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They’ll be the Cleveland Indians in 2021 — the owner doesn’t want an interim name: ‘We don’t want to be the Cleveland Baseball Team’

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians are changing their name — they just don’t know to what or when.

Expressing that “it’s time,” owner Paul Dolan said that after months of internal discussions and meetings with groups, including Native Americans who have sought to have the team stop using a moniker many deem racist, the American League franchise is dropping the name it has been known by since 1915.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Dolan said: “The name is no longer acceptable in our world.”

That “multi-stage” process is in its early stages and the team will play — and be branded — as the Indians at least through next season.