From the totality to the first pitch, the Guardians' home opener was a sight for sore eyes

CLEVELAND — Two hours before his first home game in front of his new fan base, Guardians manager Steven Vogt stood on the turf at Progressive Field, peered into the upper deck through sun-filtered glasses and mouthed the words to Lin, “Steal my sunshine.”

From dawn to false dusk until the first moment, Cleveland was the center of celestial attention Monday, with downtown attracting visitors from around the world to watch the sun, moon and Earth create once-in-a-generation magic. For the first time since 1806 and the last time until 2444, Cleveland fell into the path of a total solar eclipse — and it fell on the same day as the Guardians' home opener against the Chicago White Sox.

An afternoon traditionally marked by pomp and circumstance was overshadowed by four minutes of shadow. Mother Nature gave Cleveland perfect early April weather for the occasion as well. With clear skies and temperatures in the 60s, viewers from Progressive Field to the shores of Lake Erie can witness the entire eclipse's two-and-a-half-hour progression from bright to dark to bright again.

At 3:12 PM ET, as fake darkness descended on the field and the temperature dropped, the PA announcer shouted, “It's almost college.” Fans screamed from both levels of The Corner bar in right field, an area packed with people looking for the perfect angle for the eclipse. The sequence was revealed above the stadium lights on the upper deck overlooking the third base line. Fans also flocked to the stairs on the back side of the stadium to see a view that included the Hope Memorial Bridge and the Cuyahoga River.

More like CLEclipse, right?#ForEarth pic.twitter.com/GxWg7pyNDB

– Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 8, 2024

As totality approached, Jose Ramirez, the Guardians' All-Star third baseman, finally stood from his home dugout bench, where he had been scrolling through social media posts on his phone. His colleagues had gathered on the grass to watch the proceedings. Ramirez leaned against the blue-lined railing and took pictures of the scene above his head.

At 3:15, with Pink Floyd's “Eclipse” playing over the stadium's speakers at the moment of maximum eclipse, it looked as if the Guardians had pulled off a landslide victory in October. A deafening roar and a dark sky created a strange and surreal scene as the stadium hosted.

Triston McKenzie, Cleveland's starter who was clearly deep into scouting reports, came out on the field at the time and wondered why it was already dark. “Oh, the eclipse,” he said.

It took confirmation from several teammates to convince Hunter Gaddis that he could safely remove his glasses during the dark period.

Within a few minutes, the sky brightened, the temperature rebounded and the players returned to the clubhouse. The Cleveland fans broke into “Jose!” chanted as they waited another hour for the eclipse to officially end, full sunlight to return and pregame introductions to begin.

The Guardians coordinated with city officials and NASA experts over the past two years to determine the best approach for a day that lacks precedent. They chose the 5:10pm premiere instead of their other option, 7:10pm, as they preferred to incorporate the eclipse into their plans. Therefore, the usual schedule for the opening game was interrupted by a two-hour science lesson. They changed the batting practice schedule so those tired fly balls wouldn't have to wear sun-filtered glasses while they patrolled the field. At the height of the eclipse, guards temporarily stopped entry to the stadium for 20 minutes.

Josh Roberts, NASA's astronomy liaison, provided periodic looks at the scoreboard throughout the afternoon. The team also offered regular updates to NASA's telescope feed from other locations in the total path, including Kerrville, Texas; Indianapolis; and Mazatlán, Mexico. A total solar eclipse occurs every 18 to 24 months, but often occurs over vast oceans or uninhabited areas. On Monday, the path of the total eclipse extended from Mexico to Maine.

At North Coast Harbor, on the front lawn of the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, NASA set up one of three hubs for the day for the live broadcast (they did the same in Kerrville and Indianapolis). Josh Dobbs, the former Browns quarterback who also happens to be a rocket scientist, made an appearance, as did astronaut Stephen Bowen. People flocked to NASA Village when it opened its doors at 10 a.m. for a range of space-themed activities and to secure a spot on the grass to enjoy the view. Speakers around the area near Lake Erie unleashed a space-themed playlist that included Toploader's “Dancing In The Moonlight,” David Bowie's “Space Oddity,” Journey's “Wheel In The Sky,” and “Blinded By The Light By Manfred Mann.

That last note is no joke. The Guardians regularly reminded fans to wear the sunglasses they distributed at stadium entrances. The Guardians even asked a team employee to send a message to players urging them to do the same. One team official said the last thing they needed was a player landing on the injured list with a burnt retina.

View from the field during the peak of the eclipse. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Before he managed his first home game for the Guardians, Vogt recalled witnessing the eclipse while attending elementary school in Visalia, Calif., about 30 years ago. He remembers the teacher in the shop equipping the students with welding goggles.

His players weren't sure what to expect. When pitcher Tanner Bibby realized the eclipse would lead to a two-hour break in pregame preparation, he joked, “No wonder we're stretching so early.” Logan Allen was originally scheduled to play for Cleveland on Monday before the Club Series finale in Minnesota was rained out on Sunday. This delayed Allen by a day, and meant more free time on Monday afternoon. He said at first he wasn't sure what to do before he learned he could watch the eclipse from the field.

Left fielder Stephen Cowan, who tried on a pair of sunglasses during an interview with reporters, wondered what the bat would look like during the madness. He predicted that pitchers would take advantage of the dwindling sunlight.

“That was really cool. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Vogt said of the eclipse.

Michael Brantley and Corey Kluber, a pair of longtime Cleveland All-Stars who retired over the winter, returned to Progressive Field for ceremonial first pitches side-by-side. They were treated to a show in the sky as well.

“It was crazy how dark it was,” Kluber said.

“I really liked it,” Brantley added. “I didn't know what else to expect, but then it got completely dark. He was sick.”

(Top image by Steven Vogt: Mike Lowry/Getty Images)