Chiefs & Hot Rods to Battle For the Barrel

PEORIA, IL The Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Peoria Chiefs, Class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, jointly announced today the creation of the 'Battle for the Barrel,' an annual trophy that will be awarded for the first time during a three game series from May 7-9 (a road series for the Chiefs) as the teams don their alternate names.

     The Hot Rods began the Bootlegger Night promotion two seasons ago, which was eventually named MiLB Promo of the Year in 2016. The Chiefs changed their name to Distillers for one night in 2017, and a fun rivalry was born.
     "It's a natural rivalry," said Hot Rods GM/COO Eric C. Leach, "We can't wait to add another trophy to our shelf here at Bowling Green Ballpark."
      Leach and Peoria Chiefs GM Jason Mott are good friends, and after getting together around a good bottle themselves, they concocted the 'Battle For The Barrel,' a traveling trophy series that will be awarded to the series winner each year.
     "The rivalry just makes too much sense not to do it," Chiefs GM Jason Mott said. "We already have a spot to display our newest trophy here at Dozer Park."
     This year, the Battle will go from Monday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 9, with the trophy awarded to the team which wins the series in Kentucky. For Tuesday night's game, which begins at 6:35 pm Central, both teams will wear their special jerseys- the Hot Rods in Bootlegger apparel, with the Chiefs wearing their Distillers jerseys.
     The two GMs have a bet going on the series, with the losing team's GM sending the other their favorite bottle of Bourbon or Spirit.
     "I can't wait until we win and Jason has to send me some of Peoria's finest," Leach added.
     "I already cleaned out my Distillers whiskey glass and am ready to fill it with some of Kentucky's finest bourbon to celebrate our win," Mott said.
Tickets on Sale
     Peoria Chiefs single game tickets go on sale Thursday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dozer Park Box Office, online at www.peoriachiefs.com or by calling 1-866-MYTICKET. Season and group tickets are currently on sale at 309-680-4000. The Chiefs home opener is scheduled for Saturday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. when the Chiefs host Burlington with post-game fireworks.