The Quincy Gems was the primary name of the minor league baseball team in

Quincy, Illinois Quincy ( ), known as Illinois's "Gem City", is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Illinois, United States, located on the Mississippi River. The 2020 census counted a population of 39,463 in the city itself, down from 40,633 in 2010. ...

, that played in various seasons from 1883 to 1973. Quincy teams played as members of the

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

(1960–1973), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1946–1956),

Mississippi Valley League The Mississippi Valley League (MVL) was a baseball Class D level minor league that operated from 1922 through 1933. Playing its last year as a Class B level league, the league franchises were based in Iowa and Illinois. Like many leagues at the ...

(1933), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1911–1917, 1925–1932), Central Association (1908–1910),

Iowa State League The Iowa State League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1904 to 1907 and in 1912. The Class D level league had franchises based in Illinois and Iowa. The Ottumwa Snappers won league championships in 1904 and 1905. The Iowa Stat ...

(1907),

Western Association The Western Association was the name of five different leagues formed in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries. The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western ...

(1894–1898), Illinois-Iowa League (1891–1892),

Central Interstate League The Central Interstate League was an independent minor league baseball league that operated from 1888 to 1890. William H. Allen (1888), Henderson Ridgely (1889), E.T. McNeally (1890) and Fitzpatrick (1890) served as the league presidents. Th ...

(1889–1890) and

Northwestern League The Northwestern League was a sports league that operated in the Central United States during the early years of professional baseball for five seasons: 1879, 1883–1884, and 1886–1887. After the 1887 season, the league was replaced by the We ...

(1883–1884). Quincy won league championships in 1889, 1913, 1929, 1931, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1961 and 1970.

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...

members

Bruce Sutter Howard Bruce Sutter (; January 8, 1953 – October 13, 2022) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1976 and 1988. He was one of the sport's dominant relievers in the late 1970 ...

Tony Kubek Anthony Christopher Kubek (born October 12, 1935) is an American former professional baseball player and television broadcaster. During his nine-year playing career with the New York Yankees, Kubek played in six World Series in the late 1950s an ...

and

Whitey Herzog Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog (; born November 9, 1931) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and manager, most notable for his Major League Baseball (MLB) managerial career. He made his MLB debut as a player in 1956 wit ...

played for Quincy teams. The

Quincy Gems The Quincy Gems are a collegiate summer league baseball team located in Quincy, Illinois. The Gems were originally a part of the Central Illinois Collegiate League and joined the Prospect League with several other CICL teams prior to the 2009 s ...

name returned in 2009 with the Gems playing in the collegiate summer

Prospect League The Prospect League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. So as to maintain their colleg ...

History

Beginning play in 1883, Quincy minor league teams played as members of the

(1960–1973), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1946–1956),

(1933), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1911–1917, 1925–1932). Central Association (1908–1910),

(1907),

(1889–1890),

(1894–1898), Illinois-Iowa League (1891–1892),

(1889–1890) and

(1883–1884). After beginning play in 1883 as the Quincy Quincys, the team was first called the "Gems" in 1907 and had various other nicknames. Besided the Gems moniker Quincy minor league teams played as the (

Quincy Cubs The Quincy Cubs were a minor league baseball team located in Quincy, Illinois. The team played in the Midwest League and were an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Their home stadium was Q Stadium. The franchise lasted from 1965 to 1973, when the Cubs ...

(1965–1973), Quincy Jets (1962–1963), Quincy Giants (1960–1961),

Quincy Indians The Quincy Indians were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1928 to 1933. They were located in Quincy, Illinois. From 1928 to 1932, they played in the Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League The Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League was ...

(1928–1933), Quincy Red Birds (1925–1927), Quincy Old Soldiers (1912), Quincy Infants (1911), Quincy Vets (1909–1910), Quincy Giants (1899), Quincy (1898), Quincy Little Giants (1897), Quincy Blue Birds (1896),

Quincy Ravens The Quincy Gems was the primary name of the minor league baseball team in Quincy, Illinois, that played in various seasons from 1883 to 1973. Quincy teams played as members of the Midwest League (1960–1973), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (19 ...

