Major League Baseball

Giants say former athletic trainer has died

Published Feb. 24, 2014 6:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Barney Nugent, a former athletic trainer for the San Francisco Giants, died Saturday. He was 61.

The Giants announced Monday that Nugent died in Massachusetts after a short battle with cancer. He was diagnosed last summer.

Nugent was San Francisco's trainer for 11 seasons from 1993-2003 - during much of the home run chase by slugger Barry Bonds - before retiring to Arizona. He served as a mentor and dear friend to current Giants athletic trainer Dave Groeschner, who called Nugent ''a good friend and still a Giant `til the very end, he loved the Giants.''

Nugent had previously worked in the Red Sox and Phillies organizations.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean and Groeschner are scheduled to attend Nugent's memorial service Wednesday in Chelsea, Mass.

Nugent was born April 27, 1952, in Chelsea. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Denise.