Dan Shaughnessy

Last updated

Dan Shaughnessy
Dan shaughnessy.jpg
Born (1953-07-20) July 20, 1953 (age 70)
Groton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education College of the Holy Cross (BA)
Occupations
  • Sports journalist
  • columnist
  • television personality
SpouseMarilou Wit
Children3
Relatives Meghann Shaughnessy (niece)
Awards J. G. Taylor Spink Award (2016)
Website Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Dan Shaughnessy (born July 20, 1953) is an American sports writer. He has covered the Boston Red Sox for The Boston Globe since 1981. In 2016, he was given the J. G. Taylor Spink Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame. Shaughnessy is often referred to by his nickname "Shank," given by the 1980s Boston Celtics team [1] [2] [3] for the often unflattering and critical nature of his articles.

Contents

Career

Shaughnessy was born in Groton, Massachusetts. After graduating from Groton High School, [4] [5] Shaughnessy subsequently attended the College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 1975. He began his career as a beat reporter covering the Baltimore Orioles for the Baltimore Evening Sun in 1977 and 1978. He then was the national baseball writer for The Washington Star from 1979 until the newspaper folded in 1981. [6] He has been a sports writer for The Boston Globe since September, 1981. During that time, he has served as the beat writer for the Boston Celtics and the Boston Red Sox, as well as a sports columnist for the Globe.

Shaughnessy has authored or contributed to several sports-related books, including on the fierce Yankees–Red Sox rivalry. His book, The Curse of the Bambino , details the travails of the Boston Red Sox and their search for a World Series championship after selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. He subsequently wrote Reversing the Curse after the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series.

He is a contributor to ESPN The Magazine , and a regular guest on a Sunday night sports show, Sports Xtra. [7] Shaughnessy discusses sports and current events on radio shows airing on WTKK; on ESPN's Rome Is Burning; and on NESN's SportsPlus and Globe 10.0. [8] On July 9, 2008, he made his debut as a guest host on the ESPN show Pardon the Interruption. He has a weekend radio show on WBZ-FM alongside Adam Jones.

Considered by some Red Sox fans and players as being overly negative and critical, he earned the pejorative nickname "Curly-Haired Boyfriend" from former Red Sox player Carl Everett. [9]

In an October 2005 column Shaugnnessy revealed information detailing negotiations between then-Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino. [10] [11] Shaughnessy and other Globe writers were accused by writers at the Boston Herald of routinely reporting information leaked from the Red Sox front office (the Red Sox were 17.75 percent owned by The New York Times Company, the Globe's parent company). [12] [13] [14] Then– Boston Herald columnist Tony Massarotti accused Red Sox management of smearing Epstein and suggested the Globe's coverage of the negotiations may be conflicted because of the Times ownership in the team. [15] In the weeks leading up to Epstein's decision, Red Sox owner John Henry said the leaks "had to stop".

In 2013, Shaughnessy and Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona released Francona, a biography focusing on Francona's years as manager of the Red Sox. The book immediately became a best-seller. [16]

On December 8, 2015, Shaughnessy was named the 2016 recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award, presented annually by the Baseball Writers' Association of America "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing". He was presented with the award during induction weekend at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2016. [17]

Personal life

He is married to Marilou Wit, [18] [19] with whom he has three children, Sarah, Kate, and Sam. [20] He is the uncle of tennis player Meghann Shaughnessy. [21]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Red Sox</span> American Major League Baseball franchise in Massachusetts

The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. Founded in 1901 as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the team's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since 1912. The "Red Sox" name was chosen by the team owner, John I. Taylor, c. 1908, following the lead of previous teams that had been known as the "Boston Red Stockings", including the Boston Braves. The team has won nine World Series championships, tied for the third-most of any MLB team, and has played in 13 World Series. Their most recent World Series appearance and win was in 2018. In addition, they won the 1904 American League pennant, but were not able to defend their 1903 World Series championship when the New York Giants refused to participate in the 1904 World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curse of the Bambino</span> Superstition in American baseball

The Curse of the Bambino was a superstitious sports curse in Major League Baseball (MLB) derived from the 86-year championship drought of the Boston Red Sox between 1918 and 2004. The superstition was named after Babe Ruth, colloquially known as "The Bambino", who played for the Red Sox until he was sold to the New York Yankees in 1920. While some fans took the curse seriously, most used the expression in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theo Epstein</span> American baseball executive

