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Here's how baseball celebrated the 2017 eclipse, all across the nation

By Cut4 Staff

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. Bartolo Colon even offered a lesson in the importance of eye safety:

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. 
eclipsemap
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:

And the photos said it all:


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:

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, Ryan Lavarnway was ready.

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:

The Rome Braves even got their lineup into the act:

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 Joey Votto):

Quick, someone get the Phanatic on the phone:

And Little Leaguers got into the act at the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.:

Bartolo and the Twins had their own view from Chicago, where they were set to play the White Sox in a doubleheader on Monday:

While drone expertTrevor Bauer designed a viewing device:

Andrew Chafin had an invention of his own:

Though the Mariners were in Atlanta, Safeco Field still had a pretty great view:

Fenway Park, too:

Rich Hill ... appeared to have one pair of eclipse glasses on his head while viewing the eclipse through another pair?

Speaking of the Dodgers, we just hope Justin Turner is OK:

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:

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