Cleveland’s MLB franchise, formerly known as the Indians, changed its name to the Guardians at the start of the 2022 season after backlash from fans who felt the previous name was offensive. The team’s ownership, led by the Dolan family, made the decision to rebrand following a national reckoning on racist names and symbols. The name change was met with criticism from former President Donald Trump during a recent campaign rally in Ohio, where he targeted GOP US Senate candidate Matt Dolan for his involvement in the rebranding.
Despite legal challenges from a local roller derby team with the same name, both parties reached an agreement allowing both the MLB team and the roller derby team to use the name Guardians. The MLB team’s home opener for the season is set for April 8 against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.
The Guardians’ journey to their new name began in 2021 and was inspired by eight art-deco statues on a Cleveland bridge. The team underwent a thorough process to find a name that honored the city’s history and community. This is the sixth name change the franchise has undergone since its relocation to Cleveland in 1900. The team’s first game of the season is set for March 28 against the Oakland Athletics, another team undergoing a name rebranding. Despite the controversy surrounding the name change, the Guardians are preparing to kick off a new season in their rebranded identity.
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