Baseball in Peoria, Illinois

Overview

The record of the Midwest League franchise in Peoria, Illinois.

While the Chiefs have been a successful business venture, the teams on the field have often been unremarkable. There have been some good squads: The 1985 (with Greg Maddux) and 1986 (Mark Grace) teams both played for the championship, but lost. The 1996 team led the league in wins, but fell early in the championship series. The 2002 team again led the league in wins, and captured the championship with a remarkable comeback win at Lansing.

Peoria's hosted some excellent players. The list begins with Greg Maddux, who may be the best big-leaguer the MWL's produced. Albert Pujols may well claim that crown, twenty years hence. Rick Ankiel, Joe Girardi, Wally Joyner, Mark Grace, Pablo Ozuna, Jack Wilson, Jerome Walton, Devon White, and Rafael Palmiero all summered in Peoria. Jim Tracy managed the Chiefs for two years. Not a bad haul; you could build a strong team around that core.

Peoria's success was Pete Vonachen's project, and Pete remains a dominant figure with the team even though he's long-since relinquished control of the franchise to his son and other business partners.

Peoria hosted Midwest League All-Star Games in 1992 and 2005.

Summary

• Midwest League seasons: 27
• Won/Lost overall: 1845/1891, .494
• Best season: 85/53, .616 (2002)
• Championship Playoffs Won: 1
  • Championship Series Won/Lost: 16/18, .471
• Best MWL Won/Lost Record: 2 seasons

Peoria joined the Midwest League in 1983; it succeeded the last Danville franchise. Peoria remains active in the MWL.

Seasonal Results
Other Leagues

Team Names

• Peoria Suns, 1982
• Peoria Chiefs, 1983-present

Affiliations

• Chicago Cubs, 2005-present (PDC through 2012)
• Saint Louis Cardinals, 1995-2004
• Chicago Cubs, 1985-1994
• California Angels, 1983-1984

Officers, Managers, & Coaches

Ballparks

• O'Brien Field (new 2002)
• Vonachen Stadium at Meinen Field (just Meinen Field until 1991) (new 1968; renovated 1982, & completely rebuilt 1991)

Attendance record

• 256,612 (2005)

Ballparks & Attendance

Best Seasons

• Hitter: Pablo Ozuna (1998) .357, 9 HR, 62 RBI; 192 hits, 122 runs, 62 steals (MVP & Prospect of the Year)
• Pitcher: Britt Reames (1996) 15-7, 1.90, 167 Ks

Best Big League Career

• Greg Maddux
  • I had thought Maddux was unassailable, except that his competition's turned out to be Albert Pujols.

Awards

• 1985 Pete Vonachen (Executive of the Year)
• 1987 Chiefs Crew (Best Playing Facility)
• 1996 Roy Silver (Manager of the Year)
• 1996 Britt Reames (Prospect of the Year)
• 1998 Pablo Ozuna (Most Valuable Player, Prospect of the Year)
• 2000 Albert Pujols (Most Valuable Player, Prospect of the Year)
• 2002 Rocky Vonachen (Executive of the Year)
• 2005 Chiefs staff (Larry MacPhail Trophy)

Highlights

Team Records

Hitters

• Batting: Kerry Robinson (1996) .359
• Home Runs: Joe Frietas (1997) 33
• Runs Batted In: Butch Garcia (1987) 104

Seasonal Hitting Leaders

Pitchers

• Wins: Marcos Lopez (1989) 18
• Won/Lost (10 decisions): Marty Reed (1984) 10-2, .833 and Tyler Johnson (2002) 15-3, .833
• Earned Run Average: Greg Kallevig (1988) 1.44
• Strikeouts: Mike Sodders (1989) 177
• Saves: Gene Stechschulte (1998) 33

Seasonal Pitching Leaders

Sources

These pages draw heavily on several sources:

• Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, eds, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham: Baseball America, 1997)
• Midwest League Media Guide and Record Book (Beloit: Midwest League, various years; title varies)
• Kevin Saldana, Today in Minor League Baseball History (???: SalFam Books, 1999)
• Baseball America's Almanac (Durham: Baseball America, various years)
• News sources.