The Cleveland Indians have decided on a new name for their franchise, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It remains to be seen exactly when the new name will be revealed, as “a source would neither confirm nor deny” if the organization would soon be making any sort of official announcement.
It was just over a year ago that the Tribe announced that “ongoing discussions” were taking place within the organization about potentially changing the team name, and news broke last December that a name change was in the works. While owner Paul Dolan indicated in March that the decision might have to be pushed back to 2023, it now looks like Cleveland’s club will indeed have their new nickname in place for the 2022 season.
There hasn’t been any official indication of what the new team name might be, apart from Dolan stating in December that the Indians wouldn’t simply become “the Tribe” or anything else related to Native Americans or Native American culture. Reports last month stated that the franchise had a final list of name candidates, though none of the potential choices were leaked. Of course, public acknowledgement of any choices on the short list could lead to further complications in trademarking the new nickname — as Dolan said in March, “There aren’t many words in the English language that somebody doesn’t own in some shape or form. Particularly in the sports realm, that’s a real challenge.”
Close to 1100 name choices were on the Indians’ initial list, a sign of just how exhausting the process has been in landing on a new nickname for the organization. Countless more selections have been floated by fans, ranging from past names for the franchise (i.e. the Grays, Naps, Bronchos) prior to the adoption of the “Indians” name in 1915, references to other teams in Cleveland’s baseball history (i.e. the Spiders), references to local Cleveland landmarks (i.e. the Guardians or the Rockers), tributes to past players (i.e. the Dobys or the Fellers), or even references to modern pop culture (i.e. the Avengers).
I Beg To Differ
Spiders is my guess. Going back to their roots.
MadThinker
Spiders was an NL franchise (and very bad toward the end) and not part of the roots of this franchise.
Suspect its Blues (another former franchise name pre-Indians adoption) or Guardians.
angt222
Cleveland Blues and Cincinnati Reds.. I kind of like it.
MadThinker
Along with a football team named Browns…
1975Reds
There’s already the St. Louis Blues.
Lanidrac
That didn’t stop Baltimore from naming the Orioles after a previous Minor League franchise (with Babe Ruth an an alumni), nor Milwaukee from naming the Brewers after a previous unrelated American League franchise (who became the St. Louis Browns and later the Baltimore Orioles).
sufferforsnakes
Well, since the owner has said many times that it’s about the city, Spiders would have worked, and would not have been ripped to shreds like guardians.
I might have considered supporting the name Spiders, even though I deal with arachnophobia.
solaris602
That’s what I think it will be. They’d sell a TON of merchandise, and God knows Dolan is all about the $$$$$
ClevelandSpidersFromMars
Columbus might not like another pro team nearby named the Blues. I prefer the Spiders, but I doubt that will happen. I like the Grays, some history there. But it will probably be something bland like the Captains.
Lanidrac
Aside from the Bluejackets, there’s also an NHL team in St. Louis actually names the Blues. I’d prefer to avoid anymore shared names in North American Pro Sports whenever reasonable. (I give a pass to the Texas Rangers due to that name being so perfect.)
debubba
MLB jerseys and gear is thrown into a collective MLB pot and distributed equally.
StreakingBlue
Cleveland Mistaken!! (Mistake by the lake theme). Or Cleveland Rockers
rizdakc99
Cleveland Football Team
ctyank7
It’s a good name and lends itself to a cute, Disney-esque mascot little kids will bond with.
Ghost of past pirates
The cleveland fellers
JerryBird
Personally, I don’t want to see a name change, but the times have determined it is necessary. I am overwhelmed with curiosity.
lemonlyman
This has been happening since the 60s and 70s when I grew up, but the trendy thing is to blame it on the current times. Ironic, isn’t it?
ghostrobot
churches in canada are burning and statues in america have been destroyed and removed and cities burned to the ground in the name of social justice its a sign of the times
Darryl Rose
A good sign.
