Cleveland begins removal of 'Indians' from scoreboard ahead of Guardians rebrand

A new Guardians sign will replace the scoreboard's old logo before Opening Day 2022.

Cleveland last wore the controversial Chief Wahoo logo on jerseys and hats during the 2018 season, and the retirement of the mascot was seemingly the first step toward an inevitable name change for the club. The AP adds the "Indians" letters from the scoreboard will be placed in storage until a permanent spot for them is announced. 

As for when the club will officially become the Guardians, Nick Camino of local station WKYC tweeted: 

A roller derby team known as the Cleveland Guardians since 2013 recently sued the MLB franchise over the rebrand and name, but Cleveland later released a statement shared by outlets such as the AP (h/t ESPN) that suggests the franchise is moving forward with its plans. 

"We have been and continue to be confident in our position to become the Guardians," the baseball club explained. "We believe there is no conflict between the parties and their ability to operate in their respective business areas."