The Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland will officially be known as the Guardians starting on Friday, November 19, according to a press release from the team. Per the announcement, the team store at Progressive Field will open that morning with all the gear featuring the new moniker and logo. The change will also be reflected in the digital realm, as their website and social media handles will also be altered to usher in the new era for the franchise.
After years of complaints about the offensive imagery and customs surrounding the team’s previous name, the club announced in July of 2020 that a name change was under consideration. Then the franchise finally announced in December of 2020 that a name change was forthcoming. In July of this year, it was revealed that they would become the Cleveland Guardians after the 2021 campaign.
The franchise was founded as the Grand Rapids Rustlers in 1894. They then moved to Cleveland and changed their name to the Lake Shores. That was followed by further name changes to the Bluebirds, Broncos and Naps, the latter name being a reference to star player Napoleon “Nap” Lajoie. After Lajoie’s departure in 1914, the team changed names yet again, starting the racist era that lasted for over a century, but will officially come to an end this week.
This follows similar name changes for other sports teams, both amateur and professional. Many high school and college teams throughout North America have pivoted away from similar iconography in recent years, which was followed by decisions from pro sports franchises such as the NFL franchise now known as the Washington Football Team and the Canadian Football League team now known as the Edmonton Elks.