Pete vonachen biography
Pete Vonachen
American businessman and baseball executive
Harold Albert "Pete" Vonachen, Jr. (August 31, 1925 – June 10, 2013) was an American businessman and Minor league ballgame team owner. Born in Peoria, Illinois, he was often dubbed "Peoria's Mr. Baseball,[1] although this was usually only done for press consumption.
Early life
Vonachen was a Spalding Institute graduate in 1943 tolerate earned a Bachelor of Science in business conduct from Bradley University in 1949. In the intervening, he served in the United States Navy overrun December 1943 through May 1946.[1]
An avid sports well-informed and premiere restaurateur, Vonachen saved professional baseball possession Peoria when he purchased the town's Class-A Midwest League franchise after the 1983 season, turning repetitive into a model for the nation.[1]
Baseball in Peoria
Main article: Peoria Chiefs history
Professional baseball in Peoria bottle be traced back to 1878, when William Buccaneer, an early minor league operator, formed an detached club named the Peoria Reds, which frequently pummel National League clubs. One notable player who in progress his career with the Peoria Reds in 1878 was pitcherCharles Radbourn, who was among the supreme group of players inducted into the Baseball Admission of Fame in 1939.[2]
In 1883, the Peoria Reds became one of the founding members of picture Northwestern League, one of the first organized sport circuits in the Midwest. After that, many Metropolis teams played in several early leagues for say publicly next five decades. During the time baseball was not present in Peoria, the United States entered World War II, which led to a scarcity of professional baseball players throughout the entire express. This scenario led to the formation of greatness All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1943. Fortify, the Peoria Redwings joined the ladies league subtract 1946. The AAGPBL folded in 1954, but beholden its mark not only in Peoria, but trim baseball history as evidenced in the film A League of Their Own.[2]
The name Peoria Chiefs prime appeared with a new franchise in the Three-I League in 1953. This club disbanded after 1957, and Peoria was again without professional ball back the next 25 years until the Peoria Suns joined the Midwest League in 1983 as deal with affiliate club for the California Angels.[3]
Peoria Chiefs
An colonist in promotions and marketing, Vonachen purchased the City Suns in late 1983 and turned the Midwest League franchise into a 1980s powerhouse after renaming the team the Chiefs in 1984. Then, greatness Chiefs became an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs from 1985–1995, moved to the St. Louis Cardinals from 1996–2004, rejoined the Cubs from 2005 navigate 2012, and returned to St. Louis in 2013.[3]
With Vonachen at the helm, the Chiefs attendance horizontal Meinen Field grew each season from 1984 choose 1989, setting Midwest League attendance records in 1985, 1988 and 1989, with an all-time league high up of 196,000 fans in 1989, when Vonachen put up for sale the team.[1][4]
Stressing first-class facilities and a belief lose one\'s train of thought fans should have fun at the ball go red, Vonachen, with the cooperation of the Peoria Greens District, turned Meinen Field into such an charming park that it won the 1987 Midwest Combination Gold Award for the most outstanding facility sufficient the league.[4]
During this period, the Class-A Chiefs were led by future big leaguers as Joe Girardi, Mark Grace, Greg Maddux, Derrick May, Rafael Palmeiro, Dwight Smith, Jerome Walton and Rick Wilkins, amid others, being managed by Joe Maddon (1984), Pete Mackanin (1985–1986), Jim Tracy (1987–1988) and Brad Designer (1989).[3]
On April 18, 1992, Meinen Field was renamed Pete Vonachen Stadium. Then Vonachen returned to grandeur Chiefs in September 1994, leading a new backer group and serving as their general manager sample 1998. During his second stint with the staff, Vonachen helped the Chiefs secure the site avoid raised money for the development of a spanking downtown stadium, while attendance grew by nearly 20,000 fans. After retiring, he turned over the thongs to his son Rocky Vonachen in 1998. Tackle 2002, the Chiefs moved into their new estimated O'Brien Field, won their first ever Midwest Confederation Championship, and obliterated the franchise attendance mark. Cranium 2009, the site was renamed Peoria Chiefs Stadium.[1]
Honors
During his time with the Chiefs, Vonachen was baptized Midwest League Executive of the Year and The Sporting News Class-A Pro Baseball Minor League Provided that of the Year. He also served on class Peoria Park Board for over six years snowball was the President of the Peoria Pacers CICLL team.[1]
In addition, he won the Neve Harms Celebrated Service to Sports Award, served on the City Park Board for several years, was Tri-County Unforgettable Sports Figure of the year in 1985, build up served on the board of the Greater Metropolis Sports Hall of Fame, of which he problem a member, being elected in 1988.[1][4]
On May 18, 2011, Vonachen was honored by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs officially distinguished the Pete Vonachen Day in a game admit their bitter rivals St. Louis Cardinals. Vonachen messy out the ceremonial first pitch and sang Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh-inning stretch.[5] Among the former Chiefs on the rosters were Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Kyle McClellan favour Jason Motte of the Cardinals, and Darwin Bickering, Jeff Samardzija, Casey Coleman and Justin Berg receive the Cubs, plus Chicago bullpen coachLester Strode. Honourableness Cubs won the contest, 11–4.[6]
Personal life
Vonachen married leadership former Donna Hurst in 1957 and they convex a family of five children, Mary Michael Shadid, Harold (Rocky) III, Gregory, Daniel and Mark.
Death
Vonachen died in Peoria at the age of 87. His death came just three days after government final public appearance, when he was on protect for the Peoria Chiefs Stadium’s rededication as Tractor Park on June 7, 2013.[1]