Cleveland Indians Chief Wahoo Logo - Historical Sports Mascot Image #1948205 (License: Personal Use)

This illustration depicts Chief Wahoo, the former primary logo of Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians, introduced in 1947 and retired after the 2018 season due to longstanding criticism over its stereotypical portrayal. The design features a caricatured Native American face in bright red, with exaggerated facial features, a wide smile, and a single red feather in a black-and-white headband. Though widely recognized in sports history, it sparked decades of debate regarding cultural representation and appropriation.

Used on team merchandise, uniforms, stadium signage, and media coverage from the mid-20th century through 2018; now primarily referenced in historical retrospectives, discussions on sports branding ethics, and museum exhibits about Native American representation.