The Peoria Chiefs have just the ticket for their fans as they slug their way toward a home run record this summer.
The High-A Midwest League team and farm club of the St. Louis Cardinals entered action recently with 109 home runs after 80 games in the 2026 season.
That was already the sixth-best single-season total in the Peoria franchise’s 44-year history, with a legit shot at the team record looming.
Peoria’s record is 122, accomplished under the Cardinals flag in the Chiefs 2002 championship season at Dozer Park.
All that power flexing at the plate has led to a fun promotion for the fans in the grandstand.
Call it sort of a guaranteed home run night. Every night at home.
The Chiefs have launched a deal, guaranteeing the team will hit a home run in each game at Dozer Park. If they don’t, then the tickets those fans are holding that night can be exchanged for a free ticket to the team’s next home game.
The exchange has to happen at the Dozer Park box office right after the game.
Lippman’s Furniture is helping the Chiefs underwrite the cost in tickets issued after a non-home run home game.
“We were hoping to come up with an idea that would both drive attendance and have fans engage with the action on the field, and we felt this idea accomplished both of those things,” Peoria Chiefs play-by-play voice Larry Larson said. “We’ve seen a pretty sizable redemption rate on tickets that are exchanged.”
Home run history
A look at the most home runs hit by the Peoria Chiefs in a single season during their 44-year history, listed with number of homers, year, and MLB parent club:
A look at the most home runs hit by individual Peoria Chiefs players in a single season during their 44-year history, with number of homer, player’s name, year and number of games:
Clearing the fences
Highly-touted Cardinals prospect Jesus Baez hit 14 home runs for the Chiefs in just 54 games before he was promoted on June 23 to class-AA Springfield.
Acquired over the winter in a trade that sent closer and former Chiefs prospect Ryan Helsley to the Mets, Baez hit five more home runs in his first seven games at AA.
Peoria second baseman Tre Richardson was at 11 home runs before he, too, was promoted to Springfield.
Through July 8, catcher Cade McGee led the current Chiefs with 11 home runs, and he hit eight of those in June. Peoria shortstop Jalin Flores had 10 through July 8.
The Chiefs are on the road, with the MWL All-Star break included. They return home for a six-game home stand with Wisconsin starting July 21.
Chiefs briefs
St. Louis Cardinals catcher prospect Rainiel Rodriguez, who started the season with the Chiefs before being promoted, has been chosen for the National League roster of the 27th annual MLB Prospect All-Star Game. It is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 12 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia, and will air live on NBC. … The Chiefs finished 32-34 for third place in the Midwest League in the first half. … The Chiefs have pushed nine players up to class-AA Springfield so far this season.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star senior writer and sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Chiefs have a guaranteed home run promotion
Reporting by Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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By Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
