Boston's historic Fenway Park sits on Yawkey Way. It's where flags for each Red Sox championship hang and fans spill out onto the street to buy Sox merchandise, food, and beer. However, if team owner John Henry has his way, the street will be renamed.
In an email to a writer at the Boston Herald, Henry said he wants the change because of its racist association to Tom Yawkey. Henry says in part, "The Red Sox Foundation and other organizations the Sox created such as Home Base have accomplished a lot over the last 15 years, but I am still haunted by what went on here a long time before we arrived."
Yawkey owned the Boston baseball team from 1933 until his death in 1976. Although the Sox had black players in their farm system during that time, Yawkey was reluctant to promote them. The Red Sox finally integrated the team in 1959, making them the last Major Leauge Baseball team to do so. The move came 12 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 1977, the street was named in honor of Yawkey. Henry, who purchased the Sox back in 2002, says he'd like for the team to help get Yawkey Way's name changed. If it were up to him, he would rename the street "David Ortiz Way" or "Big Papi Way," after the retired legendary designated hitter.
Source: bleacherreport.com
