PawSox president speaks out about racism at Fenway Park

By Bianca Buono

bbuono@abc6.com

@BBuonoABC6

The Red Sox organization has been in the national spotlight this week and many are saying the city of Boston is racist. Pawtucket Red Sox President Charles Steinberg is speaking out about the recent incidents.

"I think what you’re seeing is a societal issue,” said Steinberg.

There were two racist incidents at Fenway Park during the Baltimore series this week. The first was when a fan racially taunted Adam Jones. The next night, another fan called a mixed race family a racial slur.

"For Adam Jones to speak out about it struck a cord and you heard many people agree,” Steinberg said.

Steinberg believes racist fans in Boston are few and far between, but the city’s racist reputation dates back decades.

"The long history that predated the new ownership of race relations in Boston and with the Red Sox was well chronicled,” he explained.

For example, the Red Sox were the last major league team to put a black player on their roster. In addition, the famous Yawkey Way is named after former owner Tom Yawkey, who refused to employ black players.

Steinberg says the organization’s current ownership group has been trying to change that tarnished history ever since taking over.

"There has been a mandate from the leaders of the Red Sox ever since we arrived in 2002 to do all we can to foster harmony,” said Steinberg.

While Steinberg says fans have been banned for life from McCoy Stadium for using inappropriate language, there have been no racist incidents in Pawtucket. He says if that were to happen, the organization has a zero-tolerance policy.

© WLNE-TV 2017