Cleveland Indians to drop Chief Wahoo logo from uniforms

The Cleveland Indians will no longer use the Chief Wahoo logo on team uniforms starting in 2019, Major League Baseball announced Monday.

The New York Times first reported the decision.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement to the newspaper that the logo, which is a cartoon depiction of a Native American, is “no longer appropriate for on-field use.”

Chief Wahoo has been featured on Cleveland Indians uniforms for nearly 70 years, but it has stirred controversy recently among fans and Native American advocates, who say the drawing is racist.

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Manfred and team owner Paul Dolan had spoken in recent years about transitioning away from using Chief Wahoo, according to multiple reports.

Dolan said in a statement to The New York Times that he agreed with Manfred’s wishes to remove the logo, despite fans’ attachment to the character.

The team last season generally wore hats embroidered with a “C” and shirts with “Cleveland” or “Indians” scrawled on the front. The logo remained on the sleeves, however.

Several college athletics programs have abandoned Native American mascots or team names in response to similar concerns and protests.

Other teams, including the Washington Redskins, have drawn protests and legal challenges over their refusal to change the team name.