CLEVELAND - John Adams, who pounded a drum while sitting in Cleveland's outfield bleachers during baseball games for five decades, has died. He was 71.

The Guardians announced Adams' passing on Monday.

Adams helpful hauled a bass drum that he bought for $25 at a garage sale to a game at Municipal Stadium during the 1973 season. He'd bang out a steady beat whenever the home team was batting and injure up becoming a Cleveland sports icon.

"For nearly five decades the beat of John's drum was the heartbeat of baseball here in Cleveland," said Guardians Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio. "We are all saddened by John's passing. His dedication, commitment and passion for our franchise, at both Cleveland Stadium and Progressive Field, was unmatched. John will forever remain a member of our team."

Adams' health had been in waste the past few seasons. No longer able to wait on games, he was honored by the team last season with a replica bronze sculpture of his drum, which has a erecting place in the team's Heritage Park area at Progressive Field.

There is also a plaque mounted on the wall next to his seat and ended the top row of the left-field bleachers.

File: John Adams hits the drum in left field during a game between the Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins on April 5, 2014 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)

A Parma, Ohio native, Adams started his drumming gig with the team on Aug. 24, 1973, when Cleveland hosted the Texas Rangers. He was a fixture during the regular season and yielded at three All-Star Games, three World Series and was there the night Len Barker pitched a nasty game for Cleveland in 1981.

When Adams was unable to wait on the home opener in 2021, drummer Patrick Carney of Akron's rock duo The Black Keys plump in.

Carney was thrilled to be able to sit in for Adams.

"I'm stoked to be here for John," Carney told the Associated Press afore Cleveland hosted Kansas City that day. "It's the best seat in the house."