The Latest: Yawkey charity ‘disappointed’ with name change
BOSTON (AP) The Latest on the city of Boston's approval to rename Yawkey Way (all times local):
11:55 a.m.
The charity named for former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey says it is disappointed with Boston's decision to rename Yawkey Way outside Fenway Park.
The city's Public Improvement Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a proposal by current Red Sox ownership to rename the stretch of road Jersey Street based in part on Yawkey's perceived racism.
The Yawkey Foundations in a statement Thursday says the effort to remove his name is based on a ''false narrative'' about his life and ownership of the team.
It says the change back to the original name of the street will give lasting credence to that narrative and ''unfairly tarnish his name.''
Yawkey owned the Red Sox from 1933 to 1976 and presided over the last franchise in Major League Baseball to field a black player.
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11:20 a.m.
Boston has approved a plan to change the name of Yawkey Way, the street outside Fenway Park named in honor of a former Red Sox owner some have said was racist.
The city's Public Improvement Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a proposal by current Red Sox ownership to call the stretch of roadway Jersey Street.
That's what it was called before it was changed in 1977 to honor Tom Yawkey a year after he died.
The team filed a petition with the commission in February to change the name as part of a mission to ''reinforce that Fenway Park is inclusive and welcoming to all.''
Yawkey's supporters opposed the change, saying the foundation named for him has provided millions of dollars in charitable contributions that have benefited all city residents.
