Red Sox File Petition To Change Name Of Yawkey Way

The Boston Red Sox have filed a petition with the city requesting that Yawkey Way be renamed to its original Jersey Street.

The street adjacent to Fenway Park is named after former Sox owner Tom Yawkey. Current Sox owner John Henry told The Boston Herald last year that he remains "haunted" by the racist past of the team under Yawkey.

Yawkey was the owner for decades, and the Sox were the last team in Major League Baseball to integrate.

"Restoring the Jersey Street name is intended to reinforce that Fenway Park is inclusive and welcoming to all," the team said in a statement Wednesday.

The team said its petition has the support of all abutters on Yawkey Way. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has been supportive of renaming the street.

In a statement in August, the charitable Yawkey Foundations said it is "disheartened by any effort to embroil them in today’s political controversy."

In its statement Wednesday, the team said 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."

On game days, the Red Sox close Yawkey Way to public access and sell concessions.