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⚾️ A grave history for LaGrave Field

A grave history for LaGrave Field

The sprinklers haven’t been turned on in a long while. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

It’s #FlashbackFriday and thanks to reader Shaun G.'s recommendation, we’re taking a look back at a Cowtown landmark: LaGrave Field, the home of the Fort Worth Cats minor league baseball team.

Up to bat

Originally known as the Fort Worth Panthers, the team played from 1888 to 1964 — winning the regular season title every year from 1919 to 1925 — and from 2002 to 2014.

The team first played in Panther Park, where Amon Carter had visitors brought in by train, on the north side of town just off Main Street.

FTW-LaGraveField-Archive — The LaGrave Field stands were filled for the Fort Worth Cats’ opening day in April 1928.
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Photo courtesy of UTA Libraries.

Who’s on first

After winning six consecutive titles, the club owners decided to build a new ballpark.

The first 12,000-seat LaGrave Field opened in 1926 a few blocks away from Panther Park and was named after Texas Leaguer and team business manager Paul LaGrave.

The Panther’s success brought baseball legends including Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Jackie Robinson to the stadium. In 1932, the team was renamed the Fort Worth Cats.

FTW-Fort-Worth-Cats-1941 — Fort Worth Cats’ third baseman Joe Abreu at bat against the Dallas Rebels in 1941.
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Photo courtesy of UTA Libraries.

In a pickle

In May 1949, both fire and flooding damaged the stadium and it was torn down and reconstructed with 13,005 seats in July 1950. Sadly in the late 1960s, minor league baseball declined in Fort Worth, causing the club to close and the stadium to be torn down again in 1967.

Fortunately, the team was revived in 2001 by Carl Bell, and the stadium was reconstructed a year later in the same place, making it the only ballpark in America to house four dugouts. However, in less than 15 years, the team was defunct again leaving the seats empty.

Three strikes, you’re out

In 2019, the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) launched a $3.5 million campaign to revitalize the graffiti-covered stadium with Save LaGrave Foundation. Still, the effort was canceled in 2020 after deadlines were missed.

The property owned by TRWD currently sits desolate but could be looped into the future plans for the Panther Island project.

Question

If money wasn’t an object, what would you do with LaGrave Field?

A. Restore it and bring back the Fort Worth Cats
B. Turn it into a museum for local sports
C. Redevelop it as part of the Panther Island project
D. Swing away: You tell us

Call the pitch

Events

Friday, April 14

“Cruel Intentions” | Friday, Apr. 14 | 6:30-9 p.m. | The Patio at Stage West, 820 Jarvis St., Fort Worth | Free | Join a movie watch party featuring an outdoor screening, a live musical performance, bingo + coloring contest.
Fort Worth Tattoo Arts Festival | Friday, Apr. 14-Sunday, Apr. 16 | Times vary | Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston St., Fort Worth | $25-$50 | The world’s largest tattoo convention returns to Fort Worth with professional tattoo artists and dozens of vendors.

Saturday, April 15

Citywide Job Fair | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 9 a.m. | TCC South Campus, student center, 5301 Campus Dr., Fort Worth | Free | Find out why “It’s Worth Working Here” at the city’s second annual job fair.
Fairytale Ball | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston St., Fort Worth | $20-$35 | Bring your little prince or princess to meet the Disney royals with performances, crafts, games + more.
2023 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships - Finals | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 3 p.m. | Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth | $75-$257 | Watch some of the best college gymnasts compete for the national title.

Sunday, April 16

Goat Yoga | Sunday, Apr. 16 | 10-11 a.m. | Martin House Brewing Company, 220 S. Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth | $20-$32 | Come for a morning stretch with a cute barnyard animal and stay for a brew.

Work out your weekend plans

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Finance

7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor

An older couple sits on the riverbank peacefully.

Avoiding these blunders could help you prevent years of stress and heartache. | Photo by SmartAsset

Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

Avoid these seven common mistakes when hiring one, so you can work towards more radiant golden years.

