The Cleveland Indians will become the Cleveland Guardians after the 2021 season ends:
“There were a lot of challenges to find the right name and then make sure the name was available for use,” team owner and chairman Paul Dolan said. “It took a lot of time and a lot of extraordinary effort. Add to that, it was all done during a global pandemic. … I’m not sure that it’s finally over. But I am glad that we’ve entered the phase now where the name is out there and we can begin to promote what will be our future. That’s actually exciting.”
The left targeted the Indians over its mascot and name in 2018. But owner Paul Dolan had an “awakening or epiphany” after George Floyd died in May 2020.
Now it’s all about progress.
The name Guardians actually has something to do with “progress“:
Progressive Field looms in the background when facing the 43-foot “Guardians of Traffic” that have stood tall for nearly 100 years on the Hope Memorial Bridge. These sculptures are meant to symbolize progress, a concept that’s now trickling over to the city’s baseball team.“We think Guardians is unique and authentic to Cleveland,” Cleveland’s president of business operations Brian Barren said. “It’s less about the Guardians of Traffic and more about what the Guardians represent and that idea of protection. For us and our research, Cleveland folks are very protective of one another. They’re protective of our city, they’re protective of the land and everything about it.“That’s one key component, the resiliency of people here in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio and the loyalty. The loyalty to Cleveland, the loyalty to one another as teammates, as co-workers, as family and friends. Those all become part of what Guardians really starts to evoke from an emotional standpoint.”
Dolan wrote: “In searching for a new brand, we sought a name that strongly reflects the pride, resiliency and loyalty of Clevelanders. Guardians embodies those defining attributes while drawing upon the iconic Guardians of Traffic proudly standing just outside Progressive Field on the Hope Memorial Bridge. It brings to life the pride of Clevelanders take in our city and the way we stand for each other while defending our Cleveland process.”
Yes, the Indians play at Progressive Stadium. It’s also where my Chicago Cubs beat the Indians in 2016 to win the World Series. The Indians blew a 3-1 lead.
The uniforms will remain blue and red. The organization will “make slight changes to mimic the structural architecture of the Hope Memorial Bridge, imitating the tresses of the bridge’s underside.”
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