12/14 11:18 AM PT -- 12/14 -- The Cleveland Indians' new name will NOT have Native American ties ... team owner Paul Dolan said Monday.
"While Indians will always be a part of our history," Dolan said, "it is time to move forward and work to unify our stakeholders and fans through a new name."
Dolan told the Associated Press, however, the team will continue with its "Indians" moniker through the 2021 season ... and perhaps even longer as it tries to find a new, permanent nickname.
"We don’t want to be the Cleveland Baseball Team or some other interim name," he said. "We will continue to be the Indians until we have identified the next name that will hopefully take us through multiple centuries."
The Cleveland Indians are reportedly going the way of the Washington Football Team -- they're finally changing their team name, although it's unclear what it will be.
The NYT reports an announcement from the team is expected sometime this week, and the news is they're dropping the "Indians" name -- which they've had since 1915 -- and will start a process of adopting something new.
Breaking News: The Cleveland Indians are said to be dropping their team name after years of protests from baseball fans and Native American groups. https://t.co/LmXl78ngTx
— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 14, 2020
Thing is ... the report says they'll probably keep their current name for the 2021 season, and officially lose it for 2022 -- all while engaging the public about an appropriate alternative. In the interim, the team is reportedly considering going by the Cleveland Baseball Team.
As for the famous logo of a Native American -- known as Chief Wahoo -- that image was retired a couple years back, and the team adopted a letter "C" as their new official symbol.
We’re seein’ red in 2019! 🔴
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) November 19, 2018
Introducing our 2019 home alternates and home caps …https://t.co/yrP8hpV538#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/uMK63eeT5f
The move to drop "Indians" is a long time coming -- similar to how Washington dropped "Redskins" not too long ago. There's been mounting pressure for years from the Native American community, as many found the caricatures/nicknames downright degrading.
Some Cleveland fans love the original name -- but it's clear the team's management and ownership feel it's time to get with the times, and stop exploiting indigenous groups.
Originally Published -- 12/13 6:05 PM PT