The Braves mascot has traveled with the franchise to Atlanta from two previous homes, first in Boston and then later with Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron and Warren Spahn in Milwaukee. Called the Doves and Rustlers and other nicknames before they became the Braves, Boston’s National League team took the “Braves” name from the logo of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party’s monster political machine in New York. A chief of a Delaware tribe had been used for the Hall’s logo, and using the name, Braves, was seen as a nod.

The “Tomahawk Chop” reached Atlanta many decades after the team, migrating from Florida State, where it’s been part of the football team’s cheer there. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has given written permission to the athletics program for the use of it and other symbols.

Borrowed by Atlanta, the cheer grew in presence and popularity as the Braves began their dominant run of division titles through the 1990s and had regular appearances in the postseason and constant appearances every season through the national reach of TBS. Earlier this decade, there was an animatronic cow at Turner Field that would promote Chick-Fil-A and do the motion for the “chop” cheer.

While Major League Baseball has put pressure on Cleveland to stop the usage of its “Chief Wahoo” logo and mascot, change has been slower for Atlanta’s “chop.”