Abandoning the Chief: The Cleveland Fellers

Baseball has so many wonderful areas to debate from the launch angle of Carlos Santana’s home runs to the defensive acuity of Jose Ramirez in the outfield, but oftentimes the discussions devolve into the topics of attendance, payroll, and, yes, Chief Wahoo. With Bomani Jones instigating the Wahoo-debate into a national discussion with his apparrel choice of a Cleveland Caucasians shirt on “Mike & Mike” Thursday, the question becomes why the team allows the negativity to continue to exist more than any of the nuance to the debate itself, especially given the team has such a ready-made name and logo that would instantly be among the best in professional sports.

As with any debate in modern society, there is plenty of blind yelling back and forth without any measure of respect for opposing points of view. We have members of the local Cleveland blogosphere harrassing Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge while he is on a humanitarian trip in Egypt. MTV News Senior Correspondent Jamil Smith even went so far as to invoke the phrase “showered in white tears” on Thursday. A great line if the only goal is to instigate a shouting match. Notsomuch if the goal is to have a respectful debate.

Here at WFNY, we tend to attempt to have civil, nuanced debates. We are not always successful, but herein might even lie a solution that could satisfy most. Here we go.

Argument for keeping the Chief

I have been an ardent support for both the name Indians and the Chief Wahoo mascot, but my reasoning might not be the most commonplace.

First, the term Indians according to the National Museum of the American Indian and other places indicate that American Indian is proper terminology though most prefer being referred to by their local tribe. So, Indians (unlike Redskins) is not considered an offensive term itself.

Additionally, while the team might not have been named for the first American Indian to play professional baseball, there is no doubt the name has led more people to know about Louis Sockalexis and his place in MLB history. Much like the Cleveland Browns might not have officially been named after Paul Brown, but they might as well have been.

Furthermore, I do empathize with those who are offended at the caricature of an American Indian in warpaint utilized as the logo for the Cleveland Indians. However, I also feel the only race that should matter is the human race, so any other distinction is a mere representation of social groups as people tend to group themselves with those they have things in common—the laziest being ancestral history.¹ It is a sad referendum on our society that not only do we still abide by these ancestral histories, but recent events have worsened relations rather than attempt to do away with race as a distinction. Bowing to such pressures has furthered the racial divide rather than getting to the root of issues to bridge the gap.²

Why I am suggesting a removal of Chief Wahoo and name Indians

There are some who wish to remove Chief Wahoo, but keep the name Indians. It might allow for the current arguments to lessen, but it would only be a matter of time before they returned. If the team is going to go the full step of a logo change, then the name might as well change too.

Despite an internal desire for sports to help societal influences, the years of complaints and national finger wagging have only grown more frequent and louder as our society has continued a trend of political-style debate by having their mind made up before even engaging. My tangible desire for fans of the local ballclub to enjoy their community together as a unified group is stronger than that of arbitrary philosophical goals.

If the Indians are the ones to institute the change rather than having it forced upon them by a well-meaning but ultimately harmful society, then they can also keep control of the usage of their history. The name Indians and Chief Wahoo would be able to remain on signage and apparel at the team’s discretion. Besides, the team has changed logos, color shades, fonts, hats, and everything else many times. Also worth noting: The Indians have not even won a World Series with the current iteration of Chief Wahoo.

Potential Names and Logos

It is tough to see for those against, but Chief Wahoo is a great-looking logo that looks fantastic on a ball cap, which has helped the Indians branding worldwide. If the team is going to change it out, then one of the biggest obstacles will be finding an appropriate name with an amazing logo that the entire fanbase can rally behind. Changing the name to a generic term such as the Knights or Wildcats would dishearten nearly everyone.

Here are some of the names I have seen proposed.

Cleveland Woolies: This nickname works for the Wooly Bullies, Mammoths, and even winter apparel needed for North coast winters (and April baseball games). It is a triple threat. But, the name itself is a tad weird and coming up with a good-looking logo is problematic. Apologies to the UC-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, but that type of shape doesn’t belong on a cap.

Forest Cities: Well, we’re one city. So, Cleveland Forest City? That doesn’t sound like a sport team (even though it once was). Do we put a tree on the hat? No.

Burning Rivers: I am of the mind the sport team of a city should not be a constant reminder of a black-eye in the city’s history.

Blues: Despite it’s historical relevance of both a baseball team and Ohio’s part in the Civil War, it is too generic a name. And, too many people would associate the music with the name.

Spiders: See Burning Rivers: I would rather not be reminded of being the decrepit farm system for rest of MLB (St. Louis Cardinals in particular).

Infants: Uhhh, no.

Holy Moses: Where to begin? Well, if the object is to not have a mascot that would be potentially controversial than having the name of the founder that committed many of the atrocities towards American Indians that are part of the current protest would not be a good place to start. Not to mention the potential religious implications.

Tribe: Similarly, while Tribe doesn’t necessarily refer to American Indians, the transition would be clear it was meant as a bridge.

Coasters: Sure, there is the Cedar Park tie-in, which isn’t exactly Cleveland but close enough. Sort of bleh overall though and what do you put on the cap as the main logo? A picture of a rollercoaster isn’t exactly great.

Rockers: The WNBA already used this name and not like we can go Rollers unless the team is begging for drug references every time the team is brought up.

Riffs: Riffraff is fun too. Hmmm. Some type of guitar logo could work. It is an interesting choice. But, it does rhyme with a certain word that starts with “S-T.”

The Cleveland Fellers

First, the best logo in sports that is not currently being utilized is a silhouette that honors an iconic Cleveland Indian and American patriot. He already has an award named in his honor as the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award is given to recognize and honor those who support our service men and women. Just as Feller had done when he signed up for service in the Navy upon the United States entering World War II.

Even with Feller losing prime years of his career to service, he still ranks as the highest pitcher in franchise history in terms of career WAR (65.3) along with thee of the top five individual WAR seasons. He has the most career wins (266), most career strikeouts(348), most career complete games (279), alongside individual seasons among the leaders (or the leader) in each of those categories. He even finished with 22 saves.

The Cleveland Indians already feature Bob Feller prominently throughout Progressive Field including a museum and statue both dedicated to his legacy. Additionally, the team would then mirror the Cleveland Browns as being named after an iconic figure in their history. The term Fellers plays alongside the old-timey feel of baseball, and the colors could remain red, white, and blue. And, again, that logo is fantastic.

Bob Feller was not a perfect man, there would be licensing issues to obtain the trademark, but it is a logo the Cleveland Indians fanbase should be able to rally behind no matter their feelings on Chief Wahoo. There are enough things to bicker about in the world, uniting the fanbase to have one less would be welcome.

1. The formation of the United States of America was a melting pot from all over the world, so those who spoke the same language and held the same customs naturally bonded together (for better and worse). We “should” be beyond that initial stage by now. [↩]
2. There are other reasons as well regarding history and more but this post isn’t meant to just be about the debate. [↩]