Peoria, IL

Peoria (2000 population: 112,936) is a city in central Illinois, located on the Illinois River, approximately halfway between Chicago and St. Louis and 60 miles north of the state capital, Springfield, IL. 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.

Peoria is known as the prototypical American small town. The common expression "Will it play in Peoria?" originally referred to Broadway plays or musicals that contained risqué or avant-garde elements that may be acceptable to a sophisticated public in New York, NY, but not in most small towns.

Teams that have played here

• Peoria Reds, Northwestern League (1883-1884)
• Peoria Reds, Central Inter-State League (1888)
• Peoria Canaries, Central Inter-State League (1889-1890)
• 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 (1984-2019, 2022- )
• Peoria Chiefs, High-A Central (2021)

Persons who were born here

• Amy Applegren, AAGPBL pitcher
• Charlie Bartson, pitcher
• Lynn Brenton, pitcher
• Jack Brickhouse, broadcaster
• Ben Caffyn, outfielder
• Ron Clark, college coach
• Bill Dixon, minor league outfielder
• Mike Donlin, outfielder
• Dan Dugdale, catcher
• Ryan Eigsti, minor league catcher
• Elizabeth Farrow, AAGPBL pitcher
• Harry Frazee, owner
• Norwood Gibson, pitcher
• Tom Gilles, pitcher
• Joe Girardi, catcher; manager
• Dick Jauron, drafted infielder
• Esther Lyman, AAGPBL catcher
• Chris Mabeus, pitcher
• Mason McCoy, infielder
• Howard Millard, minor league executive
• Ryan Mills, minor league pitcher
• Zach Monroe, pitcher
• Darby O'Brien, outfielder
• George Pinkney, infielder
• Jack Powell, umpire
• Jack Quinlan, broadcaster
• Seth Schwindenhammer, minor league outfielder
• Steve Staniland, minor league player
• Allyn Stout, pitcher
• Lee Thomas, outfielder
• Jim Thome, infielder
• Walter Thornton, outfielder/pitcher
• Pete Vonachen, minor league executive
• Andrew Werner, pitcher
• George Whiteman, outfielder

Persons who died here

• Bob Barnes, pitcher
• Charlie Bartson, pitcher
• Harry Bay, outfielder
• Ben Caffyn, outfielder
• Bob Caruthers, pitcher; manager
• Ron Clark, college coach
• Ollie Fuhrman, catcher
• Norwood Gibson, pitcher
• Michael Hurley, umpire
• Stan Hyman, college coach
• Bill Jackson, infielder
• Mike McDonald, college coach
• Monte McFarland, outfielder
• Douglas Mills, USA national team pitcher
• Darby O'Brien, outfielder
• George Pinkney, infielder
• Larry Pratt, catcher
• John Roach, pitcher
• Leo Schrall, minor league player
• Steel Arm Johnny Taylor, pitcher
• Pete Vonachen, minor league executive

Educational institutions located here

• Bergan High School - formerly
• Bradley University
• Central High School
• Manual High School
• Peoria Notre Dame High School
• Richwoods High School
• Spalding Institute - formerly
• Woodruff High School