Goodbye Cleveland Indians, hello Cleveland Spiders? After 105 years MLB team will get a new name
It was 1915 when the Cleveland Indians got their name after a series of changes. 105 years later, the professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio, is all set to consider a name change, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported.
The move comes in the wake of the national movement sparked by Black Lives Matter to correct racial wrongdoings. "We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance social justice and equality," the team said in a statement on Twitter. "Our organization fully recognizes our team name is among the most visible ways in which we connect with the community."
"We have had ongoing discussions organizationally on these issues," the Indians said. "The recent social unrest in our community and our country has only underscored the need for us to keep improving as an organization on issues of social justice. With that in mind, we are committed to engaging our community and appropriate stakeholders to determine the best path forward with regard to our team name."
"While the focus of the baseball world shifts to the excitement of an unprecedented 2020 season, we recognize our unique place in the community and are committed to listening, learning and acting in the manner that can best unite and inspire our city and all those who support our team."
In the past, the Indians were slammed for the Chief Wahoo logo — a Native American caricature that many felt was racist — featured prominently on their uniforms for several decades. That logo was removed from the team’s branding in 2019, with its removal from game jerseys and caps that have the official red, navy blue, and white colors. The grinning, red-faced mascot, however, is still present on merchandise being sold at team shops in Northeast Ohio.
With the call for the name change, Twitter is buzzing with reactions and many fans can't stop talking about how the team should go back to their original name Cleveland Spiders from 1889 to 1899. Before that, they were known as Cleveland Forest Citys or Cleveland Blues between 1887–1888.
"Will Cleveland's baseball team become the Spiders once again? That was the team name from 1887-1899. I sure hope if the change from the #Indians they can find something a bit better than that. I'll be thinking about a new name," one fan said. Another hoped they could go back to their old name. "Hope the Indians go back to the Cleveland Spiders. Could keep the same color scheme and even block C."
"I’m not a fan of the @indians changing their name because its history is actually a celebration of diversity in baseball but if they do they should change it back to the Cleveland Spiders. Cool name. Always liked it," one tweet read and another said, "Cleveland Spiders is one HELLUVA GREAT IDEA !!!! FANTASTIC! If I owned the ballclub, I'd definitely go with that! Have a Spiderman day for one thing!"
"So a fun fact about the Cleveland Spiders (and the only thing I know about them) is that I believe their 1899? Season has the worst win record in baseball history. It’s like 20 to 140 or some shit like that it’s incredible." one said and another posted, "Just gonna say it. If the Cleveland Indians change their name back to the Cleveland Spiders, I will renounce the Mets and support the spiders wholeheartedly that is a fire team name and the logo is sick as f**k."
"Gonna ask everyone for a favor. Please push for the Cleveland Spiders. Let everyone stateside know that just because Joe Quinn had an abysmal managerial record, doesn't mean the name should go into the dustbin of history," one said and another posted, "The Cleveland Indians seem to be (rightly) considering a name change. The early buzz favors the return of the Cleveland Spiders and I would most definitely be a fan of that team, if only for the spidery merch. #ClevelandSpiders."
However, many don't want a change. "Don’t give in to peer pressure. First, they want our Cartoon Mascot, now our name. People can’t handle anything these days," one tweet read and another said, "People are suggesting that the Cleveland Indians change the team name back to the Cleveland Spiders. JUST STOP. GET HELP."
Many others pushed for the change and had other suggestions too. "As a lifelong fan, I support Cleveland baseball. Thankfully the absurdly racist caricature is gone. The name change is long overdue. Please move forward on providing the fans with wonderful entertainment with a new name. Native Americans aren't mascots, they are human beings," one said and another posted, "Please also remove the term “Cleveland” because it evokes a cartoon character hatefully portrayed in black throat by a white actor." One suggested, "Alright, the Cleveland baseball team could change their name...what do you guys like? I’m going with Cleveland Rockers. What else ya got?"
On December 13, 2020, Cleveland's Major League Baseball team decided to change its nickname, according to David Waldstein and Michael S Schmidt of the New York Times. According to the newspaper, an announcement from the team could come as soon as this week.