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Wednesday, February 01, 2023

John Adams, Who Banged His Drum in the Cleveland Bleachers, Has Died

Mr. Adams’s drumming was heard at more than 3,700 home games, first at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and then, starting in 1994, at Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field). Stationed deep in the bleachers, he steadily urged the team on by rhythmically banging his drum with two mallets.

“Football has its bands and its cheerleaders, and all of them help get into the spirit of the game,” Mr. Adams told The Akron Beacon Journal in 1983, explaining his long-running stadium gig. “Baseball has nothing, so I thought of the war drum thing for the Indians.”

His status as a superfan was acknowledged when the team gave away bobblehead figures of him with a drum and movable arms at a home game in 2006. Six years later, Great Lakes Brewing introduced Rally Drum Red Ale in his honor.

NaOH Posted: February 01, 2023 at 07:49 PM | 16 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: guardians, indians, john adams, municipal stadium, progressive field, the jake

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   1. NaOH Posted: February 01, 2023 at 07:52 PM (#6115447)
   2. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: February 01, 2023 at 07:56 PM (#6115448)
Oh that’s a shame. I always loved that.
   3. Howie Menckel Posted: February 01, 2023 at 09:12 PM (#6115455)
30 years ago this April, I'm in Cleveland on business and I have the afternoon free and the Indians have a day game down the street.

I buy a cheap ticket and settle in at the old stadium - and surprisingly, I have all the room in the world to sit in the sun in one portion of the bleachers, for some reason. fans were relatively crowded in elsewhere in the outfield seats.

then the Indians come to bat, Kenny Lofton leads off and hits one into the gap - and ..... THE DRUM.

wow, that was LOUD. and then it all added up.

(I will not look up details on bb-ref because that is my memory and I am sticking to it for the rest of my days. no 'tracer' for me)
   4. Itchy Row Posted: February 01, 2023 at 10:47 PM (#6115466)
For no particular reason, I was just looking at Kenny Lofton game logs from April 1993. He led off the bottom of the first with an extra base hit twice, once against Jim Abbott and another against Jack Morris. Both games were played after noon.
   5. The Yankee Clapper Posted: February 01, 2023 at 10:53 PM (#6115468)
I will not repeat the semi-obligatory “never heard him drum” since he was featured on various broadcasts from time to time, but I can’t believe those sitting near him appreciated the performance. Surprised that it was allowed once the then-Indians moved out of near-empty cavernous Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
   6. Nasty Nate Posted: February 02, 2023 at 10:11 AM (#6115482)
Was he in Major League?
   7. You can keep your massive haul Posted: February 02, 2023 at 01:26 PM (#6115502)
Did he still bang the drum when they ditched the Indians name?
   8. Perry Posted: February 02, 2023 at 02:30 PM (#6115514)
Did he still bang the drum when they ditched the Indians name?


His health didn't permit him to attend after 2019, so no.

Was he in Major League?


He or someone like him was portrayed, but I don't know if it was actually him.
   9. NaOH Posted: February 02, 2023 at 02:49 PM (#6115516)
Was he in Major League?

None of the obituaries nor his Wikipedia page mention it, so probably not. Definite oversight by the movie writers. A shame.
   10. Darren Posted: February 02, 2023 at 04:11 PM (#6115529)
John Adams?
   11. Itchy Row Posted: February 02, 2023 at 04:36 PM (#6115530)
His last words were "Detroit Tigers drummer Thomas Jefferson survives."
   12. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: February 02, 2023 at 04:41 PM (#6115532)
Ah yes, the "too high", "what do you mean too high?", "doesn't matter, it's gone" guys.

But I think "Major League" was actually filmed in Milwaukee .
   13. Dag Nabbit: Sockless Psychopath Posted: February 02, 2023 at 09:11 PM (#6115538)
Primey for #11.
   14. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: February 03, 2023 at 01:12 AM (#6115547)
Agreed, 11 was awesome
   15. Darren Posted: February 03, 2023 at 10:13 AM (#6115566)
I know him.
   16. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: February 03, 2023 at 02:25 PM (#6115610)
Yeah, Major League was filmed in Milwaukee County Stadium. The budget probably couldn't afford to fly in John Adams.



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