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Monday afternoon update:
In a comedic twist that utterly befits the lame franchise that is Cleveland, ownership today acknowledged that yes, the team name will change ... but that “Indians” will remain the team branding for ... ALL OF 2021!
Sort of defeats news of the name changing some [checks notes] four months ahead of Opening Day, but hey, I’m not from Cleveland.
(And don’t think I don’t thank my lucky stars for that.)
Worse, ownership has declared it will continue to sell Chief Wahoo merchandise
"As part of our ongoing commitment to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is our intention to donate profits from the sale of Chief Wahoo merchandise to Native American-focused organizations and causes." (2/2)
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) December 14, 2020
(facepalm emoji)
Late Sunday, news broke that will bring a smile to anyone who has felt the Cleveland monicker was dated and offensive:
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
Most of us have a deep-seated disgust for the Cleveland Baseball Team to begin with, on principle. But unlike the Tigers or Royals or Twins or even Cubs, the disgust didn’t have to spread to the logo on the cap or team nickname in the scorebook.
Better late than never. Cleveland will change its name, as soon as 2021 but definitely by 2022. The club indicates it will work with its fan base on a new name, perhaps with a tried-and-true nickname contest.
In the spirit of the moment, let’s help out our division rivals. They already have “no money” to spend on players (thus eliminating the “Lindors” — a popular choice of honoring a star player as demonstrated by the former nickname “Naps” in honor of Napoléon Lajoie — because Francisco will be long gone before the new name merch hits the Progressive Field stands), so perhaps we can do a little early market research for them.
Poll
What should the Cleveland Baseball Team pick as its new nickname?
This poll is closed
-
12%
Baseball Team
(53 votes) -
7%
Buckeyes
(32 votes) -
2%
Electrics
(10 votes) -
3%
Fellers
(15 votes) -
26%
Flaming Cuyahogas
(115 votes) -
2%
Napoléons
(13 votes) -
10%
Rocks
(45 votes) -
34%
Spiders
(153 votes) -
1%
Supermen
(5 votes)
Cleveland is: The first city with an electric traffic light and with full electricity; home of Bob Feller; where a river caught on fire; former home of a team named the Naps; home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because a payola DJ named Alan Freed called it the birthplace of rock; former home of a team called the Spiders; home of the creator of Superman.