Here's how baseball celebrated the 2017 eclipse, all across the nation
On Monday, the entire continental United States witnessed its first total solar eclipse since 1918. Pretty cool, right? If you were lucky enough to be in the path of totality, you saw something pretty special. But don't worry if you weren't: The professional baseball world had you covered.
While no Major League games took place during the eclipse, four Minor League ones did. Even without games, plenty of MLB ballparks found themselves with some terrific views -- as you can see from the map below.
(For more info about what and where the path of totality is, click here.)
* A blue logo means the home team is away, and a full color logo means the opposite. If the logo is glowing, the team played a game during the eclipse. Click the map to enlarge it.
If you were lucky enough, you could even catch some baseball and the eclipse at the same time thanks to four Minor League matchups.
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
The West Coast saw the eclipse first, which meant that the Volcanoes, the Giants' Class A Short Season affiliate, were the first baseball team in history to have an eclipse delay.
The ball was preserved for posterity:
1st pitch, 1st out, ball now sent to Cooperstown: Volcanoes vs. Hops to play an inning before 1st pro sports 'eclipse delay' #OREclipse pic.twitter.com/S5ikVDRJex
— Nick Krupke (@NickKrupke) August 21, 2017
And the photos said it all:
Speechless. pic.twitter.com/4jBjkeIcpZ
— S-K Volcanoes 🌋⚾ (@SKVolcanoes) August 21, 2017
PC: @benjammonphoto pic.twitter.com/6PWooOUrqJ
— S-K Volcanoes 🌋⚾ (@SKVolcanoes) August 21, 2017
Bowling Green Hot Rods
Elsewhere, the Hot Rods -- the Rays' Class A affiliate -- took on the West Michigan Whitecaps at 10:35 a.m. CT. The teams even brought special jerseys to the occasion:
The Hot Rods and Whitecaps Solar Eclipse jerseys will be up for auction tomorrow! Join the @DASHauction
— BG Hot Rods (@BGHotRods) August 17, 2017
Details: https://t.co/Y7tApxHTP9 pic.twitter.com/GMSLt1MeP0
And they captured some video:
Nashville Sounds
Appropriately, the A's Triple-A affiliate hosted an event called "Total Eclipse of the Park," celebrating its place in the path of totality with help from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and activities coordinated by the Adventure Science Center. The stadium opened up early enough for fans to gather in the ballpark for the eclipse, though the game itself didn't start until after it was over. Still,
I've got my solar glasses and am all ready for #Eclipse2017 Are you? Where is everyone watching it? pic.twitter.com/z1nf0toLxE
— Ryan Lavarnway (@RyanLavarnway) August 20, 2017
Columbia Fireflies
But, the Sounds aren't the only team who has an ear for puns (and Bonnie Tyler). The Mets' Class A affiliate also hosted an event called Total Eclipse of the Park, beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET, and it did not disappoint:
2:42pm. Sunset. #TotalEclipseCAE @ColaFireflies pic.twitter.com/F6S0ROD3mL
— John Katz (@JEKatz33) August 21, 2017
The Rome Braves even got their lineup into the act:
.@TheRomeBraves Marcus Mooney - an appropriate guy to be in the lineup vs. @ColaFireflies today. #eclipseofthepark pic.twitter.com/A7CVA3Nfn0
— Benjamin Hill (@bensbiz) August 21, 2017
Of course, the '80s pop wordplay was not merely limited to the Minor Leagues. On Monday morning, big league teams got in on the fun, thanks to the Reds (and
🎵 And I need you now tonight!
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 21, 2017
And I need you more than ever! 🎵 pic.twitter.com/50Ocgjfuwb
Quick, someone get the Phanatic on the phone:
🎶We can take it to the end of the line
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 21, 2017
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/QHp2F25elj
And Little Leaguers got into the act at the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.:
The 2017 Little League World Series Mexico team plays around with solar eclipse glasses before their game against Asia-Pacific. @PennLive pic.twitter.com/W3dV3hfeM8
— Mark Pynes (@MarkPynes) August 21, 2017
Bartolo and the Twins had their own view from Chicago, where they were set to play the White Sox in a doubleheader on Monday:
#Eclipse viewing party in Chicago 😎 pic.twitter.com/Fg6kpoi56Y
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 21, 2017
😎 #SolarEclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/YAVbdbkM4Q
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 21, 2017
While drone expert
Cool ... sun outage? #Eclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/0bKDYPh5YR
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) August 21, 2017
When you don't have fancy eclipse glasses. #archiesadventures @ArchieBradley7 pic.twitter.com/l6BvC6Wt6r
— andrew chafin (@BigCountry1739) August 21, 2017
Though the Mariners were in Atlanta, Safeco Field still had a pretty great view:
Someone hit the lights!
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 21, 2017
It got a little shady at @SafecoField for #Eclipse2017. pic.twitter.com/4eKM4hj47f
Fenway Park, too:
Partial eclipse of @fenwaypark.#SolarEclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/bcUe0dbcO5
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 21, 2017
Eclipse is blowing Rich Hill's mind. pic.twitter.com/d7dmed6ijY
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 21, 2017
Speaking of the Dodgers, we just hope
Harold Reynolds and his family couldn't miss out on it:
Monday happened to be the 47th birthday of Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who said he viewed the eclipse without any glasses:
More Craig Counsell on birthday eclipse: "I did not have glasses so my eyes hurt for a little while. You gotta take a risk once in a while."
— Janie McCauley (@JanieMcCAP) August 22, 2017