Quincy Gems (baseball)

The Quincy Gems were a minor league baseball team that existed periodically for 57 seasons between 1883 and 1973. The franchise was based in Quincy, Illinois. The Gems were members of the Midwest League (1960–1973), Three-I League (1911-1932, 1946-1956), Central Association (1908-1910), Iowa State League (1907) and the Western Association (1884).

After the 1973 season, the Gems moved to Dubuque, Iowa playing as the Dubuque Packers in the Midwest League for two seasons, before the franchise was folded and was not replaced. Today, there is a collegiate summerProspect League team called the Gems, playing at a renovated Q Stadium, now owned by Quincy University.^[3][4] Baseball Hall of Fame members Bruce Sutter and Whitey Herzog played for the minor league Quincy franchise.

Team history

After beginning play in 1883, the team was first called the "Gems" in 1907 and had various other nicknames (Ravens, Vets, Giants, Cubs, Jets, Indians), some the same as their major league affiliate. The franchise played in the Western Association (1894-1899), Iowa State League (1907), Central Association (1908-1910), Three-I League (1911-1932, 1946-1956), and the Midwest League (1960–73).^[2] They were affiliated with the New York Yankees (1946-1956), the San Francisco Giants (1956–60), New York Mets (1962-63) and the Chicago Cubs (1965-1973).

The Ballpark

Their home ballpark was Q Stadium, beginning in 1946. Previous to that the team played at Eagles Stadium.^[5] Q Stadium was built in 1939 and is still an active baseball stadium, located at 1800 Sycamore Street, Quincy, IL 62301.^[6] The 1964 Gems had no major league affiliation, and were the last minor league team in the United States to operate independently until the 1973 Portland Mavericks.

Hall of Fame Pitcher Bruce Sutter, 1988

Hal Trosky Goudey card

Hall of Fame Alumni

• Whitey Herzog (1952) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame (2010)
• Tony Kubek (1955) Ford C. Frick Award Baseball Hall of Fame (2009)
• Bruce Sutter (1973) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame (2006)

Notable alumni

• Hank Bauer (1946) 6 x MLB AS;
• Lew Burdette (1948) 2× MLB AS; 1957 World Series MVP; 1959 NL wins leader; 1956 NL ERA leader
• Walter Holke (1929)
• Baby Doll Jacobson (1929)
• Pete LaCock (1970)
• Dennis Lamp (1973)
• Hal Lanier (1961) MLB MGR: 1986 NL Manager of the Year
• Joe Niekro (1966) MLB AS; 1979 NL Wins Leader
• Bill North (1970) 1974, 1975 AL Stolen Base Leader
• Paul Reuschel (1969)
• Lee Thomas (1955) 2 x MLB AS
• Marv Throneberry (1953)
• Hal Trosky (1932) 1936 AL RBI Leader

Tony Kubek, 1961

Baby Doll Jacobson 1919

Year-by-year record

(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)

References