SALEM — When the Class A Northwest League baseball schedule for the 2017 season was formulated two years ago, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes co-owner Jerry Walker requested a home game for Aug. 21.

At the time, Walker’s request raised eyebrows among members of the NWL’s scheduling committee. Monday night games are not typically among the higher attended games.

“Everyone wanted to know why Walker wanted to be home on a Monday night, it doesn’t make any sense,” he said.

Of course, Walker had his eyes on that date because he knew the mid-Willamette Valley would be in the path of totality for the first total solar eclipse to cross the United States in 99 years.

Monday’s game between the Volcanoes and Hillsboro Hops at Volcanoes Stadium will feature the first eclipse delay in baseball history. Ticket requests began coming in immediately after the Eclipse Game was announced one year ago.

“This is for sure the single biggest thing that’s ever happened at Volcanoes Stadium other than the opening of the stadium itself” in 1997, Walker said.

As of Thursday afternoon, a limited number of Eclipse Game tickets were still available. Volcanoes Stadium seats just under 4,300, not including berm seating.

Fans attending the Eclipse Game will receive commemorative safety glasses to wear during the delay of the baseball game. Gates open at 5 a.m., and breakfast will be served from 6 to 9 a.m.

Opening pitch is set for 9:35 a.m. and the game will be delayed after the first inning. The total solar eclipse is expected to last just under two minutes in Keizer and begin at approximately 10:17 a.m.

In addition to the Volcanoes’ Eclipse Game, the Bowling Green (Kentucky) Hot Rods of the Class A Midwest League, the Nashville (Tennessee) Sounds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and the Columbia (South Carolina) Fireflies of the Class A South Atlantic League will host eclipse festivities at their ballparks.

— (Salem) Statesman Journal