The Cleveland Indians announced on Friday morning that they will change their nickname from "Indians" to "Guardians" starting with the 2022 season.

Here's the official tweet:

Cleveland's Major League Baseball team (current player Franmil Reyes, pictured above) has been known as the Indians for more than a century. Before being the Indians, the team was known as the "Spiders" and the "Naps."

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The team hasn't won the World Series since 1948 and has won the American League pennant only a handful of times since then (1954, 1995, 1997, & 2016).

The Indians have been romanticized with the 1989 movie "Major League," starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Wesley Snipes. As well as the subsequent follow-up, "Major League 2" in 1994.

The team retired its controversial "Chief Wahoo" mascot after the 2016 season. After that, talk began about potentially changing the nickname.

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

Gallery Credit: Peter Richman

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