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The Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo story, had begun more than 75 years ago and stopped last year when Major League Baseball announced that the Indians would no longer use the divisive logo on their uniforms beginning with the 2019 season.
What is the reason of this decision? To clarify this, let us return to the origins of this logo and go all the way from its creation, popularization, different changes to the point where we are now.
Bеginning in 2019, thе tеаm’ѕ jеrѕеуѕ will no lоngеr fеаturе thе Native Amеriсаn саriсаturе Chief Wahoo, whiсh hаѕ bееn widеlу сhаrасtеrizеd аѕ оffеnѕivе and rасiѕt. Thе сhаngе was аnnоunсеd bу Mаjоr Lеаguе Bаѕеbаll. Thе Cleveland Indiаnѕ hаd аlrеаdу bееn ѕhifting аwау frоm uѕing the ѕуmbоl, thе tеаm аdорtеd a “C” аѕ its mаin lоgо in rесеnt уеаrѕ. Thе Chief Wahoo ѕуmbоl/logo, hоwеvеr, wаѕ ѕtill stitched оntо thеir unifоrmѕ. “Ovеr thе раѕt уеаr, wе еnсоurаgеd diаlоguе with thе Indiаnѕ оrgаnizаtiоn аbоut the сlub’ѕ uѕе of thе Chiеf Wаhоо lоgо,” MLB Cоmmiѕѕiоnеr Rоb Mаnfrеd ѕаid in a ѕtаtеmеnt.
“During оur соnѕtruсtivе соnvеrѕаtiоnѕ, Pаul Dоlаn mаdе сlеаr thаt thеrе аrе fаnѕ whо hаvе a lоngѕtаnding аttасhmеnt tо thе lоgо аnd itѕ рlасе in thе hiѕtоrу оf thе tеаm. Nоnеthеlеѕѕ, thе сlub ultimаtеlу agreed with my роѕitiоn thаt thе lоgо is nо longer аррrорriаtе fоr оn-fiеld use in Mаjоr League Baseball, аnd I аррrесiаtе Mr. Dоlаn’ѕ асknоwlеdgеmеnt thаt rеmоving it frоm thе оn-fiеld unifоrm bу thе ѕtаrt оf thе 2019 ѕеаѕоn is thе right соurѕе.” Thе dесiѕiоn tо wаit until 2019 wаѕ meant tо givе fаnѕ аnd thе tеаm timе tо trаnѕitiоn, ассоrding tо a ѕоurсе fаmiliаr with thе сhаngе.
Double lined wordmark with “CLEVELAND” in black on the top and “Indians” scripted with a tail below all in red.
Font: UnknownChief Wahoo, a red native American caricature wearing a single-feathered headband. Used as the Indians primary logo for decades before being relegated as an alternate logo prior to 2014 season.
Chief Wahoo outlined in silver and blue.
Chief Wahoo facing the left in red and black. Worn on Indians jersey sleeve from 1979 – 1985. Indians switched to a red and blue Wahoo logo on the sleeves in 1986.
Chief Wahoo swinging a baseball bat with a leg up on top of a white baseball with red stitches, worn on Indians jersey sleeve from 1973 – 1978. Note, that this version features a darker shade of blue than the primary logo of the time.
Chief Wahoo facing the left in red and black. Worn on Indians jersey sleeve from 1951 – 1962.
Chief Wahoo wearing a white crown, created to celebrate Indians World Series Championship in 1948.
Chief Wahoo with tan skin, red headband and feather. Worn on sleeve of Indians jerseys during this period.
A new direction for the Cleveland Indians logo as they replace the native american with a block letter “C” in red. This logo is very similar to the 1904 logo of the Cleveland Bluebirds.
In 1980 the logo was slightly alter with a blue outline added replacing the black outline.
After its introduction, the face of the 1951 logo was incorporated into other, full-body depictions of the character. The native American with one red feather is swinging a bat and striding forward on top of a baseball with red seams. The wordmark is “INDIANS” on top of the baseball and “CLEVELAND” on the bottom of the baseball in blue.
In 1951, the mascot was redesigned with a smaller nose, black hair and red skin instead of yellow skin with one feather. The logo has a black outline. This logo has remained in use ever since, with only minor changes to the design till 2014.
Chief Wahoo facing straight ahead, a red Native American cartoon head grinning with a red feather sticking out the back of his black hair.
In 1947, the Indians added a baseball player’s body to the native American head. The native American has a red face with black hair and one red feather. He is in a hitting stance holding a baseball bat.
The next image of an native American is on a red and white striped circled background. The native American has a red face with a white and black headdress.
A line drawing of a native American with black hair, green shirt, and headdress in white, yellow and red.
New design of a native American with a red face and black outlines for facial features. Wearing a white with black outline headdress.
The first logo of a native American with three feathers in red with a black outline.
In 1921 the Indians logo changed to a font that is similar to Bruce Double Pica in the color blue. The letter “C” represents the city of Cleveland.
The Indians first logo is a block letter “C” in a thick blue color. The letter “C” represents the city of Cleveland.
The Naps final logo is again a scripted letter “C” with a thicker blue lettering. The letter “C” represents the city of Cleveland.
A new scripted letter “C” in blue. A little more curly at the top the letter “C.” The letter “C” represents the city of Cleveland.
The Naps logo was a scripted letter “C” in blue. The letter “C” represents the city of Cleveland.
Final Blues logo is a letter block “C” now in red. The letter “C” represents the city of Cleveland.
The Blues change to a block letter “C” in blue. The letter “C” represents the city of Cleveland.
Like most teams before the 1900’s the logo was just a wordmark of the city “CLEVELAND.”