Theo Nathaniel Epstein is an American Major League Baseball executive who is, since 2024, the senior adviser and part-owner of Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball and Liverpool FC of the English Premier League, among other properties. Epstein was the vice president and general manager for the Red Sox and then the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, working for each team for nine seasons. Following his tenure in Chicago, he joined MLB as a consultant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 American League Championship Series</span> 34th edition of Major League Baseballs American League Championship Series

The 2003 American League Championship Series (ALCS) was played between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees from October 8 to 16, 2003. The Yankees won the series four games to three to advance to the World Series, where they lost in six games to the National League champion Florida Marlins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Gammons</span> American sportswriter

Peter Gammons is an American media personality and recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing, given by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 American League Championship Series</span> 35th edition of Major League Baseballs American League Championship Series

The 2004 American League Championship Series was the Major League Baseball playoff series deciding the 2004 season American League champion earning the privilege to play in the 2004 World Series. A rematch of the 2003 American League Championship Series, it was played between the Boston Red Sox, who had won the AL wild card and defeated the Anaheim Angels in the American League Division Series, and the New York Yankees, who had won the AL East with the best record in the AL and defeated the Minnesota Twins. The Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to come back from a 3–0 series deficit to win a best-of-seven series. Prior to the 2004 ALCS, no MLB team had so much as forced a Game 7 under those circumstances – and only one team since 2004 has been able to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 World Series</span> 100th edition of Major League Baseballs championship series

The 2004 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2004 season. The 100th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Boston Red Sox and the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals; the Red Sox beat the Cardinals in four games. The series was played from October 23 to 27, 2004, at Fenway Park and Busch Memorial Stadium, broadcast on Fox, and watched by an average of just under 25.5 million viewers. The Red Sox's World Series championship was their first since 1918, ending the Curse of the Bambino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Lucchino</span> American lawyer and baseball executive (1945–2024)

Lawrence Lucchino was an American lawyer and Major League Baseball executive. He served as president of the Baltimore Orioles, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the San Diego Padres, and president and CEO of the Boston Red Sox. He was also chairman of the Worcester Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox; chairman of The Jimmy Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute; and president and CEO emeritus of Fenway Sports Group, the parent company of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool F.C. Lucchino played college basketball for the Princeton Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Francona</span> American baseball player and manager

Terrence Jon Francona, nicknamed "Tito", is an American former baseball manager and player who was the manager of the Cleveland Indians/Guardians in Major League Baseball (MLB) for eleven seasons. Previously, he was the manager of the Boston Red Sox for eight seasons, whom he led to two World Series titles, ending the franchise's 86-year championship drought.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yankees–Red Sox rivalry</span> Major League Baseball rivalry

The Yankees–Red Sox rivalry is a Major League Baseball (MLB) rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Both teams have competed in MLB's American League (AL) for over 120 seasons and have since developed what is arguably the fiercest rivalry in all of American sports. In 1919, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold star player Babe Ruth to the Yankees, which was followed by an 86-year period in which the Red Sox did not win a World Series. This led to the popularization of a superstition known as the "Curse of the Bambino," which was one of the most well-known aspects of the rivalry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Werner</span> American television producer and businessman (born 1950)

Thomas Charles Werner is an American television producer and businessman. Through his investment in Fenway Sports Group, he is currently chairman of both Liverpool Football Club and the Boston Red Sox.

Anthony Ezio Massarotti is an American author and a former sportswriter for the Boston Herald and The Boston Globe. He co-hosts a sports talk radio show, Felger & Mazz, on 98.5 The Sports Hub with former Boston Herald columnist Michael Felger. Massarotti has also served as a color commentator for the Boston Red Sox, during their 2022 season.

