Cleveland鈥檚 Major League Baseball team announced a name change over the summer 鈥� to the Cleveland Guardians. Friday morning, the name change became official.
The Cleveland Guardians and social media usernames Friday, and started selling Cleveland Guardians merchandise at the team store.
鈥淭o see people actually wearing the merchandise now, it makes you proud,鈥� said Karen Fox, Cleveland Guardians Director of Merchandising.
More than 80 people lined up outside the team store before it opened. Greg Foote of Norton and his 15-year-old son Lucas, who showed up more than two hours before the store opened, were at the front of the line.
鈥淲e're trying to figure out what's something fun that we could do and this is something that never happens, so why not have an experience like this together,鈥� Greg Foote said.
Jane Duffy of North Olmsted, a 71-year-old lifelong Cleveland baseball fan, said she will only wear Guardians gear from now on and will make a quilt with all of her old Cleveland baseball t-shirts.
鈥淚鈥檒l still have that at home, but I鈥檒l be wearing my Guardians stuff,鈥� Duffy said. 鈥淚 love the Guardians name. That鈥檚 the one I wanted.鈥�
The merchandise selection was somewhat limited Friday. The Guardians intend to grow the selection over time.
For instance, Jose Sanchez of Cleveland鈥檚 Old Brooklyn neighborhood came to the team store hoping to buy the official 鈥極n-Field鈥� hat that the Guardians players will wear. It wasn't yet for sale, though, so he settled for a grey 鈥榮napback鈥� style hat and said he will buy the on-field hat online when it becomes available.
鈥淭hey could have named them 鈥楾he Rocks鈥� and I would have worn [the new team logo]. I love Cleveland baseball. That鈥檚 all that matters,鈥� Sanchez said.
The Guardians is the fifth team name in franchise history and the first name change since 1915. Guardians Vice President of Communication and Community Impact Curtis Danburg was happy to see so many people lined up to buy Guardians gear, but understands that some fans will still want to wear the old logos.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take time. We understand that, but the day is finally here and it鈥檚 important for us to move forward and that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e looking forward to,鈥� Danburg said.
The team also is staring putting up Guardians signage around Progressive Field.
The next chapter of Cleveland Baseball starts now. 鈥� Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians)
Opening Day is scheduled for March 31.
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