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.
32-725: Quincy teams played as members of the Midwest League (1960–1973), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1946–1956), Mississippi Valley League (1933), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1911–1917, 1925–1932), Central Association (1908–1910), Iowa State League (1907), Western Association (1894–1898), Illinois-Iowa League (1891–1892), Central Interstate League (1889–1890) and Northwestern League (1883–1884). Quincy won league championships in 1889, 1913, 1929, 1931, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1961 and 1970. Baseball Hall of Fame members Bruce Sutter , Tony Kubek and Whitey Herzog played for Quincy teams. The Quincy Gems name returned in 2009 with
64-685: Is the oldest franchise in the MWL, evolving into today's Fort Wayne TinCaps , while Clinton is the oldest MWL locale. In 1960, the Davenport, Iowa based Quad City Braves joined the league as an expansion team. In 1962, Appleton , Burlington , and Cedar Rapids joined the Midwest League from the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League which folded operations when those franchises switched leagues. All those franchised remain in
96-672: The Chicago Cubs (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 in 1961 and the Quad City Angels in 1970. After the 1973 season, the franchise
128-860: The Illinois State League (1947–1948) and then became the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1949–1955). In 1956, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League was renamed the Midwest League. The circuit temporarily operated for the 2021 season as the High-A Central before reassuming its original moniker in 2022. The Lansing Lugnuts and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers franchises jointly have won the most Midwest League championships , with nine each. The Midwest League directly evolved from two earlier leagues in
160-625: The Paducah Chiefs . In 1954, the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League expanded, adding teams in Clinton and Dubuque, Iowa . The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League was then renamed Midwest League in 1956. The original teams in 1956, the first year of Midwest League play, were: Clinton Pirates , Decatur Commodores , Dubuque Packers , Kokomo Dodgers , Lafayette Red Sox , Mattoon Phillies , Michigan City White Caps and
192-522: The Paris Lakers . Mattoon is the oldest franchise in the MWL, evolving into today's Fort Wayne TinCaps , while Clinton is the oldest MWL locale. In 1960, the Davenport, Iowa based Quad City Braves joined the league as an expansion team. In 1962, Appleton , Burlington , and Cedar Rapids joined the Midwest League from the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League which folded operations when those franchises switched leagues. All those franchised remain in
224-693: 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 (1965–1973), Quincy Jets (1962–1963), Quincy Giants (1960–1961), Quincy Indians (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 (1890–1892, 1894), Quincy Black Birds (1889) and Quincy Quincys (1883–1884)). The team
256-685: The 1981 season, Pete Daniels threw 321 innings compiling a 0.79 ERA for the Ravens. 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). They were affiliated with the New York Yankees (1946–1956), the San Francisco Giants (1956–60), New York Mets (1962–63) and
288-502: The 1990s several teams changed cities as Major League Baseball placed higher standards on minor league baseball facilities; franchises in smaller cities were sold to new owners who moved those teams to new ballparks in larger cities. Kenosha , Madison, Rockford, Springfield, Waterloo , and Wausau lost teams during this decade while Battle Creek , Dayton , Fort Wayne , Grand Rapids (West Michigan), Kane County , and Lansing gained teams. The 1978 Appleton Foxes are ranked #93 on
320-502: The 1990s several teams changed cities as Major League Baseball placed higher standards on minor league baseball facilities; franchises in smaller cities were sold to new owners who moved those teams to new ballparks in larger cities. Kenosha , Madison, Rockford, Springfield, Waterloo , and Wausau lost teams during this decade while Battle Creek , Dayton , Fort Wayne , Grand Rapids (West Michigan), Kane County , and Lansing gained teams. The 1978 Appleton Foxes are ranked #93 on
352-868: The 2007 season. On September 2, 2008, Minor League Baseball announced that two teams would transfer from the fellow Class A South Atlantic League to the Midwest League: the Lake County Captains (an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians playing in Eastlake, Ohio ) and the Bowling Green Hot Rods (an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays playing in Bowling Green, Kentucky ). The start of the 2020 season
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#1732794122509384-412: The 2007 season. On September 2, 2008, Minor League Baseball announced that two teams would transfer from the fellow Class A South Atlantic League to the Midwest League: the Lake County Captains (an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians playing in Eastlake, Ohio ) and the Bowling Green Hot Rods (an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays playing in Bowling Green, Kentucky ). The start of the 2020 season
416-588: The Gems playing in the collegiate summer Prospect League . Beginning play in 1883, Quincy minor league teams played as members of the Midwest League (1960–1973), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1946–1956), Mississippi Valley League (1933), Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1911–1917, 1925–1932). Central Association (1908–1910), Iowa State League (1907), Central Interstate League (1889–1890), Western Association (1894–1898), Illinois-Iowa League (1891–1892), Central Interstate League (1889–1890) and Northwestern League (1883–1884). After beginning play in 1883 as
448-646: The Mattoon Indians in 1947 and playing in Keokuk, Iowa ; Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin ; and Kenosha, Wisconsin , before moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana , in 1993. The Clinton LumberKings have been in one city longer than any Midwest League team, having called Clinton, Iowa , home since 1954. The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays moved to Midland, Michigan , and became the Great Lakes Loons prior to
