The New York Yankees are preparing a big ceremony to one of their beloved members of the late 90s dynasty.
The team will retire Paul O’Neill‘s number 21 in a ceremony to be held on August 21, before their game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
8.21.22
Paul O’Neill’s No. 21 enters Monument Park. pic.twitter.com/6ewcbEDPKj
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 22, 2022
O’Neill was honored with a plaque in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park in 2014.
Additionally, according to a statement from the Yankees, “Paul O’Neill Day” will be celebrated that night, and everyone in attendance will receive a commemorative game ticket.
“The Warrior” won four World Series titles with the Yankees: 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, plus one in 1990 with the Cincinnati Reds.
He played more than half of his career in the Bronx, where he hit .303 with 304 doubles, 185 dingers, 858 RBI, a .377 on-base percentage and an .869 OPS.
With the Yankees, O’Neill was a four-time All-Star and won the 1994 batting title.
An Exclusive Honor
So far, 23 members of the Yankees (players and managers) have seen their number retired, including some people who played with O’Neill such as Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Bernie Williams, among others.
O’Neill was known for his potent throwing arm, his temper, and for his extraordinary hitting ability.
The 58-year-old former outfielder is currently an analyst on YES Network, the Yankees’ broadcasting home.
Since O’Neill’s retirement in 2001, the only person who briefly used number 21 was relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins, who did it as a homage to outfielder Roberto Clemente.
O’Neill may not be the kind of ballplayer that Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, or Lou Gehrig was, but he is a beloved Yankee that was a star player during some of the franchise’s happiest days, when they won four World Series titles in a span of five years.
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