![BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 20: A detailed view of the Cleveland Indians logo patch on a jersey of Michael Brantley #23 of the Cleveland Indians before a game against the ]Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_850,h_560,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F12%2F1022635684-850x560.jpeg)
BOSTON, MA – AUGUST 20: A detailed view of the Cleveland Indians logo patch on a jersey of Michael Brantley #23 of the Cleveland Indians before a game against the ]Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Cleveland Indians to officially change their name.
According to a report by the New York Times, the Cleveland Indians will finally be changing their controversial team name following years of calls of racial insensitivity. The new name hasn’t been revealed yet but is expected sometime next week. This marks the second major sports team to change its name. The NFL team formerly referred to as the Washington Redskins dropped their name before the 2020 season and are currently called The Washington Football Team in lieu of choosing a new name (for now).
The Atlanta braves banned their tomahawk chop for the 2020 season but kept their name. The Indians removed the Chief Wahoo mascot a few seasons ago and are now following up with a name change.
The team has been called the Indians for nearly 100 years
The sources implied the name could remain on the uniforms throughout the 2021 season with the name fully removed by 2022. The name has been used for the franchise since 1915.
Other teams with similar names including the MLB’s Atlanta Braves, the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks have said they will not change their names.