Yawkey Way will soon be history
Boston city officials approved to rename Yawkey Way back to its original name, Jersey Street after the Boston Red Sox petitioned to change it in an attempt to distance the team from former owner Tom Yawkey’s racist past.
Even though he Yawkey Foundation and other community leaders opposed the renaming, arguing that it would bad for the foundation and its charitable efforts, the vote was a unanimous one.
In a response to the Yawkey Foundation allegations, Red Sox owner John Henry made the following statement: “It is important to separate the unfortunate and undeniable history of the Red Sox with regards to race and integration from the incredible charitable work the Yawkey Foundation has accomplished in this millennium and over the last 16 years,” the team said in a statement. “The positive impact they have had, and continue to have, in hospitals, on education programs, and with underserved communities throughout Boston and New England, is admirable and enduring. We have the utmost respect for their mission, leadership, and the institutions they support.”
Under pressure of the Boston sports press, Yawkey once invited Jackie Robinson, Sam Jethroe and Marvin Williams to a tryout. Of course, they weren’t offered a contract. At the end of the tryout, Yawkey allegedly said: Get those n****rs out of here. The Red Sox also declined on signing Willie Mays. As a result, the team was the last one to integrate in 1959.