MASHANTUCKET, Conn. — The Red Sox are moving ahead with plans to rename Yawkey Way, a gesture that would further address the team’s difficult racial history.
Team president Sam Kennedy said Friday night that the Sox are in active negotiations with the city and other property owners on the street to change the name of the street. They hope to file a petition soon.
“[Mayor Martin J. Walsh] has been terrific and his staff understands our desire to formally petition,’’ Kennedy said. “There probably will be more to come in the next few weeks.’’
What was once a stretch of Jersey Street was renamed for team owner Tom Yawkey in 1977, a year after his death. Red Sox principal owner John Henry said in August he wanted to rename the street because he was “haunted’’ by events of the past.
Under Yawkey, the Sox were the last team in the American League to integrate. The team’s first black player, infielder Pumpsie Green, was signed 12 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color line.
Yawkey also has been deemed responsible for the Sox electing not to sign future Hall of Famer Willie Mays, an account some historians dispute.
The Red Sox cannot rename the street unilaterally. The Public Improvement Commission would make that decision after conducting public hearings.
“It’s our decision to request a name change,’’ Kennedy said.
The Sox have not settled on a name, but have discussed a request to return to Jersey St. Under city rules, the street cannot be named for a living person because the Sox are not the only property owner on the street.
Net gain
The Red Sox will extend the protective netting at Fenway Park well beyond the dugouts on both sides of the field, Kennedy said.
The Sox will install the netting to field box 79 in left field and to the field box 9 in right field (near Canvas Alley) before the home opener on April 5.
“We’re still finalizing the exact dimensions but it will be a dramatic expansion of our netting,’’ Kennedy said. “It’s an important thing that we’re working on.’’
It will be the second such expansion in three years. The Sox extended the backstop to the inside corner of the dugouts before the 2016 season after two fans were injured in separate incidents in 2015. One was struck by a foul ball, another by a shattered bat.
The Yankees are among the Major League teams who have extended the safety netting. According to Kennedy, the netting at Fenway Park would go beyond the suggestions by Major League Baseball.
More involved
Retired Red Sox legends Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz took part in the Town Hall event that kicked off Winter Weekend. Ortiz, who took a position with the team in September, said he planned to attend spring training for the first time since he retired. “I’m going to be around, sharing my experience and hopefully getting this ballclub better,’’ Ortiz said. Martinez, a special assistant, said he wants to aid new pitching coach Dana LeVangie as much as he can . . . Ortiz will not take any broadcasting positions this season, saying other ventures are keeping him busy.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.
