![]() Reno heads up a grounds crew of seven seasonal employees. His 15 years of experience is-quite literally-in the field. While major universities now offer landscaping and groundskeeping degrees, Reno started working before that was an option. In the off-season, he works as one of 30 NFL groundskeepers for the Super Bowl, and travels to Mexico, Germany and England for NFL Europe. Before coming to Peoria, Reno readied playing surfaces for the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes, Washington Redskins and Arizona Cardinals. “Basically from the beginning of April to mid-May, there’s somebody on this field every day,” notes Vonachen, “and it’s tough on the turf.” That’s where head groundskeeper Mike Reno comes in to work his magic. And when you count state high school tournaments-which can mean maintaining the field for multiple games in one day-it adds up to a lot of wear and tear. In addition to their own games, the Chiefs prepare the field for Bradley University’s baseball team, which also hosts home games at the stadium. Usage of Dozer Park is heavy during the season. We are here to provide them with a venue to develop their players.” Preparing that venue is where the real work lies. ![]() “Anything that happens on the field is handled by the Cardinals. “We have no say in who our players are-the lineup or the coaching staff,” explains Rocky Vonachen, president of the Chiefs organization since 1996. The goal is to work their way up that ladder to ultimately play at the major-league level. They are paid by the Cardinals organization, and baseball is their full-time job. They come from cities all over the United States to as far away as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Taiwan, Australia or France. There are about 25 individuals on the roster at any given time-players who have been drafted by the Cardinals out of high school or college, or as free agents. But hosting more than 70 Class A baseball games each season at Dozer Park is no easy feat: minor league baseball requires some major-league effort.Īs ironic as it may seem, the Chiefs’ office holds no responsibility for the players or the game itself-that falls to the team’s major league affiliate, the St. While the team has changed affiliations and venues over the years, our Peoria Chiefs have entertained area fans and families since the early 1980s. It’s known as America’s favorite pastime, and it certainly has a rich history in central Illinois. Find out what it really takes to “take me out to the ballgame…”īaseball.
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