Fort Worth Cats
Encyclopedia
The Fort Worth Cats are a professional baseball team based in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...

, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The Cats are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

. Since the 2002 season the Cats have played their home games at LaGrave Field
LaGrave Field
LaGrave Field is a stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. It is primarily used for baseball, and is 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, during 1926–1958; the American...

. Under the management of Wayne Terwilliger
Wayne Terwilliger
Willard Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger is a former second baseman, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...

 (2005) and Stan Hough (2006-7) the team won the 2005
2005 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the 2005 World Series.*2005 also marked the inaugural season of the Washington Nationals, who relocated from Montreal and were formerly known as the Expos....

 Central Baseball League
Central Baseball League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas-Louisiana League, was a minor league whose member teams were independent of any Major League Baseball affiliations.In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S...

 championship and the 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...

 and 2007
2007 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page....

 American Association championships.

The Fort Worth Panthers

The Ft. Worth Panthers, also called the Ft. Worth Cats, were a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

 team which played in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...

 from its founding in 1888 until 1959. The club won league championships in 1895, 1905, and 1906, but from 1920 - 1925, the Panthers won every Texas League pennant, and defeated the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...

 champion in the Dixie Series
Dixie Series
The Dixie Series was an Interleague Minor League Postseason Series pitting the playoff champions of the Southern Association and the Texas League in a best-of-seven matchup from 1920 to 1958. It was revived for one year in 1967, pitting the Southern League champ against the Texas League champ...

 in all but one year.

During the late 1910s and early 1920s, Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 teams would play in Ft. Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...

 against the Panthers on their way from spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...

 to their home parks. Texas fans enjoyed watching such major leaguers as Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...

, Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...

 and Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...

 play in their home town.

The Panthers had a winning streak from 1919 to 1925 when they won the regular season title seven years straight. In 1919 they failed to win the playoff for the season, but represented the Texas League in them for the next six years, in what was known as the Dixie Series. The Dixie Series was a championship series between the league champions of the Southern and Texas Leagues, both of which had established themselves as some of the best in baseball. Because of this, the Series was a big ordeal in the early twenties- Amon Carter and other fans would arrange special trains to ensure the avid fans had transportation to these games. Five of the six Series Championships were won by Fort Worth their only loss coming in 1922 to Mobile. http://www.fwcats.com/feature_display.cfm?id=26

The Panthers won both the Texas League and the Dixie Series in 1930, 1937, and 1939. Rogers Hornsby was the Panthers' manager in 1942, but World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 put an end to much of minor league baseball.

Following the War, the Panthers became a minor league franchise of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1948, the Dodgers sent Bobby Bragan
Bobby Bragan
Robert Randall Bragan was a shortstop, catcher, manager, and coach in American Major League Baseball. He also was an influential executive in minor league baseball...

 to manage the team, which won its last Texas League and Dixie Series championships. The first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 player to play for the Panthers was Maury Wills
Maury Wills
Maurice Morning "Maury" Wills is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and switch-hitting batter who played most prominently with the Los Angeles Dodgers , and also with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Montreal Expos...

, in 1955.

When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

 in 1957, it caused them to shuffle their minor league teams. The Ft. Worth franchise was traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...

. In 1959, Ft. Worth left the Texas League to join the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

, but they merged with the Dallas Rangers
Dallas Rangers
The Dallas Rangers were a high-level minor league baseball team located in Dallas, Texas, from 1958-64. The team was known by the Dallas Rangers name in 1958-59 and 1964 and as the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers from 1960-63...

 the following year. Ft. Worth regained a Texas League franchise for 1964 only, after which there was no professional baseball in Ft. Worth for 36 years.

The Fort Worth Cats today

The new Cats began play just north of downtown Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...

 in 2001
2001 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Arizona Diamondbacks*Postseason - October 9 to November 4Click on any series score to link to that series' page....

.

