Longtime Yanks trainer Monahan to retire

One final summer and a championship fall in the Bronx. That's one of Gene Monahan's dreams before he moves to a house in North Carolina, with a yard, a garden, a pickup truck and a dog to be named Schrader, after friend and NASCAR driver Ken Schrader.

In touching pregame remarks Wednesday, Monahan, 67, the Yankees' shy and well-respected head trainer and longest-tenured employee with 49 years, made it official: He will retire at the end of this season after surviving a long battle with throat cancer.

"I knew this day was coming, but I didn't realize it was coming this soon," said Monahan, who began his association with the Yankees as a batboy in spring training in Fort Lauderdale in 1962. "I got old fast, but I don't feel old. Being around this game keeps you young. But you all know I had a wakeup call last year. I fought hard, and I'm grateful to many great doctors . . . I realized there's some other things in this life I need to do that are equally as important to my kids and my family."

Monahan, who grew up in South Florida as the oldest of eight children and replaced Yankees trainer Joe Soares after working in the minors for 10 years, made the decision to retire last November and finalized the plan with Brian Cashman in January. He informed the players on Tuesday.

"Until that last pitch is thrown this year, whenever that is, hopefully it's deep into October, or November," Monahan said. "I'll be there, being the biggest fan these players ever had, every inning. It's been a wonderful ride."

The ride has coursed through seven world championship seasons, 11 pennant winners and the era of George Steinbrenner, who arrived on the scene in 1972 as well, and who fired and rehired Monahan several times.

Monahan recalled his closeness with some players, despite his intention to maintain a professional distance. "I don't talk about it. I learned a long time ago that you can't single guys out," he said. "You can't go out to dinner when they ask you. But over the years, there's been some special people come through.

"I remember when Bobby [Murcer] was invited to the major-league camp, and what he was like. Mickey [Mantle], being from Oklahoma, took care of him and made sure nobody messed with him. We stayed in touch . . . Thurman [Munson] was very special as a leader as a player. Tough love, we all knew that. And Catfish Hunter," he said before choking up.

In his first visit to a major-league clubhouse, at Fenway Park in 1972, Monahan recalled "just trembling at the door . . . please don't let anybody ask me to tape an ankle today," and only relaxing when Sparky Lyle turned up his boom box to Elton John's "Honky Cat."

As for his longevity in the Bronx Zoo, he recalled the advice provided by clubhouse attendant and equipment manager Pete Sheehy in 1962. "You keep your ears open and your mouth shut, you'll be around," Monahan said. "I guess it worked."