It’s not every day a Major League Baseball manager becomes part of the national cultural conversation. Then again, Terry Francona has always had a knack for being at the center of something bigger than baseball.
This week, the longtime skipper—now leading the Cincinnati Reds—stepped back into the spotlight when asked about former President Donald Trump’s latest call for a return to “the old names” in sports.
Trump recently expressed his desire to see the Cleveland Guardians revert to being the Indians and the Washington Commanders return to being the Redskins—igniting a fresh round of debate over sports, identity, and American nostalgia.
Francona, who managed in Cleveland from 2013 to 2023 and was part of the team’s decision to adopt the Guardians name ahead of the 2022 season, didn’t mince words when asked about the push to turn back the clock.
Francona Does Not Hold Back His Perspective
“My retort to that would be there’s probably a lot of people in this country that don’t want it to be like it used to be,” Francona said, making his position clear. Then came the pointed follow-up: “If you’re white, [you’re] probably just fine. That’s not how it’s supposed to work.”
The former Indians—now Guardians—manager made it plain. Inclusion matters. The old ways weren’t always good for everyone. And while some may long for tradition, others remember being on the wrong side of that history.
Francona’s comments came just days after Trump told supporters he’d like to see teams like the Guardians and Commanders reclaim their “real names.” The former president has made similar remarks before, often suggesting these name changes are a symptom of a culture gone “too woke.”
Neither Trump nor his campaign responded to Francona’s statement by press time, and the White House has stayed out of the fray entirely. But fans, as always, had no shortage of opinions—split sharply, as they often are when culture and sports intersect.
Guardians, Commanders Not Backing Down
While the debate swirls, don’t expect any name reversals soon. Guardians president Chris Antonetti said last week that Cleveland is firmly committed to the Guardians brand. Washington’s Commanders have echoed that sentiment, even as they embrace a bit of nostalgia by rolling out throwback uniforms nearly identical to their Redskins-era look—minus the logo.
Still, there’s a line teams don’t seem willing to cross: Chief Wahoo, the controversial caricature long associated with Cleveland’s old brand, hasn’t appeared on any team-issued throwbacks, nor does it appear in MLB’s flagship video game, MLB The Show.
And for now, history might be honored—but not resurrected. That, it seems, is the new line of scrimmage.
As for Francona? He’s managing in a new city, but still calling it like he sees it. And in today’s sports landscape, that voice—grounded in experience, clarity, and conviction—still carries weight.
