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Boston Red Sox and city of Boston rename Yawkey Way

By Damian Dydyn

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 26: A street sign for Yawkey Way is pictured outside of Fenway Park in Boston on April 26, 2018. The Boston Public Improvement Commission made a unanimous voice vote to approve the name change of Yawkey Way back to Jersey Street. It was a proposal that had for weeks pitted some of Bostons power brokers against one another in the debate over Tom Yawkeys legacy as Red Sox owner, philanthropist, and, some say, racist who oversaw what was once the most segregated franchise in baseball. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 26: A street sign for Yawkey Way is pictured outside of Fenway Park in Boston on April 26, 2018. The Boston Public Improvement Commission made a unanimous voice vote to approve the name change of Yawkey Way back to Jersey Street. It was a proposal that had for weeks pitted some of Bostons power brokers against one another in the debate over Tom Yawkeys legacy as Red Sox owner, philanthropist, and, some say, racist who oversaw what was once the most segregated franchise in baseball. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 15: Club entrance at 20 Yawkey Way at Fenway Park in Boston, March 15, 2018. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

With the renaming of Yawkey Way, the Boston Red Sox attempt to close the door on an ugly past.Iss the change enough to finally move on from it?

Baseball fandom is culture. It is literally learned behavior. None of us are born fans, as much as we’d like to claim otherwise. In the end, it’s tribal, and tribalism is a powerful force. It’s group-think at its best… and it’s worst. It’s familiar and comfortable and taps into some of our basest impulses — with the Boston Red Sox being no different. 

So it’s no surprise that when something major is about to change in one of these tribes, there is resistance. Changing culture is hard, and the Boston Red Sox are giving us a look at just how hard that can be.

The city of Boston has decided to change Yawkey Way back to its original name, Jersey Street. The street was originally renamed to honor the longtime owner of the Boston Red Sox, Tom Yawkey, in 1977, the year after he died. The decision to restore the original name was made in concert with John Henry, principle owner of the Boston Red Sox, and the intent behind it is anything but ambiguous. From the linked article:

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

The push to rename the street came at a time when the new cycle was being dominated by the removing of Confederate monuments across the country and on the heels of an incident in which Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones had been subjected to racial epithet during a May game at Fenway Park.

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