Lagrave Field is the home of the Fort Worth Cats of the Central League.

There was once a ballpark in Fort Worth called LaGrave Field and a team called the Cats. They last played in the 1960s. In 2001 the Cats returned to Fort Worth and in 2002 LaGrave Field was reincarnated.



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There is a great sense of history in the way the new Cats orginization have built their franchise. It started with taking the name of the original team and donning the same style uniforms. Then they chose to build the new ballpark on the same site as the old ballpark and give it the same name. As if to drive home the fact that new LaGrave stands on the site of old LaGrave, when they began clearing the building site they discovered the original dugouts under the weeds. These were incorporated into the design of the park and now serve as below-field level party suites, right next to the new dugouts.


The ballpark is nicely done. It is small and intimate, just the right size for independent baseball. A basic seating bowl runs from 1st base to 3rd base with a nice pitch so all of the seats are good ones. Beyond the first base end of the grandstand is more seating and a grass berm. The 3rd left field side has a separate seating area that runs to the foul pole. It's all very close to the action.


A fairly straightforward little park is given its identity by the right field bleachers, which feature a completely useless, but architecturally wonderful roof. It's useless because the stands face the setting sun and the roof will only provide shade if they are playing the game in the morning. Regardless, it looks great and defines the ballpark. The Fort Worth skyline is easily visible beyond this right field pavillion and the setting sign reflecting off the glass towers is a wonderous sight.


With good fans, a compact and interesting ballpark, and a great setting, LaGrave Field is a gem, worthy to bear the name of the classic old park for which it is named.

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