played on a Friday night in mid-July every year in memory of Tom "Papa Hops" Hopkins. It draws thousands of people to three neighborhood parks in a strong effort to raise funds for the Tom Hopkins Foundation, which raises money for youth sports in the neighborhood and helping local families with loved ones battling cancer.

And now, Papa Hops has bragging rights as the 2019 Beverly-Mt. Greenwood Patch "Event of the Year" champion.

"We are honored to be a part of such a wonderful neighborhood but more importantly to be recognized with events such as the South Side Irish Parade and Beverly Breast Cancer walk is truly humbling," said Liam Hopkins, son of Tom Hopkins and the primary organizer of the Papa Hops Tournament. "All of these organizations and events do amazing things for our community and we have been fortunate to host such a wonderful event in the Papa Hops 16” Softball Tournament to raise funds for the Tom Hopkins Foundation."

This was fun. Congrats to Papa Hops and all the other wonderful events that make this neighborhood the best around.

We'll get back to our "best pizza" tournament come October.