The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Thome’s plaque will have block ‘C’ in hall
Chief Wahoo will no longer appear on Hall of Fame plaques, including Jim Thome’s this summer. “The Hall of Fame will no longer use the logo in the creation of new plaques,” it was announced.
Back in February, former Indians slugger Jim Thome announced he would prefer to have a block “C” on his Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown, and now the Hall of Fame is making it official.
“Although examples of the `Chief Wahoo’ logo can be found in our Museum exhibits, and on Early Wynn’s 1972 Hall of Fame plaque, the Hall of Fame will no longer use the logo in the creation of new plaques,” the Baseball Hall of Fame announced in a statement on March 21.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in January the Indians will cease to wear Chief Wahoo on their caps or uniforms beginning in 2019, although the
Indians will continue to sell merchandise with the Chief Wahoo logo.
Thome wore Chief Wahoo for the Indians from 1991-2002 and again in 2011.
He was elected to the Hall of Fame earlier this year the first time he was on the ballot.
On Feb. 3, Thome in an Associated Press story said he thought wearing Block “C” instead of Chief Wahoo on his plaque was “the right thing to do,” but said he planned to speak to his wife Andrea and the Hall of Fame before making a final decision. Now that final decision has been made for him.
“The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum concurs with the Commissioner’s sentiment and acknowledges the shifting societal view of Native American logos in baseball,” the Hall of Fame said in its news release.
Thome, along with Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on July 29.
Thome played 19 seasons in the American League and five in the National League.