Alvinston Team Doing Away With “Indians” Moniker

A minor baseball team in Southwestern Ontario, Alvinston Minor Baseball, is making a step many professional, college, and minor teams will not – they’re changing their name and logo, after recognizing that it is culturally insensitive, and insulting to many.

Alvinston Minor Baseball, currently nicknamed the “Indians,” with the same “Chief Wahoo” logo as Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians, have started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the uniform change needed to make this happen, and have raised over $10,000 of their $29,000 goal in only 4 days.

“We are a thriving youth baseball club in Alvinston Ontario (population 2,500) and we’re setting a good example for our 220+ young players that no pro leagues or teams seem willing to do. For the past 60 years, we have played as the Alvinston Indians. Until today,” wrote the organization on their GoFundMe page.

“Our teams have a proud tradition and have won many local and provincial championships as the “Indians”, but we’ve decided that teaching respect for each other, respect for opponents and respect for every community we visit is a far more important tradition than any name or logo. So, we are coming up with a new name and raising the money we need to replace our uniforms, equipment and ballpark signage. We’re proud that our small town teams are doing the right thing, when the MLB, NFL, CFL and NHL won’t. Any support you can provide will be hugely appreciated.”

The organization is attempting to wipe clean their current name and logo, aiming to raise enough for new jerseys, pants, hats, and equipment bags for the coaches and players of their 16 teams.

To support Alvinston Minor Baseball’s efforts, visit https://www.gofundme.com/renameourindians.