John Adams ( drummer ) - wikipedia John Adams ( drummer ) John Adams Adams banging his drum on May 28, 2012 ( 1951 - 10 - 09 ) October 9, 1951 ( age 66 ) Nationality American Known for Dedicated fan of the Cleveland Indians John Adams ( born October 9, 1951 ) is a dedicated fan of the Cleveland Indians, a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Adams has played his bass drum in the bleacher seats during nearly every Indians home game since 1973, which has brought him notoriety and recognition from the Indians and other organizations. The Indians pay for two season tickets for Adams and his drum, he has been involved in two ceremonial first pitches, and he is the only fan for whom the Indians have dedicated a bobblehead day. Contents 1 Drumming 1.1 Recognition 2 Personal life 3 Notes 4 References Drumming Adams first drummed at an Indians game on August 24, 1973, at Cleveland Stadium, at a game in which the Indians beat the Texas Rangers, 11 -- 5. Adams, who was 21 years old at the time, has 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 the swivel seat of their chairs against the chair 's base during tense moments in the game. But Adams preferred to sit in the bleachers, where there were no seats to bang. 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. '' 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. Ever since, Adams has sat in the highest bleacher seat in left - center field with his bass drum ; as of December 2016 he has missed only about 40 home games in 43 seasons. Adams played at Cleveland Stadium until October 1993, when the Indians played their last game there. Next spring he moved with the team to its new ballpark, Jacobs Field ( renamed Progressive Field in 2008 ). Adams played the drum at his 3,000 th game on April 27, 2011. During his tenure, he has witnessed Indians pitcher Len Barker pitch a perfect game on May 15, 1981, and witnessed the Indians play in the 1995, 1997, and 2016 World Series. Adams still uses the same 26 - inch - wide bass drum he began with in 1973. He has stated that he bought it as part of a set for $25 at a garage sale. It has the same head on the side of the drum that Adams does not beat, but Adams has stated that he replaces the other side about twice a year and also goes through about three sets of mallets each year. During games, Adams tends to drum at particular moments : when the Indians take the field at the beginning of the game, if the Indians have runners in scoring position, if the Indians are tied or trailing near the end of the game, or if they are winning at the top of the ninth inning. Because of his drumming, Adams became a celebrity and his drum was soon nicknamed Big Chief Boom - Boom, by Indians radio announcer Herb Score. It has also helped him meet politicians, including U.S. senators and a Pakistani government official. Recognition Adams has been recognized by the Cleveland Indians and other organizations for his long commitment to the team. On October 4, 2007, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Indians ' first game in the 2007 American League Division Series, against the New York Yankees. After Adams drummed at his 3,000 th game on April 27, 2011, the Indians celebrated it the following Saturday, on April 30, 2011, by incorporating Adams in the ceremonial first pitch and putting on a pregame parade featuring Adams ' fellow Indians fans carrying bongos, snares and plastic toy drums. For the ceremonial first pitch, Adams swung at the ball with his drum from home plate after it was thrown by former Indians player Joe Charboneau. Soon after the move to Jacobs Field, Cleveland began a record - breaking run of sellouts, which ended at 455 games in April 2001. Soon after, the Indians retired the number 455 in honor of their fans and Adams helped unveil the commemorative sign. Adams once paid for his tickets ( one for himself, and one for his drum ), but the Indians now pay for two of his season tickets in honor of the contributions he has made to the ballpark atmosphere. Adams buys an additional two season tickets. In 2006, the Indians gave out bobblehead dolls depicting Adams, making him the only fan for whom the team has dedicated a bobble head day. In 2008, he won the Hilda Award, which is awarded annually by The Baseball Reliquary `` to recognize distinguished service to the game by a baseball fan '' and is named in memory of Hilda Chester, a dedicated fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In April 2012, Great Lakes Brewing Company, a Cleveland - based brewery and brewpub, released a product called Rally Drum Red Ale in honor of Adams and Opening Day. In April 2015, The Plain Dealer columnist Tim Warsinskey wrote a column suggesting that a statue of Adams be built in Cleveland in his honor. Adams also has a plaque located by his seat just under the left field scoreboard commemorating his tenure as the Indians ' `` # 1 Fan ''. Personal life Adams lives in Brecksville, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. 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 high school in 1969. He graduated college from Cleveland State University, where he intends to pursue his master 's degree. He is divorced and does not have any children. Adams worked on computer systems for AT&T until being laid off in October 2016. He has been teaching an aquatics class for students with disabilities, without pay, at Cleveland State University since 1978. Adams has also volunteered his time as a member of the Kiwanis service club and the community emergency response team in his hometown and has taught CPR and water safety. Notes Jump up ^ In Major League Baseball the record had been 203 sellout games in Denver, Colorado, which Cleveland surpassed on September 9, 1997. AP staff ( 2001 ). Boston surpassed that in turn, September 2008. `` Fenway Park Sellout for Record 456th Straight Game ''. International Herald Tribune. 2008 - 09 - 09. