CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hall of Fame induction weekend is a few months away, but newly-elected slugger Jim Thome already knows which Cleveland Indians cap he wants to appear on his plaque in Cooperstown.

And the answer might surprise some proponents of the organization's soon-to-be-retired Chief Wahoo logo.

Speaking to media following an event Friday at Playhouse Square, Thome, who last week became the 13th player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame representing the Indians, said that he has not yet had a conversation with Hall officials. But when he does, Thome would prefer to wear the club's Block-C logo, rather than the Chief Wahoo design.

"I know my decision would be to wear the 'C' because I think it's the right thing to do," Thome said. "I think I need to have a conversation with the Hall of Fame because of all the history and everything involved. I just think that's the right thing to do."

Earlier this week, Major League Baseball and the Indians announced that the club's Chief Wahoo logo would be retired following the 2018 season. Chief Wahoo will not appear on the team's caps and uniforms, nor on Progressive Field signage beginning in 2019.

Thome said a final decision on which cap he wears on the plaque in Cooperstown will be made after some thoughtful conversation between himself, his wife and Hall of Fame officials.

"Andrea and I are going to go and be respectful," Thome said.

Thome, who wore the Chief Wahoo logo on his uniform and/or cap in some form from 1991-2002, and again briefly in 2011, also voiced his approval of the decision to retire the design, and the way the club handled it.

"I fully support the way the Indians, through this week, have made the decision that they've made," he said. "And that's what I support."

The majority of Thome's games with the Indians were played while wearing a Chief Wahoo cap, however, he also played games wearing the Indians alternate script 'I' logo. And Thome did wear a cap with the Block-C design during his 22-game stint with the club in 2011. The Block-C appeared on the team's road blue cap and alternate home red cap that year.

Jim Thome wearing an Indians road blue 'Block-C' cap during a game against Texas in 2011.

Chief Wahoo does appear on the batting helmet of the Thome statue in center field at Progressive Field, dedicated in 2014.

As for which individual will present Thome for induction during Hall of Fame Weekend ceremonies in Cooperstown, Thome would not reveal any of the names on his short list, but said that the decision will also come after conversations with officials at the Hall of Fame.



"That group of people is so great, so awesome," he said. "The best part of it is how they respect the history of the game. They give you so much information, from top to bottom, to help this process go smoothly."