Indians manager Francona says team's name change "correct"

CLEVELAND (AP) — Manager Terry Francona praised the Cleveland Indians for trying to “do the right thing” with a name change that was inevitable — and necessary.

On Friday, Francona complimented the team's decision to drop its name after 105 years, a switch that came after months of internal discussions, meetings with numerous groups and one that will signal a new beginning for the AL club.

“I am proud of the fact that we are going to do something that is correct,” Francona said on a Zoom call from his home in Arizona.

The team announced its decision on Monday, ending a process that began even before owner Paul Dolan's announcement in July — hours after the NFL's Washington team dropped its controversial name — and said the club would do a thorough review of its name.

Dolan told the Associated Press in an interview that the team will remain Indians through at least the 2021 season, and that it would not adopt an interim name until a new one is chosen. Dolan also told AP that Tribe, the team's popular nickname and a favorite by many fans as the new name, is not an option going forward and the club is stepping completely away from anything with a Native American connotation.

However, that doesn't mean the team will disassociate itself with its history.

“That’s not the idea behind this,” Francona said. "I just think by simply saying, ’Hey, we’ve always done it this way, so we’ll just continue to.' Shoot, if we did that, Jackie Robinson may have never played in the game of baseball.

“Nobody was ever trying to be disrespectful, but that wasn’t a good enough answer anymore.”

Francona understands it may take time for some people to embrace the change.

“What’s important for people to understand is what we’re really proud of is the first...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Indians-manager-Francona-says-team-s-name-change-15814715.php