Vonachen retires as Peoria Chiefs President

Posted on February 1, 2018

By WJBC Staff

PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs have announced that after more than 20 years at the helm, team President Rocky Vonachen will retire from baseball.

The Vonachen family has been associated with Chiefs baseball in the Midwest League since 1983 and Rocky oversaw the development of Dozer Park in downtown Peoria in 2002 and the franchise’s transition into the modern age of Minor League Baseball. Under his leadership the franchise hosted two MWL All-Star Games at Dozer Park and went over the 200,000 attendance plateau 14 times since moving downtown, including a franchise record 275,673 in 2008.

“It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from baseball and my position as President of the Peoria Chiefs,” said Vonachen. “I have been blessed for the last 25 years to have been able to do something that I truly loved each and every day and to carry on the vision that my father started so many years ago to improve the quality of life in Central Illinois while providing the best entertainment and professional baseball to the fans.”

The Peoria Chiefs Board issued a statement congratulating Vonachen on his retirement.

“The Peoria Chiefs Board would like to thank Rocky for his 25 years of leadership in the Peoria Chiefs organization. His leadership and direction has made the Peoria Chiefs and Dozer Park one of the best organizations in Minor League Baseball. While we are sad to see Rocky step away from running the organization, we can respect his decision. Rocky has a great staff assembled in the front office and we know they will not miss a beat preparing for the 2018 season. With Jason Mott, General Manager and 2017 Midwest League Executive of the Year, we have the utmost confidence in Jason running the organization going forward. We wish Rocky nothing but the best as he begins his next chapter. We are excited that Rocky will be seen around the ballpark enjoying the games in the future.”

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…