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All of North America will be able to see Monday’s eclipse, per NASA, the first total eclipse seen by the contiguous U.S. since 1979. Taking advantage of this rare event, a few minor league teams have planned games and events around the eclipse.
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in Oregon, a Class-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, scheduled their Monday game at 9:35 a.m. local time to take advantage of the event.
#EclipseFest starts Today! Get out to the stadium for the brewfest and more great activities! #Eclipse2017 #GoSKV
— S-K Volcanoes ⚾ (@SKVolcanoes) August 18, 2017
“With Salem, Oregon sitting in the path of totality, the ballpark will be the ideal destination on the I-5 corridor for both local, regional, national and international visitors,” the Volcanoes said in a statement. “In addition to the uniqueness of this viewing opportunity, the Volcanoes baseball team will play a morning game that will feature the first ever ‘eclipse delay’ in baseball history.”
NASA shows the path of totality and just where in the U.S. the eclipse is best viewed.
On the #Eclipse2017 path, 2 points are of great interest: greatest eclipse & greatest duration. What's different? https://t.co/vfCP9hiVeR pic.twitter.com/HtIDtNC81h
— NASA (@NASA) August 20, 2017
In the Midwest League, the Bowling Green Hot Rods — a Tampa Bay Rays Class-A team — will host the West Michigan Whitecaps in a 10:35 a.m. ET start and will wear special, eclipse-themed jerseys for the game.
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
The Mets Class-A team from Columbia, S.C. will see the eclipse later in the afternoon, at approximately 2:41 p.m. ET, in the middle of its 1:05 p.m. game. The team is giving out special glasses to those in attendance.
Custom-branded. Equally NASA approved. pic.twitter.com/5T4qzO5r00
— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) August 18, 2017
The nearby Greenville Drive, a Boston Red Sox affiliate, will see the eclipse three minutes earlier and will also hand out special glasses to fans for viewing.
As Minor League Baseball president and CEO Pat O’Conner said, “The total solar eclipse on Monday is a very unique event and while we want our fans, players and coaches to enjoy this rare experience, we also want to remind everyone to take the proper precautions to protect their eyesight.”
In all, the eclipse seems like a cool thing to rally around, and minor league teams rarely pass up an opportunity for a new marketing idea.
Monday’s minor league eclipse schedule
All times ET
The path of totality, per NASA
12:35 p.m.: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes | Keizer, Ore.
12:55 p.m.: Memphis Redbirds | Memphis, Tenn.
2:27 p.m.: Bowling Green Hot Rods | Bowling Green, Ky.
2:38 p.m.: Greenville Drive | Greenville, S.C.
2:41 p.m.: Columbia Fireflies | Columbia, S.C.