Schuckman: Opportunities abound to pick right nickname, logo for new Quincy baseball club

QUINCY — What should a team’s nickname portray?

Some suggest it needs to relate to history and tradition, like the Dodgers and Yankees. Some want it to showcase tenacity and toughness, like the Bears and the Steelers. Others believe it should be rooted in the community and the surroundings, like the Pacers and the Pistons.

Many simply want it to be unique, like the Kraken and the Avalanche.

In which of those camps do you fall?

Well, you may get the chance to express yourself while helping the soon-to-be Quincy franchise of the Prospect League decide how it should be branded.

Last Friday, partners with Golden Rule Entertainment announced they were finalizing a lease agreement with Quincy University to return summer collegiate baseball in the Prospect League to Quincy for the 2025 season. With that comes the opportunity to resurrect the Quincy Gems moniker or go with a total rebuild with a new nickname, logos and a mascot. 

Personally, I like the idea of a rebuild and a fresh start.

To that end, Tim Hoker and Jamie Toole, partners in the ownership group who toured QU Stadium while also meeting with officials from Quincy University and the City of Quincy last week, suggested they will have a name-the-team contest, much like they did when they launched the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes franchise.

More news is expected to be revealed in November, including the details about a name-the-team contest. One of the factors the ownership group will consider is how the nickname and the logo relate to the community, both in Quincy and the surrounding area.

Nothing ties this region together more than the outdoors, which opens up some interesting avenues, especially if you link the nickname to the rich hunting history.

The Deerslayers, the Marksmen or the Wingshooters are good places to start. The nickname could be as simple as the Bucks, the Wood Ducks or the Rabbits. Or you could try to be a little more inventive with something like the Crosshairs, the Bull’s-eyes or the Killshots.

If the hunting theme doesn’t jazz you, try a fishing or river-related theme.

The Anglers, the Bobbers or the Mudsuckers could serve as solid nicknames. The Spincasters works on a variety of levels, while the Captains or the Pilots would offer a link to the boats going up and down the Mississippi River.

Because Quincy is located in an agricultural area, do you consider the Tractors, the Plowboys or the Farmers as potential nicknames?

Quincy has been named a Tree City USA for more than 20 consecutive years and a drive down Maine Street is something to behold with all of the foliage. To that extent, maybe the Treetoppers, the Big Sticks or the Foresters would work as a nickname.

There’s a sampling of ideas. Do you have more?

Share them to help create the best link between baseball and this community, and the Golden Rule Entertainment partners are a community-minded and community-first group destined to do this the right way.