Lanidrac
What sports teams in the ’60’s and ’70’s changed their names for cultural reasons? I know the Cincinnati Reds changed their name to the Redlegs back in the ’50’s, but that only lasted a few years before they changed the name back.
redmatt
The Baltimore bullets, the Houston colt 45s…
nyy17 2
Cleveland Rocks. Drew Carey might sue but I think it fits
hiflew
I think the Colorado Rockies would have more of an issue than Drew Carey. It’ll never happen.
whiplash
White Sox and Rex Sox don’t have any issues
i like al conin
The Blue Sox – we need more Sox in baseball!
hiflew
Those two nicknames were started long before trademarks were considered a major worry for ballclubs.
stefisclou
Ian Hunter may have more issues than Drew Carey.
Colt 45
Whoa – don’t often see Ian Hunter referenced, even back in the day.
I heard Truth Whole Truth on FM radio while working in little league concession stand when I was like 14 I think – been a fan ever since (and Mott)
whiplash
It should be The Cleveland Rocks
solaris602
It fits, but it’s too similar to the Rockies.
whiplash
White Sox and Red Sox
hiflew
White Sox and Red Sox started their nicknames in the early 1900s. Teams were not concerned with trademarking jerseys and nicknames back then. It’s not happening in today’s marketing environment.
i like al conin
That won’t age well.
sirandrews
The Cleveland Avengers lol.
omalleyiv
Cleveland Spiders. Use the block C with the spider on top.
angt222
Get the Marvel merchandise using Spider-Man like Mets did with Thor.
sufferforsnakes
The block C stinks. Crooked C all day long. It has something the block C doesn’t — character.
Ry.the.Stunner
The Cleveland Blew a 3-1 Leads
Polish Hammer
You should know a lot about blowing things…
partyatnapolis
better be the spiders, that’s all i gotta say
hoyce
The Cleveland Progressives. Named for the insurance company for $200 million per year. Half invested back into team making the formers indians a powerhouse …..or not
SFBay314
works for the nippon-ham fighters in the NPB
Monkey’s Uncle
But they could save 15% or more by switching to being the Cleveland Geicos.
Appalachian_Outlaw
It’ll be the Geicos then. Cleveland ownership loves savings!
Chin Music
Won’t happen. When the Grizzlies left Vancouver for Memphis, they tried to name them the Express (FedEx was the potential owner) and the nba nixed that one.
google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.278813
faithoverfear
How about “The Cleveland Homies”
Ham Fighter
Cleveland steamers
ABCD
Jack Brickhouse would say, “Hey Hey”!
DockEllisDee
I second the Steamers, with a brown color theme
hiflew
Mistakes by the Lake?
Joe It All
Cleveland Wild Things
Monkey’s Uncle
Not a bad idea but an independent league team already has it, the Washington (PA) Wild Things. I’m not sure if they would have to buy the name or not, although I imagine it could be done.
PitcherMeRolling
Weren’t they going to stop going by the Indians a couple years ago?
Polish Hammer
No, they were forced to lose the Chief Wahoo logo in exchange of hosting the All Star Game 2 years ago.
PitcherMeRolling
Yeah, I’m talking about something different. That’s why I said something different.
anthonyd4412
Redskins!!!
ABCD
To the penalty box with you.
3Men&ABibee
Hoping Spiders for a long time but I see the guardians
posty
Indians
bigdaddyhacks
I got an idea, picture this. We call them
The Cleveland Indians
sufferforsnakes
I like it. Catchy!
baseballguy_128
As long as it not The Cleveland Team…
dragonfan96
Cleveland Drew Carey’s or Cleveland the city where lebron used to play for
kiddhoff
Hope it’s the Cleveland Mostly Peaceful Protesters
Tom Price
Cleveland Indians,
BeeVeeTee
How about we just call them the Cleveland Indians? I am offended that people are offended by the name, Cleveland Indians! This country is shot!!
bucincharlotte
Absolutely!
I am not an Cleveland fan but the history of the franchise should stay in place!
