Cleveland Indians: Five potential name changes

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -JULY 20: The Cleveland Indians logo is shown on Orlando Cabrera #20 as he bats against the Minnesota Twins on July 20, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins won 7-5. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -JULY 20: The Cleveland Indians logo is shown on Orlando Cabrera #20 as he bats against the Minnesota Twins on July 20, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins won 7-5. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Cleveland Buckeyes

The Buckeyes are known as a college name, but there are ties not only to Ohio, but Cleveland as well.

From 1942 through 1950, the Cleveland Buckeyes were a part of the Negro Leagues, although they were not always in the city. During their inaugural season, the Buckeyes were based in Cincinnati, and later relocated to Louisville in 1949. However, the majority of their history was spent in Cleveland.

The Buckeyes also had a run of success. In 1945 and 1947, they won the Negro American League title, and took home the Negro World Series in that first year. They took down the powerhouse Homestead Greys that first year before losing to the New York Cubans.

Over the years, the Indians have honored the Buckeyes. On May 20, 2006, the Pirates and Indians both honored the Negro Leagues, with Cleveland wearing throwback uniforms of the Buckeyes. They did so again in 2015 and 2017, providing the fanbase with some familiarity with the name.

If the Cleveland Indians want to move away from the racist consultations of their current name, there may not be a better way to do so than to honor the Negro Leagues.