Cleveland Baseball Team Name Change

Cleveland+Baseball+Team+Name+Change

Taylor Rausch, writer

 

Fans and Native American groups have been protesting for the Cleveland Indians name change for years and have finally gotten their wish. On July 3, 2020, they announced they will be changing their team nickname along with the NFL Washington franchise. 

The club is expected to make an official announcement soon, and a new nickname has not yet been selected. They will retire the “Indians” nickname and their uniforms in 2021. The name change comes with many other considerations, including work with uniform manufacturers and companies that produce other team equipment and stadium signage.

One option that the team is considering, two of the anonymous people interviewed said, is moving forward without a replacement name then coming up with a new name in consultation with the public. This way, it allows a way to have the community work together and there are fewer chances to offend people. 

Cleveland’s MLB team has been known as the Indians since 1915, but Native American groups and others have for decades opposed the use of indigenous names, mascots and imagery for sports teams. The names are racist and demeaning, which is why teams are making an effort to change. 

Many universities and high schools abandoned Native American names and mascots long ago, but efforts to address the names at all levels of sport in the United States have increased in recent months. The process began for Cleveland when it announced it would retire its longtime mascot, Chief Wahoo. Many applauded the decision, but insisted the team name must go, too. 

Chief Wahoo was infuriating to many fans all over the country. It was a cartoon-like character which many found racist and inappropriate. The team has been phasing out the mascot over the last year. 

They are taking steps to remove the logo from all merchandise and the stadium. As of right now it is being replaced with a block letter “C” with the team colors. Sports teams from all over are taking steps to make themselves more culturally diverse. We should be proud that our teams are making their environments friendly for everyone.