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 09. References ^ Jump up to : Caldwell, Dave ( 2007 - 09 - 09 ). `` Heart of Indians Baseball Beats From the Cheap Seats ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2009 - 06 - 08. ^ Jump up to : Bare, Andrew ( 2006 - 07 - 19 ). `` No new - school drummer boy ''. MLB.com. Retrieved 2009 - 06 - 08. ^ Jump up to : Noleff, George ( 2012 - 04 - 05 ). `` The beat goes on for the Cleveland Indians and legendary drummer John Adams on Opening Day ''. WEWS - TV. Archived from the original on 2012 - 04 - 07. Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 11. ^ Jump up to : Meisel, Zack ( 2011 - 04 - 27 ). `` Indians march to beat of Adams ' drum ''. MLB.com. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 27. ^ Jump up to : Garrett, Amanda ( 2011 - 05 - 01 ). `` Drummer John Adams does n't miss a beat with his chance at the plate ''. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 07. Jump up ^ McIntyre, Michael ( 6 December 2016 ). `` Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams loses day job during World Series, but keeps the beat ''. Retrieved 6 December 2016. ^ Jump up to : Crump, Sarah ( 2009 - 06 - 06 ). `` Pound for pound, there 's no greater Tribe fan around : Sarah Crump 's My Cleveland ''. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2009 - 06 - 08. Jump up ^ Starkey, Mike ( 2008 - 01 - 11 ). `` Cleveland Indians formally announce naming rights sold to Progressive Insurance ''. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 11. ^ Jump up to : Heaton, Michael ( 2010 - 04 - 05 ). `` Drummer John Adams says Cleveland Indians fans ca n't be beat ''. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2011 - 07 - 06. ^ Jump up to : Briggs, Dave ( 2007 - 10 - 05 ). `` Tribe superfan Adams throws first pitch ''. MLB.com. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 08. Jump up ^ `` John Adams drumline ''. MLB.com. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 16. Jump up ^ AP staff ( 2001 - 04 - 05 ). `` Indians ' record - setting sellout streak over ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 22. Jump up ^ McIntyre, Michael ( 2010 - 06 - 02 ). `` Nun Better at supporting the Tribe than Sister Mary Assumpta ''. Cleveland.com. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Shrine of the eternals 2008 induction day ''. The Baseball Reliquary, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013 - 09 - 29. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 16. Jump up ^ Steer, Jen ( 2012 - 04 - 02 ). `` Great Lakes Brewing Company names beer after Indians drummer ''. WEWSTV. Archived from the original on 2012 - 04 - 05. Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 11. Jump up ^ Warsinskey, Tom ( 24 April 2015 ). `` Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams for the fans : Cleveland sports statues ( photos ) ''. cleveland.com. Northeast Ohio Media Group. Retrieved 9 May 2015. ^ Jump up to : McIntyre, Michael ( December 6, 2016 ). `` Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams loses day job during World Series, but keeps the beat ''. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved December 7, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Sladek, Jon ( 2010 - 04 - 26 ). `` Cleveland Indians superfan keeps beat going for 37th year ''. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 07. Cleveland Indians Established in 1894 Formerly the Grand Rapids Rustlers, Cleveland Lake Shores, Cleveland Bluebirds, Cleveland Broncos, and Cleveland Naps Based in Cleveland, Ohio Franchise History Seasons Records Players Owners and executives Managers Opening Day starting pitchers No - hitters Award winners First - round draft picks Ballparks League Park Cleveland Stadium Progressive Field Spring training : Henley Field Terry Park Ballfield Clearwater Athletic Field Hi Corbett Field Chain of Lakes Park Goodyear Ballpark Culture and lore 1910 Chalmers Award 1948 AL tie - breaker game 1994 corked bat incident 2013 AL Wild Card Game 22 game win streak Addie Joss ' perfect game Chief Wahoo `` Cleveland Rocks '' Cleveland sports curse Curse of Rocky Colavito Herb Score John Adams Len Barker 's perfect game Major League Major League II Moneyball Name and logo controversy Slider Ten Cent Beer Night The Bug Game The Catch The Kid from Cleveland Rivalries Cincinnati Reds Key personnel Owner : Larry Dolan Chairman / CEO : Paul Dolan President : Chris Antonetti General manager : Mike Chernoff Manager : Terry Francona Postseason appearances ( 13 ) 1920 1948 1954 1995 1997 1998 1999 2001 2007 2013 2016 2017 Division championships ( 9 ) 1995 1997 1998 1999 2001 2007 2016 2017 American League pennants ( 6 ) 1920 1948 1954 1995 1997 2016 World Series championships ( 2 ) 1920 1948 Hall of Fame inductees Averill Boudreau Coveleski Doby Feller Flick Joss Lajoie Lemon Sewell Speaker Wynn Minors AAA : Columbus Clippers AA : Akron RubberDucks Adv. A : Lynchburg Hillcats A : Lake County Captains Short A : Mahoning Valley Scrappers Rookie : Arizona League Indians Dominican Summer League Indians Media Broadcasters Radio network Flagships : WTAM WMMS Television : SportsTime Ohio Seasons ( 125 ) 1890s 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1990s 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Adams_(drummer)&oldid=842668440 '' Categories : Cleveland Indians Musicians from Cleveland Baseball spectators 1951 births Living people AT&T people Cleveland State University faculty People from Brecksville, Ohio Sports musicians Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2016 All articles containing potentially dated statements Good articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 23 May 2018, at 22 : 05 ( UTC ). 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Question: where does the drummer sit at progressive field
Answer: in the highest bleacher seat in left-center field