480-409: The Mattoon Indians in 1947 and playing in Keokuk, Iowa ; Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin ; and Kenosha, Wisconsin , before moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana , in 1993. The Clinton LumberKings have been in one city longer than any Midwest League team, having called Clinton, Iowa , home since 1954. The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays moved to Midland, Michigan , and became the Great Lakes Loons prior to
512-420: The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League expanded, adding teams in Clinton and Dubuque, Iowa . The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League was then renamed Midwest League in 1956. The original teams in 1956, the first year of Midwest League play, were: Clinton Pirates , Decatur Commodores , Dubuque Packers , Kokomo Dodgers , Lafayette Red Sox , Mattoon Phillies , Michigan City White Caps and the Paris Lakers . Mattoon
544-520: The Top-100 All Time teams by MiLB.com. Led by future Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt , the team finished 97–40. Harry Chappas , Ross Baumgarten and Britt Burns were all called up to the parent Chicago White Sox at the conclusion of the MWL season. The 97 wins by the Foxes remains a Midwest League record. The Fort Wayne TinCaps are the oldest franchise in the league, having begun as
576-401: The Top-100 All Time teams by MiLB.com. Led by future Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt , the team finished 97–40. Harry Chappas , Ross Baumgarten and Britt Burns were all called up to the parent Chicago White Sox at the conclusion of the MWL season. The 97 wins by the Foxes remains a Midwest League record. The Fort Wayne TinCaps are the oldest franchise in the league, having begun as
608-771: The league expanded from 8 to 12 teams, adding the Beloit Brewers , the Danville Suns , the Madison Muskies , and the Springfield Cardinals . The Peoria Suns relocated from Danville in 1983, and acquired their current name, Peoria Chiefs, the following year. In 1988, the league began splitting its season into two halves and expanded from 12 to 14 teams, with the addition of franchises in South Bend, Indiana , and Rockford, Illinois . During
640-452: The league expanded from 8 to 12 teams, adding the Beloit Brewers , the Danville Suns , the Madison Muskies , and the Springfield Cardinals . The Peoria Suns relocated from Danville in 1983, and acquired their current name, Peoria Chiefs, the following year. In 1988, the league began splitting its season into two halves and expanded from 12 to 14 teams, with the addition of franchises in South Bend, Indiana , and Rockford, Illinois . During
672-514: The league today. In 1963, the Midwest League was designated as a Class A league, after the minor league classification structure was reorganized. The 1975 Waterloo Royals , led by future MLB All-Stars Willie Wilson and Dan Quisenberry , are ranked #60 on MiLB.com's Top 100 Teams. The Royals finished the season 93–35. In 1976, the Midwest League contracted from ten teams to eight, as franchises in Danville and Dubuque were eliminated. In 1982,
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#1732794122509704-459: The league today. In 1963, the Midwest League was designated as a Class A league, after the minor league classification structure was reorganized. The 1975 Waterloo Royals , led by future MLB All-Stars Willie Wilson and Dan Quisenberry , are ranked #60 on MiLB.com's Top 100 Teams. The Royals finished the season 93–35. In 1976, the Midwest League contracted from ten teams to eight, as franchises in Danville and Dubuque were eliminated. In 1982,
736-537: The league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball 's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The Midwest League began as the Illinois State League (1947–1948) and then became the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1949–1955). In 1956, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League was renamed the Midwest League. The circuit temporarily operated for the 2021 season as the High-A Central before reassuming its original moniker in 2022. The Lansing Lugnuts and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers franchises jointly have won
768-659: The most Midwest League championships , with nine each. The Midwest League directly evolved from two earlier leagues in the region. In 1947, the Class D Illinois State League (ISL) began operation with six Illinois teams: the Belleville Stags , Centralia Cubs , Marion Indians , Mattoon Indians , Mount Vernon Braves , and West Frankfort Cardinals . In 1949, the ISL changed its name to the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League after Marion moved their franchise to Kentucky and became
800-400: The region. In 1947, the Class D Illinois State League (ISL) began operation with six Illinois teams: the Belleville Stags , Centralia Cubs , Marion Indians , Mattoon Indians , Mount Vernon Braves , and West Frankfort Cardinals . In 1949, the ISL changed its name to the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League after Marion moved their franchise to Kentucky and became the Paducah Chiefs . In 1954,
832-543: The stadium was purchased by Quincy University from the City of Quincy for $ 1.00. Today, Q Stadium is home to Quincy University teams and the collegiate summer baseball team of the same name, the new Quincy Gems . 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,
864-623: 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 Western Association in 1894. They were managed by Sam LaRocque 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
896-511: 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,
928-472: Was moved to Dubuque, Iowa playing as the Dubuque Packers in the Midwest League for two seasons, before the franchise was folded and not replaced. The Gems name returned in 2009 by the collegiate summer Prospect League team called the Gems, who also play at a renovated Q Stadium . Beginning in 1946, Quincy teams played at Q Stadium . Previously, the team played at Eagles Stadium , which
960-529: Was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Midwest League was promoted to High-A, reduced to 12 teams, and temporarily renamed the "High-A Central" for the 2021 season. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the High-A Central
992-410: Was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Midwest League was promoted to High-A, reduced to 12 teams, and temporarily renamed the "High-A Central" for the 2021 season. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the High-A Central
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1024-403: Was renamed the Midwest League effective with the 2022 season. 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 reorganization of the minor leagues. The Midwest League began as
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