John Adams (drummer)
John Adams | |
---|---|
Cleveland Indians games | |
Spouse |
Kathleen Murray
(m. 1978, divorced) |
John Joseph Adams (October 9, 1951 – January 30, 2023) was an American who was regarded as a
Drumming
Adams first drummed at an Indians game on August 24, 1973, at Cleveland Stadium.[1] Twenty-one years old at the time,[2] he stated that he brought his bass drum to that first game because he wanted to add to the noise of "seat banging", a tradition at Cleveland Stadium in which fans would bang folding seats against their bases during tense moments in the game.[3] But Adams preferred to sit in the bleachers, where there were no seats to bang.[3]
During the game, Bob Sudyk, a reporter for the Cleveland Press, interviewed Adams and asked if he was going to drum again at the following game. Adams said no, but Sudyk wrote in his article that he would. According to Adams, "not to make a liar out of Bob, I showed up with my drum, and then I came to the next game and the next game and the next game."[4] The Indians' promotions director at the time, Jackie York, also approached Adams and asked him to play at every game. Adams formally declined but continued to attend games with his drum.[5]
From then on, Adams sat in the highest bleacher seat in left-center field with his bass drum; through the 2019 season, he missed only 37 home games in 47 seasons.[6] Adams played at Cleveland Stadium until October 1993, when the Indians played their last game there.[7] The following spring he moved with the team to its new ballpark, Jacobs Field (renamed Progressive Field in 2008).[8] Adams played the drum at his 3,000th game on April 27, 2011.[4]
Adams continued to use the same 26-inch (66 cm)-wide bass drum he began with in 1973. He stated that he bought it earlier on the same day he began bringing it to games, as part of a set for $25 either at a garage sale or through a "swap-and-shop publication". It had the same head on the side of the drum that Adams does not beat, but Adams stated that he would replace the other side about twice a year and also go through about three sets of mallets each year.[9] During games, Adams tended to drum at particular moments: when the Indians took the field at the beginning of the game, if the Indians had runners in scoring position, if the Indians were tied or trailing near the end of the game, or if they were winning at the top of the ninth inning.[1] Because of his drumming, Adams became a celebrity and he was nicknamed Big Chief Boom-Boom by Indians radio announcer Herb Score.[1]
Adams drummed until the end of the 2019 season. No fans could attend any major league games during the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and due to health issues, Adams was unable to attend any games in 2021 or 2022, the last seasons during his lifetime.[10][11]
Recognition
Adams was recognized by the Cleveland Guardians and other organizations for his long commitment to the team. On October 4, 2007, he threw out the
By 2009, the team gave Adams two complimentary season tickets for him and his drum, although Adams continued to buy two additional season tickets himself.[7] In 2006, the Indians gave out bobblehead dolls depicting Adams.[2] Instead of having a movable head, his bobblehead had arms that moved up and down.[15]
In 2008, he won the Hilda Award, which is awarded annually by The
Adams also had a plaque located by his seat, on which he was described as the team's "#1 Fan".[19]
Personal life and death
John Joseph Adams was born in Cleveland in 1951.[20] He attended both Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland and Parma Senior High School in Parma, Ohio, where he played bass drum in band before graduating from high school in 1969.[21] In 1975, he graduated from Cleveland State University.[20][21] Three years later, he married Kathleen Murray, who he met at a game; they later divorced.[20]
Adams worked on
Adams suffered from health issues beginning in December 2020, including emergency triple
On August 24, 2023, the fiftieth anniversary of the first game Adams drummed at, the team announced that the bleachers at Progressive Field would be named for Adams starting in the 2024 season.
References
- ^ a b c Caldwell, Dave (September 9, 2007). "Heart of Indians Baseball Beats From the Cheap Seats". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ a b Bare, Andrew (July 19, 2006). "No new-school drummer boy". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ a b Noleff, George (April 5, 2012). "The beat goes on for the Cleveland Indians and legendary drummer John Adams on Opening Day". WEWS-TV. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- ^ a b Meisel, Zack (April 27, 2011). "Indians march to beat of Adams' drum". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c Garrett, Amanda (May 1, 2011). "Drummer John Adams doesn't miss a beat with his chance at the plate". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- ^ McIntyre, Michael (December 6, 2016). "Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams loses day job during World Series, but keeps the beat". Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- ^ a b Crump, Sarah (June 6, 2009). "Pound for pound, there's no greater Tribe fan around: Sarah Crump's My Cleveland". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ Starkey, Mike (January 11, 2008). "Cleveland Indians formally announce naming rights sold to Progressive Insurance". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2008.
- ^ a b Heaton, Michael (April 5, 2010). "Drummer John Adams says Cleveland Indians fans can't be beat". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ^ a b "Longtime Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams will miss start of season due to health issues". March 12, 2021.
- ^ Withers, Tom (August 24, 2022). "Guardians honor drummer Adams with Hall of Fame induction". The Middletown Press. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ Briggs, Dave (October 5, 2007). "Tribe superfan Adams throws first pitch". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
- ^ "John Adams drumline". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ Cleveland Guardians [@CleGuardians] (August 24, 2022). "The heartbeat of Progressive Field has been forever immortalized at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario" (Tweet). Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Furr, Jake (May 27, 2020). "Bobblehead Tribe: 2006 had the diamond in the rough". Mansfield News Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ McIntyre, Michael (June 2, 2010). "Nun Better at supporting the Tribe than Sister Mary Assumpta". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ "Shrine of the eternals 2008 induction day". The Baseball Reliquary, Inc. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ Steer, Jen (April 2, 2012). "Great Lakes Brewing Company names beer after Indians drummer". WEWSTV. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- ^ a b McIntyre, Michael (December 6, 2016). "Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams loses day job during World Series, but keeps the beat". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Sandomir, Richard (February 1, 2023). "John Adams, Who Banged His Drum Loudly in Cleveland, Dies at 71". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ a b "Remembering John Adams (1951–2023)". Cleveland State University. January 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sladek, Jon (April 26, 2010). "Cleveland Indians superfan keeps beat going for 37th year". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul (January 30, 2023). "John Adams, Cleveland Guardians drummer, passes away at 71". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul (February 4, 2023). "Guardians drummer John Adams remembered with bagpipes, drums and an oldie but goodie". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul (February 3, 2023). "How John Adams went from drummer to hero for Cleveland and the Guardians". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
External links
- Cleveland Guardians pay tribute to John Adams in video – commemorative coverage of Adams drumming for 48 years