1878 - The Peoria Reds were the first professional baseball team to play in Peoria. Baseball was played at Sylvan Park, located currently at Proctor Home.
1882 - First curveball ever thrown (reportedly) by Johnny Clarkson. Peoria started play in the Northern League.
1884 - Peoria baseball began playing at Lake View Park. Catcher Spike Twineham, was credited with being the innovator of throwing runners out at second base.
1898 - The Peoria Distillers is what the semi-pro team was called. Pitcher Joe "Iron Man" McGinnity pitched 434 innings, including 5 double-headers.
1902 - Started play in the Western League. Set a record attendance: 76,995.
1905 - Started play in the Three I League. (Spent the most time in this league over the years)
1917 - Left the Three I League. (Only to return again)
1918 - No professional baseball in Peoria.
1923 - Woodruff Field was built for a cost of $50,000 and became home to Peoria Baseball.
1925 - Peoria won the pennant after playing 55 games.
1930 - Lights were added to Woodruff Field for a cost of $8,000.
1931 - Team became known as the Peoria Tractors.
1933 - Started play in the Mississippi Valley League.
1934 - Phil Cavaretta played for the Peoria team, while in high school, and went on to become the manager of the Chicago Cubs in the 1950's.
1936 - No professional baseball in Peoria.
1937 - Peoria joined the Three I League again. Professional baseball left after the season.
1946 - While WWII was going on, Peoria women formed a baseball team and joined the AAGPL. The team was known as the Peoria Redwings. The women played at a converted Peoria Stadium (1946-51). League statistics: 62 home runs and 3,295 stolen bases. Peoria Redwings attendance: '46 - 68,000; '47 - 94,000; '48 - 130,000.
1953 - Men's professional baseball returned to play in the Three I League. The team was the Chiefs. A number of successful players played ball in Peoria over the next 5 years.
1957 - End of the Three I League and professional baseball in Peoria.
1968 - Meinen Field was built.
1983 - The Midwest League became a fixture in Peoria as the Suns began play, under the affiliation of the Anaheim Angels. First Baseman and future All-Star Wally Joyner (.328 avg., 33 RBI) played here.
1984 - Local businessman Pete Vonachen bought the club and changed the name back to the Chiefs. The Chicago Cubs became the major league affiliate of the team.
1985 - Pitcher Greg Maddux (13-9, 3.19 ERA) and Outfielder Rafael Palmeiro (.297 avg., 55 RBI) played in Peoria.
1988 - The Peoria Chiefs were ranked in "Baseball's America" top 10 minor league baseball operations. The team also set an attendance record: 207, 294.
1992 - $2 million of renovation was done to the ballpark, and was renamed Pete Vonachen Stadium.
1995 - The Chiefs began their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals.
2001 - Albert Pujols, a member of the Chiefs in 2000, makes the remarkable jump from Single-A to the Major Leagues, and became a National League All-Star, while also winning the Rookie of the Year award. Since then, Albert has finished second in Most Valuable Player voting, and became the first person in major league history to hit .300 with 30 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 rbi's for the first three years of their career.
2001 - The Chiefs begin construction on the new O'Brien Field, located in downtown Peoria. The new facility will be home the Peoria Chiefs, Bradley Baseball and numerous concerts and family-oriented events. This $16 million dollar, privately financed facility is a part an overall $23 million dollar project.
2002 - The Chiefs maintain their name, introduce a new logo, and begin play at a new downtown stadium, O'Brien Field. The facility will be used for many special events, concerts and family entertainment.
2002 - On Friday, May 24 the Chiefs opened O'Brien Field with a 3-0 win over Kane County, and future National League Rookie of the Year pitcher Dontrelle Willis, in front of 8,824.
2002 - The Chiefs clinch the Midwest League first half Western Division title.
2002 - The Chiefs break in the new field,logo, and uniforms by winning the Midwest League playoffs and Championship.
2003 - Chase Voshell hits the first inside the park home run in O'Brien Field history.
2004 - Chiefs make playoffs. lose in first round to Kane County.
2004 - Chiefs change affiliation to Chicago Cubs.
2005 - On April 20th, Sean Gallagher (6ip), Walt Nolen (3ip) and Jon Hunton (1ip) combine for the Chiefs first no-hitter since 1993 and just the 5th in franchise history with a 3-2 10 inning win at Cedar Rapids. It marked the first extra-inning no hitter in Chiefs history. Both Cedar Rapids runs scored after walks and errors and Drew Larsen's 10th inning single gave the Chiefs the lead for good. Just 11 days later on May 1st, Gallagher, Nolen, Paul Schappert and Jerry Blevins combined for the first 1-hitter in O'Brien Field history in a 1-0 win over Kane County. The Cheifs took a no-hitter into the 9th before a one-out bloop double.
2005 - Nomar Garciaparra rehabs with Chiefs on July 27th and 28th and Chiefs set a single game franchise and O'Brien Field record with 9,602 fans on July 28th after having 9,004 fans on the 27th.
2005 - On July 25th, Jesse Schmidt, Eric Patterson, Joe Simokaitis and Drew Larsen turned the first triple play in O'Brien Field history and the 4th in Chiefs history against Dayton. With two on in the top of the first, Schmidt made a diving catch in right center as both runners were on the move with the pitch. He got up. fired to Patterson the cutoff man who then tossed to second where Simokaitis stepped on the bag for the second out and threw to Larsen at first to finish off the historic moment.
2005 - Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood made two rehab appearances for the Chiefs in a three day span out of the bullpen. The former NL Rookie of the Year threw one scoreless inning in Fort Wayne on July 31st and then came to O'Brien Field August 2nd. The right-hander came out of the pen in the 6th inning with to a standing ovation from 8,012 fans. He hit 97 on the radar gun while striking out three of the four Cougars he faced.
2005 - Though the Chiefs missed the playoffs, history was made over the final weekend. On Sunday, September 4th, the Chiefs unveiled a new, permanent statue of Peoria legend Pete Vonachen inside the front gate at O'Brien Field. Then on Monday, September 5th, the Chiefs broke the single season attendance record with a crowd of 3,703 which pushed the season total to a new record 256,612 fans.
2006 - With former All-Star Jody Davis as Manager, the Chiefs win the Western Division in the first half and qualify for the playoffs where they lose in the first round to Beloit.
2006 - The Chiefs see Kerry Wood, Mark Prior (twice), Scott Williamson and Wade Miller (5 games) rehab from the Cubs during the season
2006 - In early December, the Cubs and Chiefs announce that Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will make his managerial debut with the Chiefs in 2007.

All-Time Roster

Story of Baseball History in Peoria