31, 1925, Harold Albert "Pete" Vonachen graduated from Spalding Institute in 1943 and earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Bradley University in 1949. He also served on the board of the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame of which he is a member, elected in 1988.īorn Aug. He served on the Peoria Park Board for over six years and was the President of the Peoria Pacers in the CICL.
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During his time with the Chiefs, Pete was named Midwest League Executive of the Year and The Sporting News Class A Pro Baseball Minor League Executive of the Year. Over the last 11 years, Pete was always around the ballpark handing out baseballs to children, having fun with water guns or thanking fans for coming to the Chiefs games. In 2002, the Chiefs moved into their new stadium, won their first ever MWL Championship and obliterated the franchise attendance mark. Vonachen helped the Chiefs secure the site and money for the downtown stadium, originally called O'Brien Field and now Dozer Park, before turning over the reins to his son Rocky in 1998. Louis Cardinals and attendance grew by nearly 20,000 fans. In his first season back at the helm of the Chiefs, the team became affiliated with the St. He bought back into the Chiefs in September 1994, leading a new investor group and served as the General Manager through 1998. Meinen Field was renamed Pete Vonachen Stadium on April 18, 1992. With the likes of Greg Maddux, Mark Grace, Joe Girardi and Rafael Palmeiro playing at Meinen Field the Chiefs attendance grew each season from 1984 to 1989 when Pete sold the team. An innovator in promotions and marketing, Vonachen brought the Chicago Cubs affiliation to Peoria in 1985 and set Midwest League attendance records in 1985, 19. Vonachen purchased the Peoria Suns in September 1983 and turned the Midwest League franchise into a 1980s powerhouse after renaming the team the Chiefs in 1984.
Baseball, Vonachen is synonymous with the Peoria Chiefs franchise and made his final appearance at Dozer Park on Friday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
With heavy hearts, the Peoria Chiefs and the Vonachen family announce the passing of Harold Albert "Pete" Vonachen at the age of 87 on Monday, June 10, 2013.
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