In light of recent accusations of racism and discrimination, American professional baseball team the Cleveland Indians has decided to drop its 105-year-old nickname. Sources familiar with the matter said that the team will likely announce the decision to change its name this week.
The Cleveland Indians is the latest professional sports franchise to get rid of its Native American imagery as social justice advocates continue their call to end racism. Before it decided to change its name, the team previously got rid of its Chief Wahoo logo amid the continued outcry.
Sources claimed that the baseball team has yet to settle on a new nickname. It is now yet clear if the team would transition to the new nickname immediately or after the 2021 season.
Cleveland originally adopted the “Indian” nickname in 1915. Before that, the team was previously called the Cleveland Naps – after the team’s star player Nap Lajoie. Since it adopted the name, the team had won two World Series titles and played upwards of 17,000 games.
In recent years, the team has continued to face criticism over the use of its nickname. Protests outside Cleveland’s Progressive Field has become commonplace. The team’s owner, Paul Dolan, has vowed to do more in fixing its reputation and assuring fans that it has no ill-intentions. Dolan previously said that he will be meeting with Native American groups to get their take on the team’s continued use of the moniker.
“Groups like the National Congress of American Indians passed resolutions for decades on this, social science has made clear these names are harmful and Cleveland got out in front of it and they’re leading, and rather than having this hanging over their heads, they’re charting a new path,” Native American organization Oneida Indian Nation said in a statement.