The last trace of Chief Wahoo seems gone for good.
Cleveland’s MLB team became the Cleveland Guardians on Friday as the organization rebranded its digital and social platforms and began selling Guardians merchandise in the team shop at Progressive Field.
“This is really, really exciting,” said Karen Fox, the team’s director of merchandising. “I know I do feel a little emotional, but it’s an exciting day — it’s exciting day for the Guardians and exciting day for all the fans who showed up today.”
CLEVELAND INDIANS CHANGE NAME TO GUARDIANS
“I’m just so happy to see this many people out here,” she said. “This has been a long time coming, and everyone in the organization has prepared for this day — and here we are.”
The scene in the store was described as “bedlam,” and one report said more than 100 people entered the store within minutes.
“It’s a new era for the Cleveland Guardians and, again, people shopping, wanting to get their gear today,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of fun things planned for our fans today.”
The team store is the exclusive retailer for the new merchandise until Nov. 23.
The organization announced the name change on July 23 in response to national pressure to change it from the Indians, which activists claimed was racist.
The next chapter of Cleveland Baseball starts now. pic.twitter.com/6Y2ARviK5C
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) November 19, 2021
“The next chapter of Cleveland Baseball starts now,” the organization tweeted Friday.
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“We’ve got baseball coming back. We’ll create new memories, and we’ll have new moments to cherish together,” the video stated. “And in 2022, as the Cleveland Guardians, we’ll have another season to remember.”