The history of the Boston Red Sox begins in 1901, as one of the original franchises of the American League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Boston Red Sox season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 2004 Boston Red Sox season was the 104th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. Managed by Terry Francona, the Red Sox finished with a 98–64 record, three games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Red Sox qualified for the postseason as the AL wild card, swept the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, and faced the Yankees in the ALCS for the second straight year. After losing the first three games to the Yankees and trailing in the ninth inning of the fourth game, the Red Sox became the first team in major league history to come back from a three-game postseason deficit, defeating the Yankees in seven games. The Red Sox then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, capturing their first championship since 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Whiteside</span> American sportswriter

Lawrence W. Whiteside, nicknamed "Sides", was an American journalist known for his newspaper coverage of baseball, most notably of the Boston Red Sox for The Boston Globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Cherington</span> American professional baseball executive

Benjamin P. Cherington is an American baseball executive serving as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB) since November 2019. He previously served as the vice-president of baseball operations for the Toronto Blue Jays, and was the executive vice president and general manager of the Boston Red Sox from 2011 to 2015. He succeeded Theo Epstein in that position, having worked in the team's baseball operations office since 1999, before Epstein's arrival.

Fenway Sports Group Holdings, LLC (FSG), is an American multinational sports holding conglomerate which owns NASCAR's RFK Racing, Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, the Premier League’s Liverpool, the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins, and the TMRW Golf League's Boston Common Golf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 American League East tie-breaker game</span> 1978 Major League Baseball tie-breaker game

The 1978 American League East tie-breaker game was a one-game extension to Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1978 regular season. The game was played at Fenway Park in Boston on the afternoon of Monday, October 2 between the rival New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox to determine the winner of the American League's (AL) East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Kennedy (baseball executive)</span> American baseball executive

Samuel H. Kennedy is an American professional baseball executive who is the president and chief executive officer of the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) and CEO of Fenway Sports Group (FSG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Cafardo</span> American sportswriter and sports author (1956–2019)

Nicholas Dominic Cafardo was an American sportswriter and sports author. A longtime columnist and beat reporter for The Boston Globe, he primarily covered the Boston Red Sox. In December 2019, Cafardo was named the J. G. Taylor Spink Award recipient for 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "Prospectus Q&A: Dan Shaughnessy". 5 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Dan Shaughnessy Roots for Himself". 5 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Honoring Boston Legends- Dan "Shank" Shaughnessy". 12 November 2017.
  4. ↑ Coolbaugh, Gethin. "Dan Shaughnessy highlights night of celebration at Wellesley-Needham Football Rivalry Rally-Dinner". BostonSportsU18.com. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Reunited after 50 years, high school teammates are reminded that these memories never get old - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe .
  6. ↑ Abraham, Peter. "Dan Shaughnessy wins baseball’s J.G. Spink Award," The Boston Globe, Tuesday, December 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ Griffith, Bill (2003-11-09). "'XTRA' POINTS PUSH CH. 7 SHOW AHEAD OF 'SPORTS FINAL'". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 2007-07-22.
  8. ↑ "The Globe 10.0 Presented by Verizon to Debut on June 26". BUSINESS WIRE via AEC Newsroom. 2007-06-26. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
  9. ↑ "A Curt response". Boston Herald. Inside Track. 27 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Shaughnessy, Dan (2007-10-30). "Let's iron out some of this dirty laundry". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  11. ↑ Mulvoy, Thomas F. (2007-11-03). "Lucchino vs. Epstein: Media stew boils over". Dorchester Reporter. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  12. ↑ "Greater Boston: Theo Departs and the Blame Game Begins". Archived from the original on 2006-09-24. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  13. ↑ "Times Sells Remaining Stake in Fenway Sports Group". 11 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Theo Departs and the Blame Game Begins". WGBH. 2005-11-04.
  15. ↑ "Smear Campaign?". Boston Media Watch. 2005-10-27. Archived from the original on 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  16. ↑ Cowles, Gregory. "Print & E-Books". The New York Times.
  17. ↑ "Dan Shaughnessy wins 2016 Spink Award". baseballhall.org. December 8, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  18. ↑ "The Globe's Shaughnessy on Being a Lightning Rod: 'I Love My Job, and I'm Not in a Rush to Stop Doing It'". Boston Irish. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  19. ↑ "Ludwik Wit Obituary (2016) The Times Herald". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  20. ↑ "2016 J.G. Taylor Spink Award Winner Dan Shaughnessy".
  21. ↑ Wilstein, Steve (2000-09-02). "Williams survives scare in U.S. Open". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
Preceded byBoston Globe Celtics beat writer
1982–1984		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.