Red Sox File Petition To Change Name Of Yawkey Way, Street With Racist Legacy

The Red Sox have filed a petition with the city of Boston to change the name of Yawkey Way, the famous street adjacent to Fenway Park.

Yawkey Way name change news

The team is hoping to change the Yawkey Way back to its original name, Jersey Street. The Red Sox said they are hoping to show fans their stadium is “inclusive and welcoming to all.”

Yawkey Way’s name has been criticized for years due to its connection to its namesake, former owner Tom Yawkey. In charge of the Red Sox from 1933 to 1976, Yawkey was long accused of racism. His time as owner included the period when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball and joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Boston — a city that has garnered a reputation of harboring prejudiced sports fans and people in general — was the last team to sign an African-American player.

The Yawkey foundation, meanwhile, expressed their displeasure with the team’s announcement and denied the owner was ever racist.

The Yawkey Foundation urged the commission in its statement to “consider all the facts.”

After passing on Hall of Famers like Robinson and Willie Mays, the Red Sox added Pumpsie Green in 1959.

Green played four seasons with the Red Sox, and one with the Mets, before retiring in 1963.

Yawkey Way was named in 1977, a year after its namesake died. Boston also renamed a stretch of the road David Ortiz last summer in honor of the famous Red Sox designated hitter, who retired in the fall of 2016.

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones experienced racism from Boston fans last year when the team played the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Jones was the target of racial slurs and had objects thrown at him. Red Sox leadership, Walsh and others condemned the fans’ behavior.

In October, the Red Sox announced they had hired former MLB infielder Alex Cora as manager on a three-year deal, with an option for a fourth year. Cora formally assumed the role on November 2, after the World Series.

BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 13: A banner with the message ‘Racism is as American as baseball’ is draped over the Green Monster during the fourth inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park on September 13, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)