The Chief Heads Toward Retirement



Times change, attitudes change, tolerances change. A logo that was amusing in the 1940s and '50s elicits a very different reaction in our modern world. The grinning caricature of the Cleveland Indians' Chief Wahoo -- who seemingly stepped out of Looney Tunes central casting alongside Bugs and Daffy -- is seriously out of touch with today's sensibilities and sensitivities. Aware that the symbol was becoming the wrong kind of baggage, the ballclub has downplayed the Chief's prominence in the last decade.

First he was replaced on most of the team's caps by an upper case C. For a time, he was seen on the front of Cleveland uniforms. No more. Reduced to just a spot on the left sleeve, he's easy to overlook-- you almost have to go out of your way to find the logo on these images of Nick Swisher (above) and Yan Gomes from respectively, 2013 and 2018.

Yes, it's an issue of respect toward Native Americans. This is not a proud warrior or leader of a tribe. This is a goofy face, a stereotype that can be replaced by something more in tune with these, and future, times.
That's dramatically different from the early 1990s when the Chief "stood atop" the old Cleveland Stadium. A quarter-century later, the Indians decided its time for a change. 2018 will be the final year Chief Wahoo will be seen on their uniforms or any stadium signage. After that, his image will still appear on some souvenirs, but the message will be clear. The Chief is being retired.

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