Astros2017&22Champs
Cleveland Sucks
jaytai7918
This is so stupid
bestno5
Cleveland Native Americans
MikeyHammer
Cleveland Karens.
Colt 45
PERFECT!!!!!!
Appalachian_Outlaw
I understood distancing themselves from the Wahoo logo, but the name change feels unnecessary.
juxtapolemic
Cleavages
Dan Hunter
Cleveland PC’s
One Bite Hotdog
The band RUSH can thank Cleveland for their rise to fame. The song ‘Working Man’, and the fandom of the blue-collar listeners of the city of Cleveland, is what put RUSH on the map.
The Cleveland Workmen
Weird but unique.
JerryBird
Cleveland Rush?
One Bite Hotdog
Nothing wrong with that. I bet that is one of those claimed words though
902jd
You know rush is Canadian right?
Pretty sure Canada put them in the map
One Bite Hotdog
Nope. Cleveland was heavily responsible for it.
I am Canadian.
allweatherfan
You know what’s stupid? Calling Native Americans “Indians” because an ignorant European explorer thought he landed in India. It’s not just that it’s an offensive name, it’s based on on the dumbest of foundations. That’s reason enough to strike it.
ludafish
Excuse me sir? You accidentally brought facts, logics and a sound argument to a cesspool of bigoted people who hate facts and prefer fantasy.
Trump4TheWin
Bigoted? How about just calling us “people that aren’t foolish enough to buy into liberal hysteria”. Why are you posting on here anyways? Shouldn’t you be out looting a Macy’s with the rest of the Marxists BLM followers.
Ted
Turn off Fox News and go out to the real world. Go to a BLM rally and see what it’s really like.
Trump4TheWin
Hey Ted… do you want photos from the BLM rally that ended up with hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to the buildings surrounding my downtown high rise condo in San Antonio where I used to live with my two young daughters and wife? Do you want photos of the damage they did to our building while attempting to break in with skateboards and metal poles? Or maybe you want to speak with my neighbor (a liberal Air Force major – still can’t figure out that logic) that retrieved his gun as I retrieved my gun and headed to the ground level to shoot any individual that breached our first floor entry? Why desecrate the Alamo or a bar where Teddy Roosevelt frequented with the Roughriders? Why loot the Macy’s? How does that help the BLM cause?
I’ve since moved from one of the best locations in San Antonio due to the mere fact someone was going to swallow a bullet before I would allow my family to be placed in harm’s way. So yes, I now live in a nice cushy gated enclave like most liberals that cry racism everyday. However I’ve seen enough to know better (and as I said previously, I was raised in a crack infested neighborhood).. The BLM movement was built on a lie and is run by people at the top that have a Marxist vision for America. Unfortunately, bottom feeders in America aren’t intelligent enough to realize the harm BLM is doing to America. They’re about as useful as Democrats running major cities across our country.
Cosmo2
Ted, you’re gaslighting. The riots didn’t happen? No destruction? No one pulled out of a car and beaten?
One Bite Hotdog
My argument—-If they were called The Cleveland Jews, the name would have been abolished years ago.
A bit of a double standard
Raps902420
The Cleveland browns, named after Cleveland brown of family guy, not the football team
cdav45
I’d rather know what trades they are considering. I don’t give a single damn about the name change, but that’s just me.
bluejaysfan
A lot of people can’t deal with change on here. This name change is absolutely the governments fault. Call them the Spiders, Doby’s, Blues or the Cleveland Americans. Who cares. Good on their ownership for listening to the people it is offensive towards. I like the Cleveland franchise and I’m looking forward to hearing their new name. I’d be proud of them being a leader in this area.
bluejaysfan
Sorry I should specify that the government comment is sarcasm.
Appalachian_Outlaw
So let me ask you this: should the Notre Dame football team be forced to change their name? Are we going to change anything and everything that anyone may have a problem with? Slippery slope there.
