Cleveland's Major League Baseball franchise, formerly known as the Indians for 106 years, officially transitioned to the Cleveland Guardians in 2022, following decades of advocacy from Native American groups and a broader national reckoning over racial symbols. The decision to change the name, which had been in place since 1915, came after extensive internal discussions and public pressure. The team itself acknowledged the divisiveness of the "Indians" name.
The historical origin of the "Indians" name has been a subject of debate. While a tweet by JohnRocker claimed the name was adopted in 1915 "to honor Indian player, Louis Sockalexis," and that this was "never mentioned when the white liberals forced the organization to change the name," historical accounts offer a more complex picture. Louis Sockalexis, a Penobscot player, played for the Cleveland Spiders (a predecessor team) from 1897 to 1899 and is widely recognized as one of the first Native Americans in professional baseball.
Some historical narratives, including a 1915 Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial, suggested the name "Indians" was chosen to honor Sockalexis. However, many historians and Native American advocates argue that the adoption of the name, and particularly the subsequent use of caricatures like Chief Wahoo, perpetuated harmful stereotypes rather than genuinely honoring Indigenous people. Protests against the team's name and imagery date back decades, long before the recent change.
The move to change the name gained significant momentum in 2020 amid nationwide protests for racial justice. The team had already retired its controversial Chief Wahoo logo in 2018. The transition to the Cleveland Guardians, announced in 2021, was inspired by the "Guardians of Traffic" statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland, aiming for a name that reflects local identity without cultural appropriation.
The change aligns with a broader trend in professional sports where teams have reevaluated and changed names and mascots deemed offensive to Native Americans, such as the NFL's Washington Football Team. The Cleveland organization stated that the new name was chosen to unify the community and move forward from a moniker that had become a source of contention for many.