Cats' owner Carl Bell commissioned a new ballpark to be built directly on top of the former stadium's location. Home plate is exactly where it was in 1926 when the old facility opened. On May 23, 2002 the Cats opened up the season at the original site of LaGrave Field
LaGrave Field
LaGrave Field is a stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. It is primarily used for baseball, and is 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, during 1926–1958; the American...

 in their brand new home. While waiting for the new LaGrave Field to be completed, the team played at Lon Goldstein Field
Lon Goldstein Field
Lon Goldstein Field is an approximately 2,000 seat baseball park located in Fort Worth, Texas.The ballpark was opened in 1974, as part of the athletic field for the Fort Worth Independent School District....

.

The team's mascot is Dodger, whose namesake is a tribute to the Cats' affiliation with the great Brooklyn Dodgers' teams in the 1940s and 1950s.

2005

Under the management of Wayne Terwilliger
Wayne Terwilliger
Willard Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger is a former second baseman, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...

, the Cats defeated the San Angelo Colts
San Angelo Colts
The San Angelo Colts are a professional baseball team based in San Angelo, Texas, in the United States. The Colts are a member of North American League, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...

 for the 2005
2005 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the 2005 World Series.*2005 also marked the inaugural season of the Washington Nationals, who relocated from Montreal and were formerly known as the Expos....

 Central Baseball League
Central Baseball League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas-Louisiana League, was a minor league whose member teams were independent of any Major League Baseball affiliations.In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S...

 championship after beating the Pensacola Pelicans
Pensacola Pelicans
The Pensacola Pelicans were a minor league baseball team based in Pensacola, Florida. In various incarnations, they played in three different independent baseball leagues from 2002–2010...

 in the first-round playoffs. It was Fort Worth's first championship since 1948
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...

. They won both halves with identical 30-17 records, a franchise record for wins in a season. The Cats also made the playoffs in 2003
2003 in baseball
-Headline event of the year:*The Florida Marlins become World Series champions, holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team, 4 games to 2.-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Florida Marlins...

, his first season as manager.

Stan Hough was named the Cats' manager on Dec. 6, 2005, taking over for Wayne Terwilliger, who remained with the club as Hough's first base coach in 2006. Prior to that he was the team's hitting instructor from 2004-05. Prior to the Cats' job, his last managerial job was with the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in 2003. He also managed the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx in 2001.

2006

Luke Hochevar
Luke Hochevar
Luke Anthony Hochevar is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals organization of Major League Baseball. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee.He throws and bats right-handed.-High school:...

 pitched for the Cats in 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...

, making four starts (1-1, 2.38 ERA) prior to being drafted #1 overall in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

.

In 2006, the Cats won their second straight title and the first title in the American Association. The Cats beat the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...

 3 games to 2 in the championship series.

The 2006 regular season record was 56-39 with a 0.589 winning percentage. Season attendance was 177,894, 46 games, average 3,867 per game.

2007

On Sept. 8, 2007, the Cats defeated the St. Paul Saints 4-1 in the fifth game of the American Association Championship playoffs to capture a second straight American Association Championship. The Cats have won 6 straight decisive Game 5's and are 13-0 in games in which they face elimination the last 3 seasons. They have been down 2 games to 1 in 5 of the last 6 series, winning the first game, losing the next 2 and winning games 4 and 5. They were down 2-0 to the El Paso Diablos in the 2007 Division Series before winning 3 straight at LaGrave Field.
Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer
Maxwell M. "Max" Scherzer is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.-Early life:...

 was on the Cats roster in 2007. In 2008 he was called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...

.

The 2007 regular season record was 53-40 with a 0.570 winning percentage. Season attendance was 141,330, 34 games, average 4,157 per game.

2008-2009

The 2008 regular season record was 60-36 with a 0.625 winning percentage. Season attendance was 185,380, 47 games, average 3,944 per game. The team was named Organization of the Year.

