Jim Edmonds' Native American team name discussion gets awkward

Jim Edmonds has MLB Twitter outraged.

The St. Louis Cardinals legend, 53, is getting dragged online after discussing how some professional sports teams changed their names – as many consider the previous monikers racist and insensitive – with some voicing for Edmonds to “do better!”

Edmonds, a color commentator for the Cardinals on Bally Sports Midwest, named the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins as examples during Thursday night’s game between St. Louis and Houston.

“I actually got quite a few messages on social media about some of the teams and then, you know it’s really funny when people reach out to you and say, ‘Hey, I’m from this area and we really love our baseball here,’ Edmonds told broadcaster Chip Caray.

“And somebody else will say, ‘Yeah, I wish they had the old name that they used to have.’ It’s just funny to hear everyone’s opinion.”

Caray then asked Edmonds what names he received inquiries on.

“The Spokane one,” the four-time MLB All-Star said. “I got a couple of people reaching out and said they’re from Spokane with the Indians. And I thought it was cool.”

The Spokane Indians are a High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies and did not undergo a name change when Cleveland adopted the Guardians name in July 2021.

Edmonds then shifted gears to talk about the Guardians’ name change, as well as the Washington Commanders, who were formerly known as the Redskins.

“I’m still shocked that we’ve changed so much as a whole that we’re not allowed to have the Cleveland Indians anymore — the Guardians. And I’m saying that too because my wife is partial Native American Indian and, you know, I just, I always thought it was kind of a cool thing. Not a bad thing to have a team named after, the Indians or vice versa, whatever, the Washington Redskins. All that stuff.”

Edmonds married model Kortnie O’Connor in Italy in September 2022, his fourth marriage.

Washington, which dropped “Redskins” from its name prior to the 2020 season, announced a new name and logo in February 2022, which highlights a theme of unity.

“One legacy. One unified future. We are the Washington Commanders,” the team tweeted at the time, with the hashtag “Take Command.”

Edmonds’ comments got MLB Twitter buzzing, with some users speculating about a potential reaction from his employer.

One person tweeted, “Maybe this finally gets Jim Edmonds off of Cardinal games @BallySportsMW.”

Another user called Edmonds a “garbage human,” and wrote, in part: “Tonight, he proved what a horrible hire that was. Do better!!”

Others were in disbelief that Edmonds “went there” with his commentary.

“Oh boy… they just can’t help themselves,” someone wrote.

In the midst of Edmonds’ rant, Caray hopped on the mic for an electric narration of Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman’s groundout.

“On the ground to second,” Caray said while dragging the word “on.”

After Houston second baseman Mauricio Dubón fielded the ball and threw to first for the out, the broadcast went to commercial.

A highlight of Edmonds’ career was when he was with the Anaheim Angels and made a spectacular diving catch in the fifth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals in 1997.

It’s considered one of the best defensive plays in MLB history.

Edmonds, a seventh-round pick by the California Angels in the 1988 MLB Draft, played 17 seasons for six teams — the California/Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds from 1993 to 2010.

The center fielder spent most of his career with the Angels from 1993-99 and the Cardinals from 2000-07.

Edmonds won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2006.

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