CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Opening day is typically one for celebration.
It’s a time to celebrate a new season, the start of spring, and warmer days ahead. But Friday’s opener was one of remembrance following the pomp and circumstance that comes with the pregame ceremonies.
The Cleveland Guardians took time to pause for a moment of silence to honor lifelong fan and bleacher drummer John Adams, who passed away earlier this year after battling illnesses that kept him from the ballpark the past few seasons.
“He was a fixture, from the old ballpark to come over here,” manager Terry Francona said. “Everybody knows who he is. I think it's a really classy gesture and again, anytime you include fans it's, you know, don't see that very often.”
Fans roared with thunderous applause as a tribute to Adam was read and a large commemorative graphic was displayed on the scoreboard.
Since Adams fell ill, the atmosphere inside Progressive Field hasn’t been the same without the beat of his drum echoing throughout the ballpark from the top row of the bleachers in left field.
Adams was a man of the people. Fans became his friends.
His presence is missed by many more than just those who sat with him for nearly five decades rain or shine.
“I was thinking about that on my drive in and how I'd miss seeing John,” president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “That just were part of the ritual for me in opening day. I know among a lot of people that I will certainly miss [him] today on opening day.”
The Guardians wore a commemorative patch over the heart on the front of their jersey’s with Adams’ initials inside a silhouette of his drum and two mallets crossed. They’ll wear it again in August to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Adams’ first game he banged his drum at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
A wreath along with a plaque sat atop the bleachers where he used to sit and a piece of the bleachers with a bonze drum and mallets along with a plaque were added to Heritage Park, the team’s open air museum honoring the greats that played in Cleveland since the franchise was founded as a charter member of the American League in 1901 in center field.
The Cleveland Guardians tribute to John Adams featuring a bronze drum and mallets atop his bleacher seat and a commemorative plaque located in Heritage Park in center field at Progressive Field.Daryl Ruiter-92.3 The Fan
Adams’ initials were also painted behind the batter’s boxes and home plate.
In the middle of the first inning Slider, the Guardians’ fuschia-colored mascot, climbed to the top of the bleachers in left with Adams’ drum, which he gifted to the team in his will, to bang it again.
Adams spirit lives on within the organization and throughout the ballpark even though the beat of his drum has fallen silent.
