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A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 30 January 2018

Cleveland Indians dropping Chief Wahoo logo from uniforms

By TOM WITHERS from Canadian TV. A judge
AP Sports Writer dismissed the case.
CLEVELAND (AP) — The The Indians’ bid to host the
Cleveland Indians are 2019 All-Star Game height-
dropping the Chief Wahoo ened the debate.
logo from their uniforms “While we recognize many
next year after decades of our fans have a long-
of protests and complaints standing attachment to
that the grinning, red-faced Chief Wahoo, I’m ultimate-
caricature used in one ver- ly in agreement with Com-
sion or another since 1947 is missioner Manfred’s desire
racist. to remove the logo from
The move, announced our uniforms in 2019,” Dolan
Monday, came after pro- said in announcing the de-
tracted discussions be- cision.
tween team owner Paul The presence of the Wa-
Dolan and baseball Com- hoo logo is likely to remain
missioner Rob Manfred. strong in the stands on
The cartoonish image of caps, T-shirts and signs, and
a big-toothed American other Native American ref-
Indian with a scarlet face erences in the stadium will
and a single feather in his probably persist. For over
headdress will come off the 40 years, one fan, John Ad-
team’s sleeves and caps ams, has pounded a tom-
starting with the 2019 sea- Foam Chief Wahoos line the shelf at the Cleveland Indians team shop, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in tom in the left-field bleach-
son, when Cleveland will Cleveland. ers.
host the All-Star Game. Associated Press The team will continue to
“Major League Baseball area. get rid of the name, then suburban Westlake as he sell Chief Wahoo gear be-
is committed to building “I’m elated,” Philip Yenyo, you’re still going to have picked through a clear- cause if it stops doing so,
a culture of diversity and executive director of the fans going down there ance bin of caps with his it will lose ownership of the
inclusion throughout the American Indian Move- wearing headdresses and wife and two children. trademark, and others will
game,” Manfred said in a ment of Ohio, said of the painted in redface.” “Chief Wahoo has been so be able to use the symbol
statement. He said the logo decision to remove Wa- Amid the intensifying de- iconic for so many years, as they please.
“is no longer appropriate hoo from uniforms. “But bate, the club has slowly and I understand that Reaction to the announce-
for on-field use.” at the same time, I think it moved away from the logo some people may be of- ment was swift on social
The decision is unlikely to should be this year. I don’t in recent years. The Indi- fended, but it’s a blow to media as fans took sides
quell complaints from Na- understand why they’re ans replaced it with a “C’’ native Clevelanders.” on a touchy topic that has
tive American organiza- drawing this out. It doesn’t as their primary logo and National criticism and scru- become part of the Cleve-
tions and others who see make any sense to me, un- removed signs depicting tiny over Chief Wahoo grew land sports landscape for
the symbol — and the less they want to continue Chief Wahoo from Progres- in 2016, when the Indians generations.
team’s very name — as to make what’s basically sive Field, the team’s ball- made the World Series and Every year, Native Ameri-
insensitive. The Indians will blood money.” park. Manfred expressed his de- can groups have protested
continue to wear the Wa- He added: “Just make the There was no immediate sire to have the team drop outside the stadium before
hoo logo in 2018, and even leap already.” reaction from Indians play- the symbol. During the the home opener in hopes
after it is gone from the Yenyo and others have de- ers. playoffs, a lawsuit was filed of getting the Indians not
uniform, the club will sell manded that the team go “It’s a big disappointment,” while the club was playing only to abolish Chief Wa-
merchandise featuring the further and drop “Indians” Jeremiah Baker said at in Toronto to have the logo hoo but to change the
mascot in the Cleveland as its name: “If they don’t a sporting goods store in and team name banned team name.q
Royals sign SS Escobar to $2.5M, 1-year contract

By DAVE SKRETTA outfielder Lorenzo Cain on plate appearances,
AP Sports Writer and pitcher Jason Vargas has spent the past seven
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — in hitting the open market. seasons with Kansas City.
The Royals had hoped to Royals general manager He hit .250 with six homers,
retain some of the core Dayton Moore said last 54 RBIs and a career-high
players that helped them week, when the framework 102 strikeouts last season,
to back-to-back American for a contract was in place, though he seemed to ig-
League pennants and a that he hoped Escobar nite the Royals with a mid-
World Series title after hitting could give the club more season hot streak. “It’s no
free agency this offseason. time for top prospect Raul joke when Esky got going
They accomplished it with Mondesi Jr. to mature. last year the team started
at least one of them. “It’s important to have a to get going a little bit. He
Kansas City signed Alcides lot of depth up the middle, can do a lot of things and
Escobar to a $2.5 million as you know, although we his defense is second-to-
deal for the upcoming sea- really appreciate and ad- none,” said designated
son Monday, keeping their mire the talent of Raul,” hitter Brandon Moss, who
longtime shortstop on the Moore said. “We’ll see how Kansas City Royals’ Alcides Escobar, left, holds his jersey next to spent last season with the
roster after he joined first that unfolds.” Escobar, general manager Dayton Moore after re-signing with the team, Royals and was part of a
during a news conference Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, at Kauffman
baseman Eric Hosmer, third who can earn up to $1.5 Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. four-player trade to Oak-
baseman Mike Moustakas, million in bonuses based Associated Press land on Monday.q