Pro tip: For simplicity, try this free tool to get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area.*

Get started

News Notes

Development

TCU’s Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine is nearing another construction milestone. The project will top out Tuesday, April 18, according to a press release. The medical education building created by Linbeck, CO Architects, and Hoefer Welker is scheduled to be completed summer of 2024. See the latest designs.

Biz

The city finalized its tax abatement agreement with Carhartt earlier this week. The apparel manufacturer will build a $1.2 million state-of-the-art distribution center west of Texas Motor Speedway. It will bring 500 full-time jobs to town by the end of 2024 + is expected to generate about $3 million in net new taxes over the next decade.

Open

JD’s Hamburgers is open again after a March storm damaged the building’s roof. The Camp Bowie West Boulevard joint reopened yesterday and is serving up sourdough bun burgers and sizzling hot fries — evenings only from Monday to Saturday, at the moment. Watch owner Gigi Howell spill the beans.

Fort Worthian

Kit Moncrief is now the first female chair of the TCU Board of Trustees. The local philanthropist has been the vice chair since 2017 and currently serves as the president of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and co-chair of the Fort Worth Zoological Association.

Listen

Local musician Abraham Alexander‘s debut album “SEA/SONS” drops today. The album draws on his experience immigrating to the US, losing his mother and brother, and his adoption. The folk-meets-soul artist performed at SXSW last month and is heading to Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in June.

Fun Fact

We’re not crying, you’re crying — The world’s oldest silverback gorilla lives at the Fort Worth Zoo. Ramses turned 52 years old earlier this week and has been in Cowtown since 1992. He lives behind the scenes in an accessible habitat, taking it easy with his partner Amani.

Ranked

No. 4. That’s what Hotel Drover ranked in Texas Monthly’s list of Best New Hotels in Texas. The Mule Alley hotel was lauded for its vibe, artwork, and amenities. The Cultural District’s Hotel Dryce received an honorable mention.

Eat

In case you didn’t know, today is National Pecan Day. Learn more about the history of the official state tree and stop by one of these six spots for pecan pie. Bonus: We slipped in a recipe to make your own with one of our favorite local spirits.

Try This

Looking to flex your creative muscles? There’s still time to submit to our poetry contest. Using our Wednesday, April 5 newsletter as your word bank, craft a 75-word or less poem. Finalists will be selected based on criteria including originality + creativity — show us what you got by Sunday, April 16.

Shop

It’s shower season, and it’s time to celebrate the soon-to-be parents in your life. From onesies to burp cloths, our online store (Six & Main) has all the essentials for new parents. Shop for the bundle of joy now.

Today Is

National Gardening Day. Treat yourself to a new gardening set — complete with five essential tools, gloves, a mister, and a durable tote bag. Don’t forget the seeds. This kit comes with vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. If space is tight, grab this vertical planter + some highly-rated potting mix.

Travel and Outdoors

⭐️ Time for lights out

Celebrate International Dark Sky Week

Level up your evening walk around Luther Lake with millions of stars. | Photo by @speglar

Tomorrow kicks off International Dark Sky Week, an initiative to combat light pollution in cities all over the world. Do you want to see stars over our city — even downtown? Follow these recommendations from the International Dark Sky Association.

Help measure night sky brightness as a “citizen-scientist” with Globe at Night.

Inventory your home lighting by following the IDA checklist — it could be as easy as pointing an upward-facing light towards the ground.

Join the IDSW scavenger hunt. You’ll start by downloading the free hunt card. Record your progress, send the completed card to IDA, and claim some free Dark Sky stickers.

Find local stargazing events. Consider supporting the Fort Worth Astronomical Society and Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Dark Skies program. Or, plan a trip to your nearest Dark Site and tag us on Instagram with your view of the night sky. Bonus: The Lyrid meteor shower peaks April 19-April 22.

3 more recommendations

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kate

From the editor

My dad used to take me to Fort Worth Cats games growing up. We’d sit by first base, dance when the mascot did, and eat fistfuls of cotton candy while he explained the rules.

Dad — if you’re reading this, thanks for teaching me about baseball. I love you. If you’re not reading this, I still love you, but I will razz you about it later.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Dine outdoors with these eight waterfront restaurants.

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