Chiefs Plan Minor League Fun at Major League Field
Published on July 23, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
PEORIA, IL- The Peoria Chiefs in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs are excited to announce numerous activities taking place on July 29 as the Chiefs face the Kane County Cougars at the historic Wrigley Field. The "Road to Wrigley," presented by National City, will take place at 7:05 pm, and it is the Chiefs first game at a Major League stadium and what is believed to be the first minor league game to take place at Wrigley in the park's 94-year history.
To provide in-game entertainment between innings, both Birdzerk and members of ZOOperstars! will be at the ballpark for fans. The groups will perform their comical skits and will keep the crowd amused as they play throughout the Friendly Confines. The Chiefs promotional team will also put on the classic events of minor league games, including a t-shirt toss, dizzy bat races, musical chairs, and much more. Both Homer and the Cougars mascot, Ozzie, will be on hand to entertain fans as well.
For the seventh inning stretch, Dutchie Caray and Pete Vonachen will sing the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in honor of Harry Caray, celebrated Cubs announcer. Dutchie is the wife of the late Harry, who began the tradition of singing the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley. Vonachen, a close friend of both Harry and Dutchie, is known as Peoria's "Mr. Baseball" as well as being former owner of the Chiefs. Pete's son, Rocky Vonachen, became the president and general manager of the team in 1996 after working under his father with the team since 1984, and he is credited with putting together the "Road to Wrigley."
Gates will open at 5:00 pm, and fans will have the opportunity to watch Kane County's batting practice and see both teams take infield. Also, players from both teams will be signing autographs prior to the game, while following the game kids 14 and under can run the Wrigley Field bases. As further testament to a minor league atmosphere, other pre-game activities will include ceremonial first pitches thrown by fans, a fan selected to paint the plate, and a Dream Team, giving a lucky team the chance to be announced and take the field with the Chiefs starting lineup.
In addition to Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg's first return to Wrigley in uniform, Bob Dernier and Carmelo Martinez will also be coaching with the Chiefs at Wrigley Field. Dernier, the Cubs Outfield/Base Running Coordinator and good friend of Sandberg, will coach first base. Dernier and Sandberg were both drafted by the Phillies organization and moved through the team's minor league system together. Sandberg was traded to the Cubs, only to be joined by Dernier a year later, and the two hitters went on to head to the playoffs together in 1984. Martinez, a teammate of Sandberg in 1983, was originally assigned to be the Chiefs hitting coach in December, but later in the off-season he was promoted to Latin American Field Coordinator for the Cubs. At the Chiefs game at Wrigley, Martinez will be in the dugout as an additional coach.
Tickets are still available for the "Road to Wrigley" at www.cubs.com, and the Cubs recently announced they are opening the upper deck box and upper deck reserved seating sections for only $5 or $10. The Chiefs and Cougars series will conclude with two games on July 30 and 31 at O'Brien Field. The Chiefs will be making the trip up to Chicago after a six-game road trip to Dayton and Fort Wayne. Kane County will be traveling in from a three-game series in Dayton. July 30 will be Safari Night, presented by Wildlife Prairie State Park, and fans will also receive free hot dogs and peanuts through the seventh inning, sponsored by Vienna Beef. July 31 will feature a post-game concert presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing.
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