In 1977, the two blocks of Jersey Street immediately adjacent to Fenway Park were renamed for Tom Yawkey, owner of the Boston Red Sox from 1933 to 1976.

[6] On August 17, 2017, amid heightened media coverage of the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials in the United States, Red Sox owner John W. Henry said the team would lead a campaign to change the street name because the team was the last in Major League Baseball to integrate.

"[7][8][9] In February 2018, it was announced that the Red Sox filed a petition with the city of Boston to restore Yawkey Way to its original name, Jersey Street.

[14] On April 26, the Boston Public Improvement Commission unanimously approved the name change back to Jersey Street.

[19] On June 22, 2017, the neighboring Yawkey Way Extension (beyond the end of Jersey Street at Brookline Avenue) was renamed David Ortiz Drive in honor of recently retired Red Sox all-star David Ortiz.