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Chief Wahoo: Cleveland Indians to remove logo in 2019

By Alex Butler
Cleveland Indians fans support their team during Game 1 of the American League Division Series on October 5 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
1 of 5 | Cleveland Indians fans support their team during Game 1 of the American League Division Series on October 5 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Indians' jerseys will look a bit different starting in 2019, with the team removing the Chief Wahoo insignia.

Major League Baseball announced the decision on Monday. The Indians will discontinue the use of the logo on their uniforms after the 2018 season. The mutual decision was made by the Indians and the league, according to a news release from Major League Baseball.

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred called the logo "no longer appropriate."

"Major League Baseball is committed to building a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the game," Manfred said in a statement. "Over the past year, we encouraged dialogue with the Indians organization about the club's use of the Chief Wahoo logo. During our constructive conversations, [Indians owner] Paul Dolan made clear that there are fans who have a long-standing attachment to the logo and its place in the history of the team.

"Nonetheless, the club ultimately agreed with my position that the logo is no longer appropriate for on-field use in Major League Baseball, and I appreciate Mr. Dolan's acknowledgement that removing it from the on-field uniform by the start of the 2019 season is the right course."

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The Indians opted to go back to the Block C as their primary mark on apparel before the 2014 season. Cleveland removed Chief Wahoo from their road cap in 2011 and from their home batting helmet in 2013.

The original Chief Wahoo logo was created in 1946 by Walter Goldbach but did not appear on the team's jerseys until 1947.

Cleveland is hosting the 2019 MLB All-Star Game.

"We have consistently maintained that we are cognizant and sensitive to both sides of the discussion," Dolan said in a statement. "While we recognize many of our fans have a long-standing attachment to Chief Wahoo, I'm ultimately in agreement with Commissioner Manfred's desire to remove the logo from our uniforms in 2019."

Cleveland will continue to sell merchandise with the logo on it in retail outlets in Northeast Ohio and Goodyear, Ariz., the team said.

There are currently no plans to change the Indians' team name, according to the MLB.

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