From milb.com
Sandberg a crowd-pleaser in Peoria
Hall of Famer woos caravan crowd in city where he'll manage
Wednesday night was a Sandberg love fest in this Illinois city about 160 miles downstate from Chicago. The people of Peoria are giddy to be part of the longtime Cubs second baseman's new career.
"This is big," said Rocky Vonachen, Peoria Chiefs team president and general manager.
"It's exciting every day. People are talking about it -- the buzz is unbelievable around town."
Sandberg, 47, may be the first Hall of Famer to manage the Chiefs, but he isn't the first Cub. He follows former teammate Jody Davis, who led the Class A team to a 75-64 record in 2006, his first year as manager. The Chiefs won the first half with a 41-28 record, and finished second in the second half.
"He was one of my first phone calls," Sandberg said of Davis. "He said he enjoyed the experience much more than he thought he would, whatever that meant. He said the league was terrific, great towns, and most have new facilities, which is a plus."
...
The city's convention and visitors bureau is more interested in touting the Chiefs' new skipper, and is creating travel packages for Chicagoans who might want to spend a weekend in Peoria to see the Hall of Famer and watch some games at picturesque O'Brien Field. It's a beautiful ballpark, complete with palm trees, suites named after alums Greg Maddux and Mark Grace, and a berm for picnic-type seating. Some suite holders like the place so much, they have personalized their boxes with everything from chandeliers to golf souvenirs.
I'm guessing that the writer has never been to O'Brien Field before.
From the Peoria Journal-Star:
Always alive in dead of winter
Next year is here for Cubs fans
New Chiefs manager, big-league pitching hot topics at annual caravan
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