Former Red Sox president: Yawkey Way shouldn't be renamed

In late August, Boston Red Sox owner John Henry said it's time to rename Yawkey Way. Not everyone shares his view on the matter.

The street in question, located behind Fenway Park, is named after former team owner Tom Yawkey. Under his ownership, the Red Sox were the final big-league team to call up an African-American player, integrating the roster in 1959. Jackie Robinson had broken the color barrier 12 years earlier.

Despite the lingering controversy behind the street name and accusations of racism hovering over the team and the city, former Red Sox president John Harrington thinks the rush to rename Yawkey Way is misguided and that Yawkey has been mischaracterized, according to Boston.com's Nicole Yang.

"Proponents of the name change have led a campaign marked by factually inaccurate statements," he wrote in a letter, explaining Yawkey "treated every player the same, regardless of their race."

Related: Red Sox owner wants to rename Yawkey Way due to racist legacy

Harrington identified the story about Yawkey shouting a racial slur at Robinson during a Fenway Park tryout as one of those inaccuracies, saying Yawkey wasn't in Boston at the time.

While Harrington described Boston's late integration as "regrettable," he hopes Henry will have second thoughts and said he's received a great deal of support from fans in his effort to keep the street name.

He added that Henry has not responded to his requests, and that the two have not spoken.