(1890–1892, 1894), Quincy Black Birds (1889) and Quincy Quincys (1883–1884)). The team was known as the Quincy Ravens from 1890 to 1892, and then again in 1894. The team played in the Illinois Iowa League in 1891 and 1892, before moving to the

in 1894. They were managed by

Sam LaRocque Simeon Henry Jean LaRocque (February 26, 1863 – May 31, 1933) was a professional baseball player. He was a second baseman over parts of three seasons (1888, 1890–91) with the Detroit Wolverines, Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates and Louisville ...

and William Wittrock in 1892. Several major leaguers played for the Ravens, one of the most prominent being Sam Gillen who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies. During the 1981 season,

Pete Daniels Peter J. Daniels (April 8, 1864 – February 13, 1928), nicknamed "Smiling Pete", was an Irish born professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1891 to 1898. He played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and St. Louis Brown ...

threw 321 innings compiling a 0.79 ERA for the Ravens. The franchise played in the

(1894–1899),

(1907), Central Association (1908–1910), Three-I League (1911–1932, 1946–1956), and the

(1960–73). They were affiliated with the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...

(1946–1956), the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...

(1956–60),

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

(1962–63) and the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

(1965–1973). Overall, the franchise won a total of nine league championships. Quincy captured the Western Association championship in 1889, and Three-I League Championships in 1913, 1929, 1931, 1951, 1953 and 1954. Quincy won the 1961 and 1970 Midwest League Championships, defeating the

Waterloo Hawks The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the current Big Four Leagues. Franchise history ...

in 1961 and the Quad City Angels in 1970. After the 1973 season, the franchise was moved to Dubuque, Iowa playing as the Dubuque Packers in the

for two seasons, before the franchise was folded and not replaced. The Gems name returned in 2009 by the collegiate summer

team called the Gems, who also play at a renovated

Q Stadium QU Stadium is a stadium in Quincy, Illinois originally known as Q Stadium. It is primarily used for baseball, but also has a separate football field. The baseball side and football side of QU Stadium holds 2,500 people. The football side of the ...

The ballparks

Beginning in 1946, Quincy teams played at

. Previously, the team played at Eagles Stadium, which was located at the same site. Q Stadium was constructed on the Eagles Stadium site as a Works Project Administration project in 1939. Q stadium is still an active baseball stadium, located at 1800 Sycamore Street, Quincy, IL 62301. The stadium is bounded by Sycamore Street (north, left field); football stadium and North 20th Street (east, right field); Spruce Street (south, first base); and North 18th Street (west, third base). In 1984, the stadium was purchased by

Quincy University Quincy University (formerly known as St. Francis Solanus College, and today abbreviated as QU) is a private Franciscan university in Quincy, Illinois. It was founded in 1860 and enrolls about 1,100 students. History A small group of Franciscan ...

from the City of Quincy for $1.00. Today, Q Stadium is home to

teams and the

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

team of the same name, the new

Year-by-year record

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
Alumni

(1952) Inducted, 2010 *

(1955)

Ford C. Frick Award The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball". It is named for Ford C. Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Before h ...

, 2009 *

(1973) Inducted, 2006

Notable alumni

Hank Bauer Henry Albert Bauer (July 31, 1922 – February 9, 2007) was an American right fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He played with the New York Yankees (–) and Kansas City Athletics (–); he batted and threw right-handed. He served as ...

(1946) 6x MLB All-Star; 1966 MLB Manager of the Year;

Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame The Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame is a team Hall of Fame dedicated to representing the most significant contributors to the history of the Baltimore Orioles professional baseball team since the first season of Baltimore baseball in 1954, which has ...

* Lew Burdette (1948) 2× MLB All-Star; 1957

World Series MVP The Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is given to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the MLB postseason. The aw ...

; Braves Hall of Fame *

Jim Finigan James Leroy Finigan (August 19, 1928 – May 16, 1981) was an American professional baseball player and Major League infielder. Primarily a third baseman and second baseman, he played for the Philadelphia / Kansas City Athletics (1954–1956) ...

(1964) 2x MLB All-Star * Jim Ray Hart (1960) MLB all-Star *

Woodie Held Woodson George "Woodie" Held (March 25, 1932 – June 11, 2009) was a shortstop/outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Baltimore Orioles, ...

(1953) *

Vern Hoscheit Vernard Arthur Hoscheit (April 1, 1922 – June 11, 2007) was an American professional baseball catcher, coach, and manager. He served as a coach on four World Series championship Major League Baseball (MLB) teams with the Oakland Athletics and N ...

(1953-1956) *

Walter Holke Walter Henry Holke (December 25, 1892 – October 12, 1954) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. Holke holds the record for the most put-outs by ...

(1929) *

Baby Doll Jacobson William Chester "Baby Doll" Jacobson (August 16, 1890 – January 16, 1977) was an American baseball outfielder. He played 11 seasons of Major League Baseball, principally with the St. Louis Browns, between 1915 and 1927. He also played for the ...

