They began as an expansion team in the West Coast League in 2011 and played their home games at Kiger Stadium, which is also the home of the Oregon Tech Owls.

They were named after the former Class-D Far West League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies that played from 1948 to 1951.

The owner Joe O'Connor was being given until December 31, 2018, to renew the lease or the team will be considered defunct.

The Gems were founded in 2011 by a group of local sports personalities including longtime Oregon Tech Owls men's basketball coach and athletic director Danny Miles, Howard Morris, Don Gresdel and Eric Baker.

[3] They named Chuck Heeman as the team's inaugural general manager.