Peoria, IL
From BR Bullpen
Peoria (2000 population: 112,936) is a city in central Illinois, located approximately halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. Due to its location, the city's baseball fans seem to be about evenly divided between Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals fans.
Since 1983, Peoria has had a team in the Midwest League. For most of its existence, the club has been affiliated with either the Cubs or the Cardinals. The team is currently known as the Peoria Chiefs and plays its home games at a downtown ballpark, O'Brien Field.
The most notable major leaguers from Peoria are Jim Thome and Joe Girardi. The city is also home to Bradley University.
Players who were born here / Players who died here
[edit] Teams that have played here
- Peoria Reds, Northwestern League (1883-1884)
- Peoria Reds, Central Interstate League (1888)
- Peoria Canaries, Central Interstate League (1889)
- Peoria Canaries, Two-I League (1892)
- Peoria Distillers, Western Association (1894-1896)
- Peoria Blackbirds, Western Association (1897)
- Peoria Distillers, Central League (1900, 1904, 1917)
- Peoria Distillers, Western League (1902-1903)
- Peoria Distillers, Three-I League (1905-1917)
- Peoria Tractors, Three-I League (1919-1932, 1935)
- Peoria Tractors, Mississippi Valley League (1933)
- Peoria Tractors, Central League (1934)
- Peoria Reds, Three-I League (1937)
- Peoria Redwings, AAGPBL (1946-1951)
- Peoria Chiefs, Three-I League (1953-1957)
- Peoria Suns, Midwest League (1983)
- Peoria Chiefs, Midwest League (1984-present)
