Members of the Chicago Dynasty play soccer with the softball before their game against Tito’s 45’s. | Sarah Minor/Contributor
Ryan Russ, superintendent of parks, wets the field. | Sarah Minor/Contributor
Chicago Dynasty pose with the second-place trophy after losing to Tito’s 45’s in the 51st No Glove Softball Nationals Tournament championship game. | Sarah Minor/Contributor
Tito’s 45’s first baseman Adam Hoss stretches to catch a ball. | Sarah Minor/Contributor
Chicago Dynasty catcher Joe Napoli shows the ball to the umpire after he tagged out Tito’s 45’s Danny Villarreal. | Sarah Minor/Contributor
Mike Alongi, Chicago Dynasty third baseman, makes an off-balance throw during their game against Tito’s 45’s in the 51st No Glove Softball Nationals Tournament. | Sarah Minor/Contributor
Mark Holstein of Tito’s 45’s gets high-fives after he is announced as the tournament MVP. | Sarah Minor/Contributor
Tito’s 45’s players pose with the first-place trophy July 28, after beating Chicago Dynasty in the championship game of the 51st No Glove Softball Nationals Tournament. It is at least the third year Tito’s 45’s has taken the championship. | Sarah Minor/Contributor

Softball superstars Tito’s 45’s placed on top in the 51st annual No Glove Nationals Tournament on July 28 for the third year in a row, defeating the Chicago Dynasty team for at least the second year in a row, winning at least two out of three games, 6-5 and 6-5.

“Thank you everyone for your support this weekend and for helping to make the tournament a success,” No Gloves posted on Facebook on July 29. 

Chicago Dynasty came in second in the 46-game tournament and Flashback came in third. The tourney included 24 teams. 

Started in 1969, the tournament began as an “All Star” 16-inch softball tournament, a single-elimination affair, played during Labor Day weekend on the Park District of Forest Park’s only lit field. It was restricted to suburban teams and only 10 teams competed. The heavily-favored Maywood Agents defeated the Cinderella Forest Park All Stars on Sept. 1, 1969, becoming the first champions. 

Popularity certainly increased the second year, when Chicago teams were invited. The competition later evolved into the acclaimed No Gloves Nationals Tournament, with attendance reaching 15,000 for the championship-round games. 

In 2016, the Forest Park Review received the Media Award from the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame, recognizing the newspaper’s coverage of the tourney throughout its lifetime. 

Nona Tepper