Chief Wahoo, the Indians’ much-discussed mascot, was widely worn and, to a much lesser extent, scorned before the Indians played their 2018 home opener on April 6 at Progressive Field.
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Many thousands of the fans who turned out to watch the Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on a chilled, slate-gray afternoon wore items of clothing bearing the image of the mascot that has been part of the Indians’ public presentation for going on 75 years.
The smiling visage of a native American with prominent teeth and crimson complexion has come under increasing fire in recent years from critics who say its depiction is outdated, stereotypical and racist.
The Indians announced earlier this year that Chief Wahoo will disappear from the team’s game uniforms next season. It will be less prominent on uniforms this season. The push to remove Chief Wahoo was championed by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, who told Indians owner Paul Dolan he wanted the mascot nowhere to be seen in 2019 when the Indians host the All-Star Game for the first time since 1997.
To the vast majority of fans interviewed before the home opener, Manfred’s disdain for Chief Wahoo cuts no ice.
Ray Klemm of Parma Heights was wearing his love for Chief Wahoo on the sleeve of his jacket, the front of his baseball hat and on his right leg, where he has a large tattoo of Chief Wahoo inked on his calf.
“I love Chief Wahoo because it’s part of the history and fabric of this team,” Klemm said.
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Klemm said he has no use for Manfred and isn’t pleased with Dolan for what he regards as the owner buckling under pressure brought by Manfred.
“They did what they thought they had to do to keep everybody in the seats, but that is wrong. People love the Chief,” Klemm said.
Indians management has indicated Chief Wahoo will be phased out after this season on game uniforms and caps in favor of the block C that’s become increasingly prevalent in recent seasons.
‘I think it’s ugly,” Klemm said of the block C as fans standing in the line outside the center-field gate nodded their heads in approval.
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It’s worth noting the Indians also announced they have maintained the marketing license on Chief Wahoo and will continue to sell clothing and souvenir items bearing the mascot’s likeness after it disappears from the uniforms.
Pam Brocklin of Northfield Center was proudly wearing her Wahoo gear, too, but said she understands the viewpoints of the mascot’s detractors.
“I respect their opinions, but we don’t wear Chief Wahoo out of disrespect for anybody,” she said. “We wear it with pride and a sense of history.”
Gary Bruner of Vermilion and Dan Eskins of Sandusky were in Gateway Plaza, surveying the scene, about two hours before the first pitch at 4:10 p.m.
>> Photos: Fans at the Cleveland Indians’ home opener, April 6, 2018
To their left, they could see a group of about 40 people protesting the use of the Chief Wahoo image as well as the team’s name. The signs many of the protesters held decried Chief Wahoo and Indians as being racist.
“I’m in favor of keeping the chief, but what you see out here is a microcosm of the public debate,” Bruner said.
Maggie Breloff of Cleveland was taking part in the protest. On the sign she held was written: Racism is not Progressive.
“Good communities recognize biases and bigotry and act against them,” Breloff said. “I don’t think the (Chief Wahoo) mascot will be the image of Cleveland’s baseball team much longer.”