Local Ball Club and Local Pumper Hit it Off 2007

Baseball fan Carl Walker, General Manager of Central Concrete Pumping, Ft. Worth, TX, thinks there is no better entertainment than watching an outdoor baseball game. Lucky for him, the Fort Worth Cats of the American Association have been the city’s team since 1888 playing out of several locations. They are now based out of LaGrave Field which was reconstructed from the ground up five years ago. “Baseball at this level is for the love of the game, Walker explains, “I have been a season ticket holder for three years because I think this is much more fun than the major leagues.”

Walker took his loyalty to the team one step further by getting to know the management and players, eventually resulting in The Fort Worth Cats requesting Central Concrete Pumping whenever concrete work was required at the stadium. A recent expansion of the concession areas, locker rooms and offices kept Central pumps on-deck during the off-season. “I guess you could say we are the unofficial concrete pumper for the team, “ Walker says with a grin.

Mark Presswood-Senior VP for the team, says of Walker, “Carl’s enthusiasm is second to none and it is infectious to other fans. Carl is not a small man. When he cheers you know it.” Presswood added, “As far as his concrete pumping, when someone cares as much as Carl does, you know the job is getting done right.”

Central used their Schwing 39, 42 and 58-meter boom pumps at different times pumping slabs and elevated decks. A new bridge was built to add access to the site and the piers were pumped by Central from a nearby levee.

Central was honored when the team won the 2006 American Association Championship by hoisting the winning pennant from one of the company’s placing booms during the winning celebration. Coincidentally, the Cats beat the St. Paul Saints in the championship game. The Saints are the home team of Walker’s pump supplier Schwing America in White Bear, Minnesota. “It’s kind of handy to visit the factory when the Cats and the Saints are playing,” says die hard fan Walker. The Cats open the 2007 Season against the Shreveport Sports on May 10.