Braves Remove Foam Tomahawks For Game 5 After Helsley Comments

Cardinals rookie Ryan Helsley called the Braves' "Tomahawk Chop" chant "disrespectful" after Game 1 of the NLDS in Atlanta

The Braves opted to not place foam tomahawks at each seat at Sun Trust Park on Wednesday after criticism from Cardinals rookie Ryan Helsley, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.

Atlanta placed foam tomahawks in each seat for Game 1 and Game 2 of the NLDS in Atlanta. The tomahawks are not in the seats on Wednesday as the Braves host St. Louis in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS.

Helsley criticized the Braves on Oct. 4 before Game 2 of the NLDS.

"'I think it's a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general,'' Helsley said. "'Just depicts them in this kind of caveman-type people way who aren't intellectual. They are a lot more than that. It's not me being offended by the whole mascot thing. It's not. It's about the misconception of us, the Native Americans, and how we're perceived in that way, or used as mascots. The Redskins and stuff like that.''

The Braves have also made alterations to "fan interaction involving the 'chop.'" per Goold. A Braves spokesman reportedly said the team is "sensitive" to Helsley's criticism.

Helsley is a member of the Cherokee nation, per the Associated Press. He is a native of Tahlequah, Okla. 

The Cardinals defeated the Braves 5-4 in 10 innings on Monday to force a Game 5 in Atlanta.