Quincy Baseball Club Hosts Hot Stove Social with Hall of Fame Broadcaster Pat Hughes

The Quincy Baseball Club made a major splash in the Tri-State area with an exciting event, taking inspiration from its Springfield, Illinois, franchise. The event, known as a Hot Stove Social, featured a special guest: Pat Hughes, the Hall of Fame radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs. Pat is entering his 30th MLB season with the Cubs, and his career has been marked by countless memorable calls—most notably his iconic call of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series victory.

Hughes had the distinct honor of calling the Cubs’ first World Series win since 1908, ending the longest championship drought in sports history. His legendary call went as follows:

“A little bouncer, slowly toward Bryant. He will glove it and throw to Rizzo. It’s in time! And the Chicago Cubs win the World Series! The Cubs come pouring out of the dugout, jumping up and down like a bunch of delirious 10-year-olds. The Cubs have done it! The longest drought in the history of American sports is over, and the celebration begins!”

A Night to Remember

The event was held at the Dick Brothers Brewery Event Hall in Quincy, Illinois, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Attendees lined up to meet Pat, have memorabilia signed, and take photos with him. They could even purchase copies of his scorebook pages from iconic games he had called. Afterward, a buffet was served, along with beverages.

Once everyone had their fill, Chief Storyteller Jamie Toole and owner Tim Hoker of Golden Rule Entertainment shared a few words. WGEM’s Ryan Mumma then introduced Pat Hughes, who took the microphone and opened the floor for a Q&A session.

Before taking questions, Pat expressed his excitement about baseball returning to the Gem City. He also highlighted some legendary players who once played in Quincy, including Bruce Sutter, Whitey Herzog, and Lew Burdette.

Remembering Bob Uecker

Hughes then reflected on the difficulty of losing his mentor, colleague, and friend, Bob Uecker. Uecker, a former MLB player and longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers, passed away on January 16, 2025, just days shy of his 91st birthday, after battling small-cell lung cancer.

Pat worked alongside Bob for 12 years. “I feel like I learned more about baseball from Bob than anybody else,” he said. He went on to share a cherished memory:

“When I was lucky enough to get the call from Cooperstown a couple of years ago, Bob was one of the first people to call me.” Pat recalled telling him, “Bob, thanks for calling me. I think I learned more baseball from you than anybody else.”

In classic Uecker fashion, Bob responded with his signature humor:

“I probably should’ve learned the game myself before I tried teaching it to you.”

Q&A and Looking Ahead

Pat then took questions from the audience of about 100 attendees—most of whom were Cubs fans. Attendees asked about his favorite calls, routines, and thoughts on current changes in baseball. However, there was no discussion of the Golden Hitter Rule. Pat did briefly touch on salary issues in the MLB, hinting that a lockout could be on the horizon if the issue continues to grow.

Throughout the session, the crowd listened intently to the veteran broadcaster.

Closing Announcements

To close out the night, Jamie Toole made a few small announcements:

• Another Hot Stove Social will be held in 2026 at the same location.
• The “Name the Team” submissions will close on Friday, February 7. If you have a name you’d like to suggest, you can submit it here.
• Season tickets and ticket plans are now available for purchase. You can get yours here. Be sure to secure your tickets soon—before you know it, the season will be here!

Looking Ahead to the 2025 Season

The Lewis County Scoop will follow the Quincy Baseball Club throughout its 2025 season as Culver-Stockton College head coach Brad Gyorkos takes over as the team’s field manager. This decision was officially announced at a press conference in November 2024.

Quincy Baseball Club will compete in the Prospect League, a collegiate summer wood bat league known for developing top talent. The league serves as a stepping stone for players aiming for the MLB Draft, with many former participants going on to professional baseball careers. Quincy will be the 18th team in the league, marking an exciting expansion for both the team and the community.

Coach Gyorkos previously managed the Quincy Gems in 2022 and 2023. However, the Gems’ ownership chose not to return and eventually sold the team to a group in Tennessee. Following this, Gyorkos managed the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes, a team also owned by Golden Rule Entertainment.

The 2025 schedule has been posted, and fans can check out the dates and opponents on the Prospect League website.