The Cleveland Guardians confirmed the sad news of the death of beloved longtime fan and drummer John Adams on Monday morning.
Adams was 71 years old.
The Guardians shared a video tribute to Adams via social media:
“For nearly five decades the beat of John’s drum was the heartbeat of baseball here in Cleveland,” Guardians senior vice president of public affairs Bob DiBiasio said in a statement, per the club’s official website. “We are all saddened by John’s passing. His dedication, commitment and passion for our franchise, at both Cleveland Stadium and Progressive Field, was unmatched. John will forever remain a member of our team.”
Adams first banged what became his famous drum at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for a game between Cleveland and the Texas Rangers on Aug. 24, 1973, and the instrument that could be heard throughout the stadium was routinely used during games whenever Cleveland needed a clutch base hit or final out to close an inning or contest.
In total, Adams and his drum attended over 3,500 games, including three All-Star matchups, 11 postseason series, three World Series and the perfect game recorded by Len Barker on May 15, 1981. As Ben Axelrod pointed out for Cleveland’s WKYC, Adams last attended a Guardians home game during the 2019 season.
Fans were not permitted to enter Progressive Field during the 2020 campaign due to rules related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health issues along with concerns linked with the coronavirus kept Adams away from the ballpark through his passing.
Adams was inducted into the Cleveland Guardians Distinguished Hall of Fame last season. His bleacher seat and a bronzed drum were subsequently moved to Heritage Park located beyond the center field wall at Progressive Field.
It’s unclear if the Guardians will have any guest drummer(s) during the upcoming season. Cleveland hosts the Seattle Mariners for its home opener on April 7.
“I do it for the players,” Adams said last year about a hobby that made him a local celebrity. “I love the organization. It’s my way of drumming up enthusiasm for the team.”
As Daryl Ruiter mentioned for Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Adams became a fan favorite at the club’s annual winter festival now known as “Guards Fest.” Adams told WKYC in September he eventually was “going to get back up to the top of the bleachers and start making some noise,” but that wasn’t to be.
