The team is staying, but the name is not.
Monday was the end of an era in Cleveland that began 106 years ago The Cleveland Indians’ first game in Cleveland came on April 22, 1915 at League Park. The Indians lost 5-3 to the Detroit Tigers, in front of a crowd of 9,247. It was the first of 95 losses for Cleveland that year. The Indians finished seventh in the eight-team American League with a record of 57-95. The Indians’ third baseman that year was 23-year-old Walter Barbare, who hit.191, with a team-low no home runs and 11 RBI. The Indians’ last game in Cleveland was Monday, September 27,2021 at Progressive Field. They beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3, in front of a crowd of 13,121. The Indians are clinging to second place in the AL Central with a record of 77-79, although they are in danger of having a losing record for the first time in 10 years. They’ve ungraded significantly at third base since 1915. The current tenant, Jose Ramirez, is hitting.266 with 36 home runs and 99 RBI. The outcome of Monday’s game wasn’t as important as its significance. It was an historic one in Cleveland history because it was the Cleveland Indians’ last game in Cleveland. The team is staying, but the name is not. The Cleveland Indians will become the Cleveland Guardians next year, a name change that was announced by ownership in the middle of the season. Monday was the Indians’ last home game and, hence, their last game ever in Cleveland as the Indians. A charter member of the American League, which began in 1901, this is not the first time Cleveland’s baseball team has changed its name. In fact, it had three different names its first three years in existence.