(1929) .311 Lifetime Batting Average * Buddy Kerr (1960, MGR) MLB All-Star *

Pete LaCock Ralph Pierre "Pete" LaCock Jr. (born January 17, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder. He batted and threw left-handed. In 1975, LaCock hit the only grand slam of his career in the final appearance of St. Louis Cardina ...

(1970) *

Dennis Lamp Dennis Patrick Lamp (born September 23, 1952) is a former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1977 through 1992, the breaking ball specialist played for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athle ...

(1973) * Hal Lanier (1961) MLB MGR: 1986 NL Manager of the Year *

Sam Mertes Samuel Blair Mertes (August 6, 1872 – March 11, 1945) was a professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of 10 seasons (1896–1906) with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Orphans, Chicago White Sox, New York Giants (NL), New Y ...

(1894) 1903 NL RBI Leader * Joe Niekro (1966) MLB All-Star; Houston Astros Hall of Fame *

Bill North William Alex North (born May 15, 1948) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1971 to 1981, he played for the Chicago Cubs (1971–72), Oakland Athletics (1973–78), Los Angeles Dodgers (1978) and San Francisco Giants (1979– ...

(1970) 1974, 1975 AL Stolen Base Leader *

Fritz Ostermueller Frederick Raymond "Fritz" Ostermueller (September 15, 1907 – December 17, 1957) was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1934 to 1948, playing for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. ...

(1926) 1938 NL Saves Leader * Ray Powell (1931) * Gary Ross (1967) * Hal Smith (1951) * Russ Snyder (1954) *

Tom Sturdivant Thomas Virgil Sturdivant (April 28, 1930 – February 28, 2009), nicknamed "Snake", was an American pitcher who played for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators (1961–71), Washington Senators, Pittsbu ...

(1948-1950) *

Gus Suhr August Richard Suhr (January 3, 1906 – January 15, 2004) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) first baseman. Suhr was born in San Francisco, California. The fourth son of August H Suhr and Elise (Nobmann) Suhr, both of German descent. He batted lef ...

(1925) MLB All-Star *

Steve Sundra Stephen Richard Sundra (March 27, 1910 – March 23, 1952) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played during eight seasons for the New York Yankees (1936; 1938–1940), Washington Senators (1941–1942) and St. Louis Browns (1942–1944; ...

(1932) * Lee Thomas (1955) 2x MLB All-Star *

Marv Throneberry Marvin Eugene Throneberry (September 2, 1933 – June 23, 1994) was an American Major League Baseball player. Affectionately known as "Marvelous Marv", he was the starting first baseman for the 1962 New York Mets, a team which set the modern rec ...

(1953) Miller Lite commercials *

Hal Trosky Harold Arthur Trosky Sr. (born Harold Arthur Trojovsky; November 11, 1912 – June 18, 1979) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman for the Cleveland Indians (1933–1941) and the Chica ...

(1932) 1936 AL RBI Leader;

Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball. Awards Most Valuable Player *George Burns (1926) * Lou Boudreau (1948) *Al Rosen (1953) Cy Young *Gaylord Perry (1972) *CC Sabathia (2007 ...

Rabbit Warstler Harold Burton "Rabbit" Warstler (September 13, 1903 – May 31, 1964) was a professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of 11 seasons in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Boston Red Sox (1930–33), Phil ...

(1927) *

Dutch Zwilling Edward Harrison "Dutch" Zwilling (November 2, 1888 – March 27, 1978) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder for four seasons. He first played for the Chicago White Sox of the Ameri ...

(1951) 1914 NL Home Run Leader; 1915 NL RBI Leader

Photos

BruceSutterCardinals.jpg, Hall of Fame Pitcher

File:Herzog1983stand.jpg, Hall of Famer

, 1983 Tony Kubek 1961.png,

, 1961 HalTroskyGoudeycard.jpg,

, Goudey card File:Ed Walker (baseball).jpg, Ed Walker, Quincy Vets, 1910 Baby Doll Jacobson 1919.jpg,

, 1919 File:Marv Throneberry 1961.jpg,

, 1961 File:Hank Bauer 1953.jpg,

, 1953

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quincy Gems (Minor League Team) Baseball teams established in 1883 Defunct Midwest League teams Defunct baseball teams in Illinois New York Yankees minor league affiliates Professional baseball teams in Illinois Central Association Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League teams San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates Sports teams in Quincy, Illinois 1883 establishments in Illinois 1973 disestablishments in Illinois Quincy, Illinois Central Association teams Iowa State League teams Baseball teams disestablished in 1973

History

The ballparks

Year-by-year record

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ... Alumni

Notable alumni

See also

Photos

References

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
Alumni