| Gene Monahan | |
|---|---|
 An emotional Monahan receiving his2009 World Series ring on April 13, 2010 | |
| Trainer | |
| Born: (1945-10-24)October 24, 1945 (age 80) | |
Eugene Monahan[1] (born October 24, 1945[2]) is the former head athletic trainer for theNew York Yankees ofMajor League Baseball. He spent 38 years with the Yankees organization and from 1973 until 2011[3] and was part of their training staff. During his tenure Monahan cared for the players on sevenWorld Series teams, 11 pennant winning teams and 19 postseason teams.
Since 2011, he has served as a consultant for NASCAR teamHendrick Motorsports as part of the team's pit crew staff, having cared for the pit crews on the2013 Sprint Cup and2014 second division (now Xfinity) teams under the Hendrick auspices.
Monahan grew up inSouth Florida[4] the oldest of eight children. Monahan graduated fromIndiana University in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in physical education.[3]
Monahan's connection to the Yankees began when was hired as a batboy in 1962. For ten years, he worked as an athletic trainer and clubhouse attendant in the minor leagues. In 1973, afterGeorge Steinbrenner purchased the team, he was hired as an athletic trainer.[3] For the better part of the next 39 seasons, Monahan was entrusted to care for and tend to the injuries of players fromReggie Jackson toDerek Jeter. During his time with the team, they won sevenWorld Series Championships, (1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009).
After the 2009 season, Monahan was diagnosed with throat cancer,[5] which doctors now believe originated in his tonsils.[6] He had surgery in January 2010, and underwent radiation therapy for several months, which forced him to miss his firstspring training in 48 years.[6] He was present, however, for an emotionalWorld Series ring Ceremony on Opening Day, April 13, 2010.[7] At the conclusion of the 2010 season Monahan and longtime assistant Steve Donohue were named the best athletic trainers in MLB by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainer Society.[8] On May 11, 2011, the Yankees announced that Monahan would retire following the2011 season,[9] and on June 26, 2011, the team honored him at their annualOld-Timers' Day.[10]
Monahan is one of only three members of the Yankee organization to serve the entire length ofGeorge Steinbrenner's ownership,[7] but over the years he has often joked he was probably "fired" by The Boss on more occasions than all the Yankee managers combined.
After retiring from the Yankees, Monahan moved from his home inHackensack, New Jersey toMooresville, North Carolina, where he now works as a consultant forHendrick Motorsports. Monahan serves as an athletic trainer for Hendrick'spit crew members, most of which come from an athletic background.[11]
In 2011, he was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.[12]
He has appeared at everyOld-Timers' Day since his retirement as of 2024.