Harold Albert "Pete" Vonachen, Jr. (August 31, 1925 – June 10, 2013) was an American businessman and Minor league baseball team owner.

[1] An avid sports enthusiast and premiere restaurateur, Vonachen saved professional baseball for Peoria when he purchased the town's Class-A Midwest League franchise after the 1983 season, turning it into a model for the nation.

[3] An innovator in promotions and marketing, Vonachen purchased the Peoria Suns in late 1983 and turned the Midwest League franchise into a 1980s powerhouse after renaming the team the Chiefs in 1984.

During his second stint with the club, Vonachen helped the Chiefs secure the site and raised money for the development of a new downtown stadium, while attendance grew by nearly 20,000 fans.

In 2002, the Chiefs moved into their new ballpark O'Brien Field, won their first ever Midwest League Championship, and obliterated the franchise attendance mark.

[5] Among the former Chiefs on the rosters were Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Kyle McClellan and Jason Motte of the Cardinals, and Darwin Barney, Jeff Samardzija, Casey Coleman and Justin Berg of the Cubs, plus Chicago bullpen coach Lester Strode.

[6] Vonachen married the former Donna Hurst in 1957 and they raised a family of five children, Mary Michael Shadid, Harold (Rocky) III, Gregory, Daniel and Mark.