Cleveland Baseball Team Changes Its Name From 'Indians' To 'Guardians'

The Cleveland baseball team formerly known as the "Indians" will now be known as the "Guardians." The team made the announcement today on Twitter with a video narrated by Tom Hanks.

Together, we are all… pic.twitter.com/R5FnT4kv1I

— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 23, 2021

The team had announced plans to change the name in December of last year, which many felt was long overdue. After the team formerly known as the Washington Redskins changed their name after years of public outcry, eyes turned to the Cleveland Indians and other professional sports teams which used Native American names and imagery as their team names. Cleveland faced particular pressure because their longtime mascot, "Chief Wahoo," was a red-faced caricature of a Native American.

The name "Guardians" struck many as odd at first glance, but the choice wasn't arbitrary. The name is inspired by large Art Deco statues on the Lorain–Carnegie Bridge just outside the ballpark, known by locals as the "Guardians of Traffic."

I thought Guardians might be too esoteric and that people outside the city wouldn't get it. Seeing plenty of that now.

But the bridge that the name comes from is beautiful and right outside the ballpark. One of the best pieces of Cleveland architecture/history pic.twitter.com/8ijhd4onmr

— Teddy Cahill (@tedcahill) July 23, 2021

The announcement expectedly drew divided, ideological reactions on social media, as some were pleased that the change had finally gone into effect and that the new name more directly celebrated the city, while others bemoaned the change as a result of over-enthusiastic "political correctness."

It’s a great day to be Indigenous! ✊🏽💕#NotYourMascot #ClevelandGuardians pic.twitter.com/R3TFWqVYp4

— Cynthia Diindiisikwe Connolly (@cynconnolly) July 23, 2021

Ohio Republican does not seem to realize that the team's new name draws inspiration from… Cleveland's history and tradition.

The Guardians of Traffic are the large art deco statues that adorn the Hope Memorial Bridge that connects Cleveland's west and east sides. https://t.co/8ThFMN0agS

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 23, 2021

I’m so sick of watching everyone cave to this crybaby generation. So disgraceful @Indians. This isn’t woke….it’s a lack of balls. No fight in anyone anymore! Sad. https://t.co/9dlMkwvtTl

— Aubrey Huff (@aubrey_huff) July 23, 2021

And just like that, the Indians adopt the dumbest, most pointless name in major professional sports https://t.co/r3W5UycoNV

— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) July 23, 2021

‘You see, there’s always been Cleveland…that’s the best part of our name.’
❤️ So proud of the #ClevelandGuardians! https://t.co/NaUnqO72tn

— Valerie Bertinelli (@Wolfiesmom) July 23, 2021

The name change will go into effect after the 2021 season.