Major League Baseball’s Cleveland team announced that they “will determine the best path forward” in the use of its “Indians” mascot, continuing a trend of professional sports teams seemingly retreating from stubborn defenses of offensive names, according to ESPN.
In recent years, Cleveland’s ownership has phased out the use of their caricature mascot, “Chief Wahoo”, on team uniforms and most merchandise.
The Cleveland team took the nickname after a poll of fans in 1915. Previously, they had been known as the Forest Citys, Spiders, Blues, Bronchos and Naps, a name to honor Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie.