Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team will drop “Indians” as its nickname as early as this week, an official confirmed Sunday night. move that comes after years of pressure and protest from Native American groups and others who viewed the name as racist and insensitive.
“For the past 105 years, the team was called the Indians. That will be no more as Cleveland has decided to change its name,” New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt tweeted.
EXCLUSIVE: For the past 105 years, the team was called the Indians. That will be no more as Cleveland has decided to change its name. Announcement from team could come as early as this week. w/@DavidWaldstein https://t.co/Nnw2nAoKcJ
— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) December 14, 2020
According to the report, the move comes after years of pressure and protest from Native American groups and others who viewed the name as racist and insensitive. He cited three sources who had spoken to him about the proposed change on condition of anonymity.
The official news could come as early as this week, however a full transition away from the name Cleveland’s American League team has used since 1915 might not be as immediate. One source told Schmidt that the name and current logo would likely remain through the 2021 season with the change taking effect as early as 2022. The team moved away from their Indians identity in 2019, when they stopped using their mascot, Chief Wahoo.
Cleveland follows the steps of the NFL’s former Washington Redskins, now known as the Washington Football Team.