The Cleveland Indians have announced that after the 2018 season, they will abandon Chief Wahoo, removing the controversial logo from caps and sleeves.
Chief Wahoo has been the polarizing centerpiece of a long-running debate on whether or not the logo is racist. At the start of every Major League Baseball season, protesters gather outside of Progressive Field to voice their opinion on the logo as fans flock to the stadium for the home opener.
The logo was at the center of a national debate and was scrutinized heavily after a lawsuit was filed during the American League Championship Series between the Indians and the Blue Jays. The suit, filed in a Toronto court, was an effort to have the Chief Wahoo logo AND the Indians name banned from appearing on Canadian television during the series. Several Canadian broadcasters, and some national sports TV broadcasters, went as far as not saying the club name "Indians" during reports. The court case was tossed out by a Toronto judge.
While the team will not wear the Chief Wahoo logo beyond the 2018 season, the club will still retain the rights and hats and jerseys will still be sold at team shops and through other vendors both online and in-store.