MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs, Cubs Extend Player Development Contract

Published on December 13, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


PEORIA, IL- The Chicago Cubs and Peoria Chiefs have announced a four-year extension to their player development contract that will extend the affiliation through the 2012 season. The current agreement, signed in September 2004, was set to expire after the 2008 Chiefs season.

"We are thrilled to extend agreements with our five minor league affiliates," said Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita. "Our minor league clubs are a key contributor to the recent success we have enjoyed at the major league level, and they continue to help develop players who will impact the organization in the future."

The Chiefs were affiliated with the Cubs from 1985-1994 as well so this new agreement will give the Cubs and Chiefs a total of 18 years together in partnership at the end of the 2012 season.

"This has been a great relationship over the past three seasons and we look forward to the next five years as a member of the Cubs organization," said Chiefs President Rocky Vonachen. "We are fortunate to be able to have an affiliate so close to home with such a large and passionate fan base in the area."

The first 10 years of the Cubs-Chiefs affiliation saw the beginning of the career of Mark Grace, Greg Maddux, Dwight Smith, Joe Girardi, Rafael Palmeiro, Mike Harkey, Jerome Walton, Heathclif Slocumb and many other Major Leaguers. Since the start of the second partnership in 2005, the Chiefs have helped start the careers of Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson and Sam Fuld who all made their debuts in Chicago in 2007.

Over the past three seasons, the Chiefs have twice set single-season attendance records as a Cubs affiliate. Sixteen sellouts over the last three seasons are among the top 35 crowds in franchise history, and nine of the top 15 gates have come since the start of the 2005 season. The relationship with the Cubs has also produced home rehab assignments by Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Nomar Garciaparra, Henry Blanco, Juan Mateo and Wade Miller. The Garciaparra rehabs on July 27 and 28, 2005 produced the only two crowds to top the 9,000 mark in franchise history.

The team has had success on the field as well over the last three seasons with an overall record of 214-204. The 2006 team won the First Half Western Division title under former Cubs All-Star Jody Davis before falling in the first round of the playoffs. The 2007 squad, managed by Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, shared a Second Half Western Division title with a 40-30 record but missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.

In addition to their player development contract with the Chiefs, the Cubs also signed four-year agreements Wednesday with their other affiliates in Triple-A Iowa, Double-A Tennessee and Single-A Daytona. Chicago agreed to a two-year deal with Single-A Boise through 2010. By the end of these current contracts, the Cubs will have enjoyed a total of 75 seasons of relationships with its five minor league affiliates.

The relationship between the Chicago Cubs and Iowa is now set to reach 31 seasons, as 2008 will mark the 27th season that Iowa has served as the Cubs Triple-A affiliate. That is the 12th-longest connection among the 159 affiliated minor league teams. The Orioles and Single-A Bluefield hold the record at 49 years through 2007. Next season will mark the 16th in which Chicago has been affiliated with the Daytona Cubs, the eighth season the organization has partnered with the Boise Hawks, and its second season with the Tennessee Smokies.

Ticket Information

The Chiefs home opener is set for Monday April 7th at 6:30 PM against the Beloit Snappers following a season opening four game road trip. Season ticket packages for the 2008 season are currently on sale. Ticket packages include 70-game package, 35-game package, 17-game package, and a Build Your Own package (minimum 12 games). Group tickets are also on sale for all O'Brien Field party areas and the seating bowl for all 70 home games. Individual game tickets will go on sale in March 2008. For more information or to purchase season or group packages, call the Chiefs account executives at (309)-680-4000.

The entire 2008 promotional schedule will be released at a later date. For more information check the official team website at www.peoriachiefs.com

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from December 13, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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