Baseball in Quincy, Illinois, dates back to 1883, and a long line of minor league teams has played in the western Illinois town on the Mississippi River. The Gems moniker has been used most frequently, starting with a Quincy Gems club that played in the Iowa State League in 1907 and the Central Association in 1908.
More often, the name was used in the Three-I League (the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League) from 1913 to 1917 and 1946 to 1956. The Three-I League (the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League) was a Class B circuit that ran from 1901 through 1961, with pauses for World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Though rooted primarily in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, the league also drew clubs from Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota as its core membership contracted in later years.
The early Three-I Gems of the 1910s were league champions in 1913 with a 79-60 record. In the 1950s the team was very successful on the field, winning the league in 1951, 1953, and 1954 through some unusual playoff runs. In 1951 the Gems finished third with a .500 record but pulled off playoff series wins over Terre Haute and Cedar Rapids to take the title. They pulled off surprise playoff wins in 1953 and 1954 as well: in 1953 they finished second but stormed through the playoffs with a win over Waterloo and a 3-0 sweep of Evansville, and in 1954 they finished fourth in the regular season before beating Keokuk in the first round and sweeping Peoria 3-0 in the final.
The Gems name was briefly reborn in 1964 with a Class A club, which switched to the Quincy Cubs for the remainder of its tenure.
Retro Baseball Revival celebrates historic baseball teams with unique apparel, honoring their legacy and bringing history to one-of-a-kind clothing with our old school retro baseball tees from defunct Minor League Baseball teams. All of our high quality apparel is designed, printed, and shipped within the USA. This collection features 100% original designs based on the history and nicknames of historic minor league teams.
Our standard tees are classic, heavyweight t-shirts that are durable and thick. They are looser fitting and run true to size.
Size Guide: True to size
- Brand: Gildan | Product ID: 5000
- Made with medium fabric (5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²)) consisting of 100% cotton for year-round comfort that is sustainable and highly durable.
- The classic fit of this shirt ensures a comfy, relaxed wear while the crew neckline adds that neat, timeless look that can blend into any occasion, casual or semi-formal.
- The tear-away label means a scratch-free experience with no irritation or discomfort whatsoever.
- Made using 100% US cotton that is ethically grown and harvested. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. This blank tee is certified by Oeko-Tex for safety and quality assurance.
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Do not iron; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Tumble dry: low heat.
