The Peoria Chiefs, High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, unveiled two alternate brands that they’ll wear in 2022 that have special significance to the local community.
For three games this season, the team will play as the Orange Barrels. The nickname pays tribute specifically to construction on the Murray Baker Bridge, just a mile and a half from the stadium, which closed traffic over the Illinois River between Peoria and East Peoria from March to October 2020. In a more general sense, the Orange Barrels logo is an “ode to local construction workers, who work hard year-round in the Peoria area,” per an announcement from the team.
The Pork Tenderloins brand, which will also appear in three games throughout the season, is a continuation of the temporary food-based logo frenzy in minor league baseball. Per an announcement from the team, “A pork tenderloin is considered a Midwest staple and many central Illinois locales have their own twist on the breaded, fried cutlet that is often oversized.” The Chiefs serve a pork tenderloin sandwich at their concession stands, which they’ll feature prominently in 2022.
The Chiefs will play as the Orange Barrels Saturday, May 28, Friday, July 15, and Saturday, September 3. The Pork Tenderloins will play Saturday, April 30, Friday, June 17, and Saturday, July 30.