Dan Shaughnessy

Daniel Shaughnessy (born July 20, 1953) is an American sports writer. He has written for The Boston Globe since 1981, including stints as beat writer covering the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics. He is a recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award, given by the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Red Smith Award, given by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) organization.

Early life and education Shaughnessy was born in Groton, Massachusetts. After graduating from Groton High School, Shaughnessy subsequently attended the College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 1975. Articles by Shaughnessy about the Boston Neighborhood Basketball League appeared in the Globe during the summer of 1974.

Shaughnessy served as a beat reporter covering the Baltimore Orioles for The Baltimore Evening Sun in 1977 and 1978. At the Globe, he has served as the beat writer for the Boston Celtics and the Boston Red Sox, and has been a sports columnist since 1989.

Shaughnessy has authored or contributed to more than a dozen sports-related books, on topics including the fierce Yankees–Red Sox rivalry. His book The Curse of the Bambino details the travails of the 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.

Shaughnessy has been a contributor to ESPN The Magazine, and a regular guest on a Sunday night sports show, Sports Xtra. He has also discussed 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. On July 9, 2008, he made his debut as a guest host on the ESPN show Pardon the Interruption. He also had a weekend radio show on WBZ-FM alongside Adam Jones.

The 1980s Boston Celtics team furnished Shaughnessy with the sobriquet "Shank" for the often unflattering and critical nature of his articles. Red Sox player Carl Everett, during a heated discussion with sportswriter Gordon Edes in September 2000, referred to Shaughnessy as the "curly-haired boyfriend", a nickname sometimes referenced by Red Sox fans.

In an October 2005 column, Shaughnessy revealed information detailing negotiations between then-Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino. 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). Tony Massarotti, then a Boston Herald columnist, accused Red Sox management of smearing Epstein and suggested the Globes coverage of the negotiations may be conflicted because of the Times ownership in the team. In the weeks leading up to Epstein's decision, Red Sox owner John Henry said the leaks "had to stop".

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

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.

Shaughnessy was named the 2026 recipient of the Red Smith Award, presented annually by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) organization for outstanding contributions to sports journalism. He was formally presented with the award in Arlington, Virginia, on July 17, 2026.

Personal life Shaughnessy is married to Marilou , with whom he has three children, Sarah, Kate, and Sam. He is the uncle of tennis player Meghann Shaughnessy. He has received honorary degrees from Southern New Hampshire University and Nichols College.