Racist legacy ends Yawkey Way’s run

Boston Red Sox owners got their wish to rename Yawkey Way, as Boston’s Public Improvement Commission accepted the request to change the name of the two-block street in front of Fenway Park back to its old name, Jersey Street.

Red Sox principal owner John Henry spearheaded a request for the name change because of its affiliation with former owner Tom Yawkey, who was linked to racism allegations as he fielded all-white teams long after black players had joined other clubs.

Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s colour barrier, once called Yawkey a bigot — according to The Boston Globe.

The name change does not come without controversy.

Yawkey, who owned the team from 1933 until his death in 1976 (the street was named after him in ’77), was also a philanthropist. The Yawkey Foundations provided millions of dollars to innercity programs.

Della Britton Baeza, the CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, sent a letter to the Boston Public Improvement Commission praising the work of the Yawkey Foundations. She noted that Jean Yawkey sponsored the Boston tour of a travelling exhibit of Jackie Robinson and the Jackie Robinson Foundation three decades ago.

A member of the commission said the panel had little debate over the petition to change the name because it had been unanimously approved by the street’s owners (the Red Sox owners), and such petitions have rarely been declined.