Cleveland drummer, baseball fixture John Adams dies at 71

By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — A man who pounded a large drum while sitting in Cleveland’s outfield bleachers during baseball games for five decades has died. John Adams was 71. The Guardians announced Adams’ death on Monday. Adams first hauled a bass drum that he bought for $25 at a garage sale to a game at Municipal Stadium during the 1973 season. He moved with the team to its new downtown ballpark in the 1990s and became a Cleveland sports fixture. Adams drummed during more than 3,500 games, including three All-Star games and three World Series. He was honored by the team last season with a replica bronze sculpture of his drum.