CLEVELAND — During the Guardians' Monday road game against the Oakland Athletics, a banner hung in the outfield to honor Cleveland legend John Adams.
Adams, who passed away in January, attended nearly 4,000 baseball games with his iconic drum.
"He was known for being our drummer," said Guardians vice president of communications Curtis Danburg.
The sound of Adams' drum could be heard not just at Progressive Field, but throughout baseball. On Monday, members of the Oakland 68s fan club flew the banner at RingCentral Coliseum, honoring Adams as the "OG drummer."
"We wanted to recognize John from fellow drummers to another drummer," the Oakland 68s said in a statement to 3News. "We will always remember John Adams as much as we will remember baseball legends of the past."
The Oakland 68s are die-hard A's fans who sit in the outfield and have drums themselves, showing how Adams' impact has spanned from coast to coast.
"I think people knew about the drummer in Cleveland," Danburg said, "but for them to recognize that he did pass away and to provide that tribute was pretty cool."
The banner made it on Bally Sports Great Lakes' broadcast Monday night, and also made it's way back to Cleveland and the Guardians organization.
"Very special for fans outside our market to recognize the impact John made [not just] in our market, but beyond, just in the game of baseball," Danburg noted.
The Guardians will honor Adams Friday afternoon during their home opener, with players and coaches will wear a special patch to honor Adams. There will also be a moment of silence for both him as well as former Indians ace and Baseball Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, who died in December at age 84. In addition, Danburg tells WKYC Guardians mascot "Slider" will use Adams' drum to pump up the crowd.
The team will also wear the honorary patch on Aug. 24 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first time Adams brought his drum to Cleveland Municipal Stadium.