Guardians fans explain why they stopped watching before Jhonkensy Noel fired a 404-foot wonder rocket in ALCS Game 3

Life is full of disappointments, and the Gustavus, Ohio, resident, who says he never leaves a game early – not even spring training games he attends with his wife – had to deal with disappointment once again.

But Houser received a text message from his nephew around 3 a.m. “What a game!” it read.

He looked at the box score and immediately went to YouTube, where he watched Jhonkensy Noel launch a game-winning home run and David Fry win it with a walk-off and a two-run blast in extra innings.

“The crowd was like every home run in the series – just amazing,” Houser said in a text message to cleveland.com.

It reminded him of the best and loudest home run celebration at a game he attended in July 1995. Albert Belle hit a game-winning home run off Lee Smith in the ninth inning. At the time, Smith was one of the best closers in baseball.

“The car horns kept sounding until we got to Route 90,” Houser recalled. “43,000 fans make a lot of noise. I know you remember this game. The best and loudest.”

Loudest until Thursday night, when Noel and Fry together woke up the entire Northeast Ohio. All except those who turned out the lights early to avoid disappointment that never came.

Guardians fans explain early departures

Cleveland.com's Guardians Subtext subscribers were among the fans who either left the park early to avoid traffic after Judge and Stanton hit home runs or, like Virgil, turned off their televisions because they couldn't take the suffering any longer could.

Below are some of the responses we received from them after an amazing night at the ballpark.

Ok, just if you don't use names, my husband and I did! We die and swear each other to secrecy to say that we stayed. Luckily, we live in (a nearby Cleveland neighborhood not mentioned here) and witnessed Fry's exit. – Name redacted, Cleveland, OH

The two Guardians fans near me who kind of gave up (probably partly because our section was full of Yankee fans) were within arm's reach and returned to their seats after the first home run. I didn't tell them anything, but they were obviously happy to be back. We were full of Yankees fans all night long. There were two people from Buffalo and then an older man with someone in the front row between us. The couple had left several times, perhaps because of the fans. People were really upset or happy after the two Yanks' home runs, and I almost got into a fight because the Cleveland fans in the next period were so sick of the fans in my period. I was tired of her too, but it wasn't worth committing to. The Buffalo guy yelled at two Cleveland fans that it was “okay to be a loser.” I could have pushed him. We were all so excited when Fry hit the home run. So many high fives and joy that the Yankees fans were finally quiet. —Sue, Lyndhurst, OH

I had to run to the drugstore, so I watched the Big Christmas HR on the radio with my husband Tom Hamilton. Then I was back home for the 10th innings and of course watched the heroics of David Fry on TV. It was some pretty epic and classic hammy, but Lane Thomas' hit was really the catalyst, as he was down 2-0 before making the full count and hitting the two-out double. Hammy actually seemed surprised when Noel came on deck during the Thomas at-bat, given his 1-for-16 postseason and home run drought. —Michael, Eastlake, OH

I didn't go, but I went from Section 554 to Section 111 because people left. Then we enjoyed the after party at Thirty Parrot. What a night!!! —Mark, Cleveland, OH

No, never again! I had my two sons with me last night and we had to leave early as we played the Rays in 2022 and missed the Gonzalez HR. My youngest had a flag football playoff game that day. My sons still bring this up! — Anonymous, Cleveland, OH

I turned off the TV and missed Noel's recording. When I found out it wasn't progressing, my jaw dropped, I turned it back on and watched the rest of the game. Must be in the top 5 for me! —Kevin, Springfield, MO

I watched the game with my wife at a bar in my hometown and we left when the score was 5-3. When we got home, I was watching Noel's home run in my house. My reaction bounced around my living room. —Mel, Owens Mills, MD

I saw it on TV. I definitely saw a lot of people heading for the exits after the double play in the ninth. I don't blame them. I wonder how far they got or if they turned around when Lane Thomas scored the double? –John, Pittsburgh, PA

Since I'm in South Carolina, I couldn't leave the ballpark, but I did leave the TV in the bottom of the ninth after the second inning. But there was a man on base, so I got a cup of coffee and said, well, maybe. Then came Big Christmas and the rest is history!!!! Then in the 10th inning I said again, “Could David really do it?” And then he did!!!! —Hank, Myrtle Beach, SC

I turned off the TV when we only had one left on the ninth day. Thankfully, my wife – who is not a baseball fan – mentioned almost in passing, “The game is a tie.” What! I got to watch the best defensive play, plus Fry's dinger. — Anonymous, Chicago, IL

What a game! I'm brave enough to admit that I had little faith that they could bounce back against the mighty Yankees. But I learned a wonderful lesson from this group of fierce warriors! —John, New Brockton, AL

I almost turned it off but couldn't bring myself to do it. I was watching on TV, but Hammy was on the radio. I was very glad that I hadn't stopped listening. –Robert, Columbus, OH