His long-established nickname is “Bat,” and even many good friends don’t know that his real name is David. But now Bat Masterson has a new nickname: “Papa.”
Bat Masterson displays his Hemingwayesque appearance to judges during the final round of the 2024 Hemingway Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)
That’s because, after 10 years of trying, Bat recently won the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, a highlight of Key West’s annual Hemingway Days festival that ended July 21 — the 125th anniversary of “Papa” Hemingway’s birth.
A retired helicopter pilot from Florida’s Daytona Beach, Bat triumphed over 121 other entrants in the three-round contest that concluded July 20 at Sloppy Joe’s Bar. The bar was a beloved hangout for renowned author Ernest Hemingway, who lived and wrote literary classics in Key West for most of the 1930s.
“Like Hemingway, I have a thirst for life and a quest for adventure,” said Bat, who seemed elated and slightly stunned after his victory. “I like to fly and ride motorcycles and jump out of airplanes and that sort of stuff — and Hemingway was a very adventurous man, and I admire him for that.”
The Look-Alike Contest’s hard-fought finals followed two preliminary rounds where the 122 aspiring “Ernests” were whittled down to two dozen semi-finalists. Many entrants wore casual sportsman’s garb or thick fisherman’s sweaters, attempting to emulate the rugged “Papa” persona that Hemingway adopted in his later years.
During the final round, competitors including Leslaw Jedrysko of Nowy Targ, Poland (yes, all the way from Poland!) paraded across Sloppy Joe’s stage and took turns speaking.
Bradley Hamilton explains to the judges why he should be named the winner of the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)
Hordes of spectators filled the historic bar, waving signs and fervently applauded their favorites. Among them was celebrity chef Paula Deen, whose husband Michael Groover won the look-alike title in 2018.
While the 2024 entrants were impressive, no one could outshine Bat. He wowed the judges — all previous contest winners, who are called “Papas” — by singing a themed parody of the iconic Garth Brooks hit “Friends in Low Places.” Its chorus, with words changed to fit the occasion, referenced cocktails, “Papas” and “friends in tropical places.”
Bat admitted he writes a little bit, though he can’t match Hemingway’s praiseworthy attention to detail, and also shares several other traits with the fabled author.
“I grew up hunting and fishing,” he said. “My father was a lot like Hemingway’s father. He taught me all about the outdoors and about fishing and hunting, and taking care and being a good steward of our environment.”
Hemingway Days salutes the vigorous Key West lifestyle and literary talent of the author who wrote classics including “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “To Have and Have Not” during his years on the island.
Bat serenades the judges with a parody of the Garth Brooks hit “Friends in Low Places” during the final round of the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)
Look-alike contenders and previous winners also staged the “Running of the Bulls,” a lighthearted spoof of the famous sporting challenge in Pamplona, Spain (mercifully featuring manmade bulls on wheels instead of intimidating REAL bovines).
And they concluded the festival with the Papa Birthday Bash at Sloppy Joe’s, celebrating the 125th anniversary of Hemingway’s July 21 birth — complete with an appropriately decorated birthday cake.
While Bat clearly enjoyed all the events, his greatest joy came from anticipating the increased level of camaraderie he will share with the previous contest winners, who guide the Hemingway Look-Alike Society.
“I feel a little like Hemingway at this moment, in that he had friends and family that loved him very much, and that’s what I’m feeling right now,” said the newest “Papa,” while standing outside Sloppy Joe’s surrounded by congratulatory previous winners.
“How do you explain the feeling of getting to join this group of guys? Because that’s what happens when you win the contest — you become a judge and you get to join these guys every year,” Bat added. “And so, I’m just looking forward to that.”
