In the world of Major League Baseball, few names resonate in the clubhouse community quite like Henry Genzale. A dedicated clubhouse manager for the Seattle Mariners for 35 years, Genzale’s career spanned generations of players, historic moments, and the evolution of the game itself. He was not just a fixture in the Mariners organization; he was a pillar of the clubhouse management profession.

Genzale’s journey in baseball began at just 13 years old when he served as a batboy for the Seattle Rainiers, the city’s Triple-A team at the time. It was there that he learned the ins and outs of clubhouse operations, setting the stage for a lifelong career behind the scenes of professional baseball. When the Mariners were founded in 1977, he and his father were interviewed for a position in the visiting clubhouse, and both were hired. Just a year later, Genzale was promoted to the home clubhouse, where he remained for the next 20 years before transitioning back to the visiting side for the final 15 years of his career.

While working in the home clubhouse, Genzale became deeply ingrained in the Mariners’ culture. He wasn’t just managing equipment and logistics—he was building relationships and ensuring that the team had everything it needed to compete at the highest level. From spring training to the final out of the season, he was there for the highs and lows, taking pride in his work and the role he played in the team’s success.

Transitioning to the visiting clubhouse gave Genzale a different perspective on the game. He still quietly rooted for the Mariners but also had the chance to interact with players and staff from every team in the league. It allowed him to see how other organizations operated, and he took pride in ensuring visiting teams received top-tier service when they came to Seattle. It was in this role that he met and worked with some of baseball’s greatest legends such as Derek Jeter— and many others who would go on to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Through it all, Genzale remained a true professional, dedicated to his craft and to the people around him. He was the last original Mariners employee still standing when he retired at 65 in 2013, a testament to his passion and commitment to the job. While some might have found it difficult to walk away, Genzale saw it as an opportunity to pass the torch to the next generation, giving someone else the chance to experience the same incredible career he had.

But even in retirement, baseball never truly left his life. Genzale remains an active member of the MLB Clubhouse Managers Association (MLB CMA), always ready to lend a hand to current clubhouse managers. “If someone needs something—the first thing I want to do is help anyone I can, young or old, and let them know we are here,” he says. “The clubhouse business is a special entity. It’s an honor. It’s not just an association that we got together, it’s an honor.”

Beyond his work with the Mariners, Genzale was instrumental in shaping the profession of clubhouse management. He was one of the original founders of the MLB CMA and served as its first treasurer. His contributions helped establish a network of support and professionalism that continues to benefit clubhouse managers across the league today.

Among his most cherished memories was the Mariners’ unforgettable 1995 playoff run, when Seattle came within one series of reaching the World Series. Though the team fell short, that experience was a career-defining moment for Genzale. He also took great pride in working alongside future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, and Ichiro Suzuki—players whose greatness he witnessed firsthand on a daily basis.

Though he never received a World Series ring, he holds something just as meaningful. “When the association and the clubhouse managers gave me the ring that they give to honor different members of our group,” he said emotionally. “Because I was not fortunate to get to the World Series during my whole 35 years in the organization. And looking at this, this ring is beautiful. It is. That’s my World Series ring and I cherish it when I wear it. I wear it often, and it’s something really special to me.”

And while he may no longer be inside the clubhouse every day, Genzale remains part of the game’s fabric. When asked what he misses most, he doesn’t hesitate: “Without a shadow of a doubt, the fellas that are in the clubhouse. The players, the coaches, the trainers, everybody that works in an organization. And what was so gratifying, is that you know you did your job when you put smiles on the other people’s faces. I definitely miss that.” But in many ways, he never really left. His legacy, his friendships, and his impact on the Mariners, the clubhouse profession, and the countless players and staff he worked with over the years is a legacy that will last forever.