Sharocko
The name change is secondary, not really the main point, friend. It’s the fact that change can happen at the whim of the truly easily offended. IF the team name promoted some kind of violence or hatred to any one person…why would they wait so long to change a name that was so offensive? Was it even known that a great majority of Native Americans were on record that they were so opposed to the name? If one tribe gets offended while another does not…who picks whose outcome is the best for all? Those things really matter in this case, do they not?
Since a great deal of this seems very subjecive based, where does one end up drawing the line on these types of situations? Literally every single thing can be taken at offense by one or more person when it all comes down to it…does that mean we should change all those names as well?
That is the main point of all this…change is inevitable…that will always ring true. Changing to cater for just some…that will always be a lil bit harder to understand given the current scenario.
Dan Hunter
Cleveland Mistakes.
kscheer
Hopefully it’s the steamers
alanofla
They should be called the Spiders. The team mascot could be called “Boris,” and the team could play The Who’s song “Boris The Spider” at games. “Boris The Spider” was Jimi Hendrix’s favorite song by The Who.
User 4095290658
Oh what a tangled web we weave….
I too am all in on the Spiders, lol.
bucincharlotte
Oh no… do you suggest Cowboys and Indians now has to be Cowboys and Native Americans?
Liberals need a name change their to Communists! Fair is fair!
norcalguardiansfan
The Cleveland Guardians!
TommySnodgrass
Being a Cleveland native, I think they are going to be named the . . .
Cleveland Guardians
DockEllisDee
Pardon my ignorance on the matter, but what is the historical significance of Guardians?
Halo11Fan
The Cleveland Woke.
mjbuchanan80
I’ll keep referring to them as the Indians.
bigun
Cleveland People.
timyanks
bowdowners
pantless
The Cleveland Cheapskates!
No but really, what if they went with Cleveland Independents – could just call them the Indies rather than Indians.
What is the point of sending out a teaser that they picked a name, but won’t tell us yet? Just another way to tick off fans that are already frustrated…
ghostrobot
yeah and speedy gonzales is a hate symbol!
que lastima!
geg42
The Rust Belters
MilwaukeeStrong
so so so stupid
what a joke
Nuke LaLoosh
BORING. Cleveland blew that one. The Greys had a nice ring to it.
Ted
I know that no name will please everyone but Guardians is awful. Sounds like a 2 year team in a knock-off football league, or a made up basketball team in a movie.
Robertowannabe
Sounds like a Globetrotters opponent!
Robertowannabe
I have the sam reaction that Astro did to his original nam, Tralfaz……Yuck!!
sufferforsnakes
Excellent Jetsons analogy! Well done.
Harold Baines
Guardians? That is awful.
Guardians? Really?
Joel Peterson
The Guardians?
See if the commissioner wasn’t an incompetent sell out boob who doesn’t really understand baseball this doesn’t happen.
Philly A's
When I watched the video narrated by Tom Hanks it reminded me of his commercial in the Simpsons Movie
“The US Government has lost its credibility, so it’s borrowing some of mine.”
They needed to change their name, but it was sure a swing and miss on Guardians… cue Marvel nights in Cleveland!
bbcalmc
not good
Trump4TheWin
Another foolish win for liberals. Many of us have been in the military and truly understand real world issues after spending time overseas. We have it pretty easily here in America (and I was raised in a crack infested neighborhood). The Civil War is coming. People are going to wake up soon enough and realize liberals are tearing away at this country inch by inch. When that new “wokeness” occurs, I surely hope those same liberals destroying this country over “naming issues” found some time on the gun range. If not, it’s going to be like watching Shane Bieber pitching against your local high school team. My advice to liberals – get thicker skin.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
I really don’t see the issue with Indians. They had that name for almost 75 years. The redskins as well for over 80 years.
According to this site. It’s gonna be the Cleveland Guardians.
hogshaven.com/platform/amp/2021/7/23/22590258/the-…
Polish Hammer
Horrible
gogiantsyanks
I just don’t understand why they didn’t listen to the fans and name the team the spiders? It had fan support and was historically rooted
sufferforsnakes
I can just hear Manning and Underwood already gushing over this.