Panther Park

Last updated

Panther Park was the name of two ballparks located in Fort Worth, Texas. They were the home fields of the Fort Worth Panthers from 1911 to 1925 and from 1926 onward, respectively.[ citation needed ]

Newly-built Morris Park Morris Park Fort Worth 1911 04 12.jpg
Newly-built Morris Park

The first park was initially called Morris Park, after club owner J. Walter Morris. The facility replaced Haines Park which existed from 1902 through 1910. By November 1914, after four seasons, Morris sold his interest in the club, and the new owner renamed it Panther Park.

Morris/Panther Park (I) seated only 4,000 fans. The third base grandstand initially did not have a canopy to protect the fans from the relentless heat. The first base grandstand had a canopy, and the third base side later had a canopy added. The park was located on the "west side of North Main Street between 6th and 7th Streets". Its more precise location, per the 1925 news article, was North Throckmorton Street (northeast, third base), which is two blocks southeast of Main; Northwest 6th Street (southeast, left field); Northwest 7th Street (northwest, first base); and railroad tracks (southwest, right field).

Old and new Panther Parks in 1925 newspaper Fort Worth ballparks 1925 11 11.jpg
Old and new Panther Parks in 1925 newspaper

The Panthers won six consecutive Texas League crowns from 1920 to 1925. In 1919, they were the runners-up to Shreveport as they lost four games to two in the championship series even though they finished the regular season at the top of the standings. [1] In 1925, they swept the Dallas Steers in a best-of-five series to determine the second half champion, clinching the Texas League title in the process.

The field was replaced in 1926 by a new Panther Park (II). That park was located on the east side of North Main Street, five short blocks (Houston, Main, Commerce, Calhoun and Jones Streets) directly east-northeast of the original Panther Park. It seated about 13,000 fans. After the death of Panthers' owner Paul LaGrave in 1929, the second Panther Park was renamed LaGrave Field.

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exposition Park (Pittsburgh)</span> Professional baseball venue in Pittsburgh to 1915

Exposition Park was the name given to three historic stadiums, located in what is today Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The fields were used mainly for professional baseball and American football from c. 1879 to c. 1915. The ballparks were initially located on the north side of the Allegheny River in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. The city was annexed into Pittsburgh in 1907, which became the city's North Side, located across from Pittsburgh's downtown area. Due to flooding from the nearby Allegheny River, the three stadiums' exact locations varied somewhat. The final version of the ballpark was between the eventual sites of Three Rivers Stadium and PNC Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilltop Park</span> Former baseball venue in New York City

Hilltop Park was a ballpark in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was the home of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball from 1903 to 1912 when they were known as the "Highlanders". It was also the temporary home of the New York Giants during a two-month period in 1911 while the Polo Grounds was being rebuilt after a fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palace of the Fans</span> Former baseball park in Cincinnati, Ohio USA

Palace of the Fans was a Major League baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home of the Cincinnati Reds from 1902 through 1911. The ballpark was on an asymmetrical block bounded by Findlay Street (south), Western Avenue, York Street (north) and McLean Avenue (west).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Park (baseball)</span> Group of baseball parks in the New York City borough of Brooklyn

Washington Park was the name given to three Major League Baseball parks on two different sites in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, located at the intersection of Third Street and Fourth Avenue. The two sites were diagonally opposite each other, on the southeast and northwest corners.

Boundary Field, also known as American League Park II and National Park, is a former baseball ground in Washington, D.C. located on the site currently occupied by Howard University Hospital; bounded approximately by Georgia Avenue, 5th Street, W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. It was just outside what was then the city limit of Washington, whose northern boundary was Boundary Street which was renamed Florida Avenue in 1890.

The Bank Street Grounds was a baseball park located in Cincinnati. The park was home to three major league baseball teams. The National League Cincinnati Stars club in 1880, the current Cincinnati Reds franchise from 1882 to 1883 and the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds of the Union Association in 1884. It succeeded the Avenue Grounds as the home site for professional ball in the Queen City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaGrave Field</span> Abandoned baseball park in Fort Worth, Texas

LaGrave Field is an abandoned baseball park in Fort Worth, Texas. It was primarily used for baseball and was the home field of the Fort Worth Cats independent minor league baseball team. Its original version was the home of the predecessor Panthers/Cats team of the Texas League from 1926–1958; the American Association in 1959; and then in the Texas League again in 1964. It also served as the part-time home of the Dallas Rangers during 1960–1962. The ballpark was rebuilt during 2001 and opened in 2002 after the club played one season at Lon Goldstein Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelican Stadium</span> Former stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana

Pelican Stadium, originally known as Heinemann Park (1915–1937), was a sports stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1915 to 1957.

Burnett Field, in Dallas, Texas, was home to several minor league baseball clubs from 1924 to 1964. The ballpark sat 10,500 fans. It was located at 1500 East Jefferson Boulevard, Brazos Street ; Colorado Boulevard ; and the Trinity River.

League Park was a Major League baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was the home of the Cincinnati Reds from 1884 through 1901. The ballpark was on an asymmetrical block bounded by Findlay Street (south), Western Avenue, York Street (north) and McLean Avenue (west).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Tavener</span> American baseball player (1897-1969)

John Adam "Jackie" Tavener, nicknamed "Rabbit", was an American professional baseball player from 1921 to 1934. He played all or parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians (1929).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swayne Field</span>

Swayne Field was a minor league baseball park in Toledo, Ohio. It was the home of the Toledo Mud Hens from July 3, 1909, until the club disbanded after the 1955 season. It was also home to a short-lived entry in the South-Michigan League in 1914.

The Fort Worth Cats were a minor league baseball team that mostly played in the Texas League from 1888 through 1964. They were affiliated with the Indianapolis Indians in 1933, the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1946 to 1956, and the Chicago Cubs from 1957 to 1958. The team joined the American Association in 1959 and then merged with the Dallas Rangers in 1959 to become the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers. The teams separated again in 1964 when the Cats rejoined the Texas League, but they merged again the following year and became the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs. The 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, and 1925 Panthers teams were selected as #4 among the top 100 minor league teams of all time.

References

  1. "Texas League Significant Accomplishments". Archived from the original on 2009-01-29.