A movement to change the name of the public street where the Boston Red Sox play their home games is now in the hands of the city.
The Red Sox submitted a petition to the Boston Public Improvement Commission, requesting that Yawkey Way be returned to its original Jersey Street name as a symbol of inclusion, the team announced Wednesday. The filing of the paperwork comes six months after Red Sox owner John Henry told the Boston Herald that he is “haunted” by the legacy of former owner Tom Yawkey.
The portion of Jersey Street that houses Fenway Park was renamed in honor of Yawkey in 1977. During Yawkey’s ownership, the Red Sox were the last team in Major League Baseball to integrate the roster, waiting until Pumpsie Green made the team in 1959, 12 years after Jackie Robinson’s debut.
“Restoring the Jersey Street name is intended to reinforce that Fenway Park is inclusive and welcoming to all,” the team said Wednesday in a statement.
According to the Red Sox, they have the cooperation of all Yawkey Way abutters. The D’Angelo family owns a souvenir store on Yawkey Way, and Samuels & Associates also has property on the street.
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has said he is in favor of the name change.
In a statement, the Yawkey Foundation said it intends to protest the name change, which it described as a “drastic action.”
“We urge the commission to consider all the facts concerning Tom Yawkey’s ownership of the Red Sox and the sweep of his life,” the foundation said. “We are confident that if it does so, it will reject Henry’s petition.”
The Red Sox noted that the renaming initiative isn’t a reflection of the positive work that done by the Yawkey Foundation.
“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 Red Sox said in its 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.”
MLB
Fantasy baseball – Karabell’s prospect watch
The Seattle Mariners made some unfortunate news in the past week, but perhaps getting lost in the shuffle is the relative clarification — and this is a positive — that the franchise intends to promote awesome outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic in April. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean Opening Day, because he needs the extra two weeks or so of minor league work to hone his swing or to better track fly balls (wink, wink). In any event, Kelenic is among the top prospects not just on the Mariners, but in the entire fantasy baseball world. Get him quickly.
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MLB Stock Watch: First look at win projections, playoff odds and more
Here’s how we rank baseball’s 30 teams as spring training games begin.
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Shin-Soo Choo to play for South Korean club on 1-year, $2.4M contract
SEOUL, South Korea — Free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo has agreed to a one-year contract to play for a baseball club in his native South Korea.
Choo, who spent the last seven seasons with the Texas Rangers, signed a 2.7 billion won ($2.4 million) deal with a Korean Baseball Organization team owned by an affiliate with the Shinsegae business group, the company said in a statement.
Choo, 38, has confirmed the deal.
“I was born in Korea where I was raised and started baseball. I’ve always had hopes in my heart for a long time to play in Korea one day. Now I think it’s time to put into action and start a new chapter of my life,” Choo posted on Instagram. “I might not be able to promise how good I will be, but I promise that I will do my best.”
Earlier this week, E-Mart Inc., the biggest discount store chain in South Korea, finalized deals to take over the SK Wyverns baseball team based in Incheon, just west of Seoul. The team’s name is tentatively called E-Mart Electros, but it could change, company officials said.
“The Shinsegae Group has listened to the voices of Incheon baseball fans who want us to bring Choo Shin-soo,” the Shinsegae Group said in a statement. “[We]’ve been paying attention to his successful career, diligence and steadiness.”
The 2.7 billion won annual salary for Choo is the biggest of its kind in the KBO league. Choo plans to donate 1 billion of that to social charities, according to the group statement.
During his 16-year career, Choo batted .275 with 218 home runs, 782 RBIs and 157 steals in 1,652 appearances. He was selected as an All-Star in 2018. Before the Texas Rangers, he played for the Seattle Mariners, the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds.
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