Cleveland manager Francona says team's name change 'correct' - TribLIVE

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CLEVELAND — 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, a New Brighton native, 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 the team will remain Indians through at least the 2021 season, and 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 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 might take time for some people to embrace the change. Francona is on board even though his history with the club runs deep: His father, Tito, played six seasons in Cleveland, finishing fifth in the AL MVP voting in 1959 and earning All-Star honors in 1961.

“What’s important for people to understand is what we’re really proud of is the first name of our team, which is ‘Cleveland,’ ” he said. “I hope you’ll never hear a player say something that’s contrary to that. And maybe in the next year or so, the fans and people can have some fun with something moving forward.”

Like many, Francona said the social movement across the country this summer helped him better understand the need for change.

“This year was probably an epiphany for a lot of people,” he said. “When you see some of the things that were happening, I think it made a lot of people step back and re-think some things that maybe we took for granted or we shouldn’t take for granted.”

Francona has received “a lot of mail” concerning the name change. For the most part, he said people have expressed compassion and thoughtfulness on the subject.

Others still are struggling to accept the decision.

“I just don’t ever want it to get lost: We’re not trying to be disrespectful to anybody, believe me,” he said. “We’re trying to be the opposite, and that’s being respectful.”

Francona missed most the abbreviated 2020 season because of health issues but said he has dropped some weight, is feeling better and raring to go.

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