Rocky Vonachen is stepping down as president of the Peoria Chiefs (Low A; Midwest League), saying that he’s ready to be done with the daily grind of running a Minor League Baseball team.
The Vonachen family name–father Pete Vonachen came before Rocky–is intertwined with Peoria baseball, as family members have been associated with the Chiefs since 1983. Under Rocky Vonachen, the Chiefs developed Dozer Park, hosted two MWL All-Star Games at Dozer Park and went over the 200,000 attendance plateau 14 times since moving downtown, including a franchise record 275,673 in 2008. Vonachen will also resign his seat on the team’s board of directors, but will retain his ownership stake in the team.
“It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from baseball and my position as President of the Peoria Chiefs,” Vonachen said in a press statement. “I have been blessed for the last 25 years to have been able to do something that I truly loved each and every day and to carry on the vision that my father started so many years ago to improve the quality of life in Central Illinois while providing the best entertainment and professional baseball to the fans. When your office is at the ballpark it is not all bad! But it is also very demanding and takes a toll physically and on one’s personal time over the years, so it comes time to take the next step. While retiring from a day-to-day role I will continue to be a part of the ownership group of the Peoria Chiefs. With that in mind, I am also looking forward to the next opportunity and challenge that awaits me.”
Jason Mott will add the president title to his role as Chiefs general manager.
The team’s Board of Directors issued the following statement:
“The Peoria Chiefs Board would like to thank Rocky for his 25 years of leadership in the Peoria Chiefs organization. His leadership and direction has made the Peoria Chiefs and Dozer Park one of the best organizations in Minor League Baseball. While we are sad to see Rocky step away from running the organization, we can respect his decision. Rocky has a great staff assembled in the front office and we know they will not miss a beat preparing for the 2018 season. We have the utmost confidence in General Manager Jason Mott, the 2017 Midwest League Executive of the Year, to run the organization going forward. We wish Rocky nothing but the best as he begins his next chapter. We are excited that Rocky will be seen around the ballpark enjoying the games in the future.”