The Cleveland Indians are retiring the nickname they've carried for over a hundred years. This decision comes as more pro sports teams abandon Native American branding to avoid perpetuating racist stereotypes.
According to sources, the team should officially announce the transition this week. This is part of a longer journey toward rebranding, which began with the removal of the Chief Wahoo logo and a promise to find a more suitable name.
A replacement name hasn't been selected yet, and there's still some uncertainty about whether the switch will be immediate or happen throughout the 2021 season.
Inspired by the NFL's Washington franchise—which dropped its old name to become the Washington Football Team—Cleveland decided to re-evaluate the 'Indians' name they've used since 1915. In the early days, the team was actually called the Cleveland Naps, a tribute to their star player and manager, Nap Lajoie.
With over 17,000 games played as the Indians, the team has two World Series wins to its name. But their luck has run dry since 1948, leaving them with a 72-year gap between championships—the longest streak of any team in the sport.
Due to ongoing protests, owner Paul Dolan committed to listening to Native American groups and their concerns. Additionally, Major League Baseball exerted pressure, viewing the 'Indians' brand as unsustainable for the future.
The Oneida Nation of New York, a driving force behind the 'Change the Mascot' campaign, described this decision as the culmination of decades of advocacy. They noted that organizations like the National Congress of American Indians have passed resolutions on this for years, and they praised Cleveland for finally taking a leadership role in this change.
Reacting to the news on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to criticize the move, labeling it as an example of 'Cancel culture at work!'
Other major teams still utilizing Native American themes in their branding include the MLB's Atlanta Braves, the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, and the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.
Some potential new names that have surfaced include the Naps, the Cleveland Spiders, or the Cleveland Rocks. Regardless of what they choose, the team will need to overhaul their uniforms and stadium branding, which might push back the actual rollout of the new identity.