The Quincy Gems were a collegiate summer league baseball team located in Quincy, Illinois.

Quincy Gems

Team Logo
Information
LeagueProspect League
LocationQuincy, Illinois
BallparkQuincy Stadium
Founded1996
Disbanded2023
League championships6 (1996, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2014)
Division championships10 (1998, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2023)
Former name(s)Quincy Gems (1996–2023)
Former league(s)Central Illinois Collegiate League (1996–2008)
OwnershipJimmie & Julie Louthan
ManagementJacob Hollensteiner (GM) & Andie Belme (AGM)
MediaQuincy Herald Whig, WGEM, KRRY
Websitequincygems.com

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 season. The team's original owners, the Quincy Civic Center Authority, sold the Gems to its current owners in September 2014 for $120,000.[1]

On August 29, 2023, the team announced that they would not return for the 2024 season and will seek relocation [2]

The franchise was later sold & relocated to Hendersonville, Tennessee and rebranded as the Full Count Rhythm, playing it's home game at Drakes Creek Park[3] The Gems will be replaced in Quincy by an expansion team set to begin play for the 2025 Prospect League season[4]

Stadium

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The Gems played at QU Stadium, a 2,500 seat facility owned and operated by Quincy University. The facility was built in 1938[5] and is located at 1800 Sycamore Street in Quincy.[6]

Seasons

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Season Manager Record Win % Division GB Post-season record Post-season win % Post-season result Notes
2009 Chris Martin[7] 36–20 .643 1st 2–0 1.000 Won Prospect League Championship (Chillicothe)
2010 Chris Martin 29–24 .547 2nd 5.5 1–1 .500 Won West Division Championship (Springfield)
Lost Semifinals (Danville)
2011 Chris Martin 38–18 .679 1st 2–0 1.000 Won West Division Championship (Terre Haute)
Won Prospect League Championship (West Virginia)
2012 Chris Martin 34–26 .567 3rd 4.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2013 Chris Martin 34–25 .576 2nd 6.5 2–2 .500 Won West Division Championship (Danville)
Lost Prospect League Championship (West Virginia)
2014 Chris Martin 39–20 .661 1st 4–2 .667 Won West Division Championship (Danville)
Won Prospect League Championship (Chillicothe)
2015 Chris Martin 27–33 .450 5th 16.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2016 Zach Getsee[8] 27–33 .450 5th 12.5 2–2 .500 Won West Division Championship (Springfield)
Lost Prospect League Championship (West Virginia)
Made playoffs as a result of 1st Half division title
2017 Adam Hightower and Rick Fraire[9] 21–39 .350 5th 15.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify Hightower and Fraire were co-managers
2018 Rick Fraire[10] 33–27 .550 3rd 3.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2019 Pat Robles 34–26 .567 3rd 9.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2020 Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 Justin Paulsen 27–32 .458 4th 3.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2022 Brad Gyorkos 31–29 .517 2nd 0.5 1–1 .500 Won Great Rivers Division Championship (Normal)
Lost Western Conference Championship (Alton)
2023 Brad Gyorkos 31–26 .544 2nd 1.5 3–2 .526 Won Great River Division Championship (Clinton)
Won Western Conference Championship (Thrillville)
Lost Prospect League Championship (Chillicothe)
Totals 441–378 .538 17–10 .630

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Quincy Gems sold to local group for $120,000". Herald-Whig. 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  2. ^ KHQA Staff (2023-08-29). "Quincy Gems to leave QU Stadium in 2024, seek new home under fresh management". KHQA. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  3. ^ "Home Field". Full Count Rhythm. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  4. ^ "Quincy to field new summer collegiate baseball team, strikes deal with Springfield team owner". STLPR. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  5. ^ "QU Stadium". Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  6. ^ "PROSPECT LEAGUE STADIUMS | Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC". Archived from the original on 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  7. ^ "Martin stepping down as Gems manager; first child due in May". Herald-Whig. 2015-11-24. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  8. ^ "Gems introduce Getsee as new head coach". Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  9. ^ "Gems hire new coaching staff". Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  10. ^ "Coaching Staff | Quincy Gems". www.quincygems.com. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
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