The 2009 regular season record was 53-43 with a 0.552 winning percentage. Season attendance was 177,807, 48 games, average 3,704 per game.

2010

The 2010 regular season record was 37-56, with a 0.398 winning percentage. Season attendance was 122,062, 41 games, average 2,707 per game.

The team was managed by Chad Tredaway, assisted by James Frisbie, Pitching Coach, Steve Maddock, Assistant Coach, and Wayne Terwilliger, First Base Coach.

In November 2010, the Cats again hired Stan Hough as their new team manager. Hough also managed the team from 2006-2007, was 109-79, and lead the Cats to the American Association championship in each season.

2011

The 2010 regular season record was 48-52, with a 0.480 winning percentage, and second place behind the Grand Prairie AirHogs (64-36, 0.640), in the Southern Division. Season attendance was 108,020, 50 games, average 2,160 per game.

First baseman Trent Lockwood, and Catcher Kelley Gulledge and were named to the American Association Postseason All-Star Team. Heading into the season's final game, Lockwood, in his first season with the team, batted .338 with 20 HR, 90 RBI, a .621 slugging percentage, and has 60 Extra Base Hits. Gulledge was hitting .341 with 14 HR, 71 RBI, 125 hits, and 73 runs.
On October 27, 2011, the American Association of Professional Baseball revoked the membership of Fort Worth Baseball Club, LLC, after they chose not to provide the league with a Letter of Credit for the 2012 season. A dispersal draft was held. The league will attempt to find new ownership for the club, and if they do, will give the Cats the opportunity for re-entry. Should that happen, the players would be returned to the Cats' roster.

Modern championship titles






YearLeagueManager
2007
2007 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page....

American Association
American Association (21st century)
The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, based in Durham, North Carolina, is a professional baseball league founded in 2005 and independent of Major League Baseball...

Stan Hough
2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...

American Association
American Association (21st century)
The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, based in Durham, North Carolina, is a professional baseball league founded in 2005 and independent of Major League Baseball...

Stan Hough
2005
2005 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the 2005 World Series.*2005 also marked the inaugural season of the Washington Nationals, who relocated from Montreal and were formerly known as the Expos....

Central Baseball League
Central Baseball League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas-Louisiana League, was a minor league whose member teams were independent of any Major League Baseball affiliations.In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S...

Wayne Terwilliger
Wayne Terwilliger
Willard Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger is a former second baseman, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...


Retired numbers

  • Number 4 worn by Duke Snider
    Duke Snider
    Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider , nicknamed "The Silver Fox" and "The Duke of Flatbush", was a Major League Baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , and San Francisco Giants .Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of...

     in 1946
    1946 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs...

     - Retired May 23, 2003
  • Number 10 worn by Bobby Bragan
    Bobby Bragan
    Robert Randall Bragan was a shortstop, catcher, manager, and coach in American Major League Baseball. He also was an influential executive in minor league baseball...

     who played and managed from 1948
    1948 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...

    -1952
    1952 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Shibe Park: National League, 3-2 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: La Habana *College World Series: Holy Cross...

     - Retired May 21, 2004
  • Number 6 worn by Maury Wills
    Maury Wills
    Maurice Morning "Maury" Wills is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and switch-hitting batter who played most prominently with the Los Angeles Dodgers , and also with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Montreal Expos...

     in 1955
    1955 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...

     - Retired June 18, 2005
  • Number 1 worn by Sparky Anderson
    Sparky Anderson
    George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...

     in 1955
    1955 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...

     - Retired June 17, 2006
  • Number 42 worn by Jackie Robinson
    Jackie Robinson
    Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...

     - Retired July 25, 2007
  • Number 5 worn by Dick Williams
    Dick Williams
    Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...

     from 1948
    1948 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...

    -1950
    1950 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas...

     and again in 1955
    1955 in baseball
    -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...

    - Retired June 6, 2008 (see note below)

External links

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