Former Major League Baseball player Jim Edmonds found himself in hot water with fans on social media after expressing his surprise at recent team name changes during a live broadcast of a St. Louis Cardinals game. While providing commentary during the Cardinals' matchup against the Houston Astros, the 53-year-old Edmonds shared messages he'd received from fans regarding teams moving away from Native American monikers, specifically mentioning the Cleveland Guardians and Washington Commanders.
Edmonds recounted the varied opinions he’d encountered, noting some fans expressed fondness for their local teams while others wished for the return of former team names. He then admitted his own bewilderment at the changes, stating, "I’m still shocked that…[we’re] not allowed to have the Cleveland Indians anymore — the Guardians." He added that his wife's partial Native American heritage further influenced his perspective, believing it was "kind of a cool thing" to have teams named after Native American tribes. This included referencing the Washington Redskins, the previous name of the Commanders.
Edmonds' comments triggered a wave of backlash online, with some defending his right to an opinion, while many criticized his remarks as insensitive. Some called for his removal from Cardinals broadcasts, labeling him a "horrible hire" and a "garbage human being." The Commanders officially retired their former name in July 2020 following years of criticism regarding its offensive nature. Eighteen months later, the team unveiled its new identity.
At the time of the name change, then-co-owner Dan Snyder expressed the organization's excitement to embrace the new identity while honoring local roots and representing the nation's capital. Cleveland followed suit, changing their name to the Guardians in July 2021, marking the franchise's first name change since 1915.
