Peoria Chiefs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Peoria Chiefs | ||
|
||
| League | Midwest League | |
| Division | Western Division | |
| Year founded | 1983 | |
| Major League affiliation | Chicago Cubs | |
| Home ballpark | O'Brien Field | |
| Previous home ballparks | Pete Vonachen Stadium at Meinen Field | |
| City | Peoria, Illinois | |
| Current uniform colors | HOME: White and Blue Pinstripes AWAY: Gray |
|
| Previous uniform colors | Various designs included: Red and Blue & Gold | |
| Logo design | ||
| Division titles | ||
| League titles | 2002 | |
| Manager | Ryne Sandberg | |
| Owner | {{{owner}}} | |
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League.
The Chiefs joined the Midwest League in 1983 when an Angels farm team relocated to Peoria from Danville, Illinois, after one year. Originally known as the Suns, the team was renamed the Chiefs (a traditional name for minor league and semi professional baseball teams which have existed in Peoria since the late 1800's) for the 1984 season. The Angels organization left Peoria after the 1984 season and the Chiefs then became affiliated with the Cubs from 1985 through 1994. From 1995 to 2004, the Chiefs were part of the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system; they rejoined the Cubs' system in the 2005 season.
The Chiefs' first home park was Meinen Field near the Bradley University campus, built in 1968; it was renovated before the 1992 season and renamed Pete Vonachen Stadium in honor of the Chiefs' owner. The team moved to a new park in downtown Peoria, O'Brien Field, on May 24, 2002; they set a franchise attendance record of 254,407 in the new park's first year and also won the midwest league championship. The team then broke the attendance record in 2005 with 256,612 fans in their first season back with the Chicago Cubs since 1994.
Former players include Wally Joyner, Devon White, Mark McLemore, Mark Grace, Greg Maddux, Joe Girardi, Placido Polanco, Coco Crisp, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols, Dan Haren, Yadier Molina and Chris Duncan.
Former Chicago Cubs catcher Jody Davis managed the team during the 2006 season before moving to the Single A Daytona Cubs.
It was announced on December 5, 2006 that former Cubs and hall of famer Ryne Sandberg will manage the team for the 2007 season. This will be Ryne's first season as a minor league manager.
[edit] Source
- Dinda, J. (2003), "Peoria, Illinois, in the Midwest League," http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/peoria/index.html
[edit] External links
| Chicago Cubs Franchise | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | AA | A | Rookie |
| Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies |
Daytona Cubs Peoria Chiefs Boise Hawks |
Mesa Cubs VSL Cubs |
| Midwest League | ||
| Eastern Division | Western Division | |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton Dragons | Fort Wayne Wizards | Great Lakes Loons | Lansing Lugnuts | South Bend Silver Hawks | West Michigan Whitecaps | Beloit Snappers | Burlington Bees | Cedar Rapids Kernels | Clinton LumberKings | Kane County Cougars | Peoria Chiefs | Swing of the Quad Cities | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | |
