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| Pete having fun at the ballpark |
Bobblehead #7
Name: Pete Vonachen
Position: Owner
Team: Peoria Chiefs
Description: 7.25 inches tall; Pete’s holding a baseball in his right
hand and is dressed in a Chiefs’ hat, polo, and khaki pants.
Relevance: Pete Vonachen is the champion of minor league baseball in
Peoria, IL. He was the longtime owner of
the Peoria Chiefs who has handed the reigns over to his son, Rocky Vonachen.
How Acquired: A giveaway promotion at a Peoria Chiefs baseball game on during
the 2002 season.
Other Notes: Pete still attends games at Chiefs Stadium on a semi-regular
basis. One of his favorite things to do at a game, when he was owner, was giveaway
a ball to youngster. There is a statue
of him doing just that when you walk into the downtown Peoria ballpark.
Bonus Note: Pete is also known for being a close friend to the late Harry
Caray. One of my favorite cards in my
collection is a card featuring the two (pictured). Somehow when I was much younger my dad was
able to gain access to the announcers’ booth at Wrigley to get Harry’s
autograph. What a thrill that was! Snagging Pete’s signature was not nearly as
challenging for a local who easily attends over a dozen Chiefs games each
season.
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| Chiefs tickets from 2012 |
Not that it matters that much, but Pete's bobblehead was given away in 2002 while Vonachen Stadium was still open. I don't know the exact date, but I do remember moving boxes of Pete over to O'Brien Field that summer.
ReplyDeleteNoted and corrected! Thanks, Jane!
ReplyDelete