Yankees Retire Paul O'Neill's Number 21 As The Warrior Was Honored Sunday

 

Paul O'Neill In Monument Park with his retired number 21. All Photos Provided By New York Yankees.

Paul O'Neill's number 21 was retired by the Yankees on Sunday, the 22nd number to have been done so by the team in their illustrious history. O'Neill is the 23rd player or manager to have his number retired as both Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra have their number 8 retired.

O'Neill played right field for the Yankees from 1993 to 2001, and he saw the team build from a contender in his first season to a four-time World Championship dynasty. 

Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner called O'Neill "The Warrior" for his dedicated, hard-nosed play, a main reason he became a fan favorite.

O'Neill and his wife, Nevalee, look out to left field as his 21 is added to the wall of retired numbers.

Former teammates Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitee and Mariano Rivera were on hand, as was Gene Monahan, the former Yankees head athletic trainer. All five of his teammates have plaques in Monument Park, and Williams (51), Posada (20), Pettitte (46), and Rivera (42) also have their numbers retired.

O'Neill (center left) with (from left to right) Monahan, Posada, Williams, Rivera, Maritnez, and Pettitte.

Paul's wife Nevalee and his children, their spouses, and Paul's grandchildren were in attendance as well, and O'Neill received video messages from teammates Don Mattingly, Bernie Williams, and Derek Jeter; Manager Joe Torre, and Roberto Clemente, Jr. 

Paul O'Neill surrounded by his family on the field during the ceremony.

 

O'Neill received a number of gifts, starting with a framed matted replics of his retired number emblem and placard, which was predented by Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. O'Neill received a special edition Paul O'Neill wine bottle and a framed jersey signed by the 2022 Yankees team. 

Lastly, for a moment of levity, Yankees Director of Medical Services Steve Donohue presented a custom "Paul O'Neill-inspired" (damaged) water cooler. 

O'Neill with his gifts, including the water cooler with a bat through it.

Paul O'Neill, his wife Nevalee, their children and their spouses, and their granchildren in Monument Park by his retired number 21.

The placard below Paul O'Neill's retired number 21 reads as follows:

PAUL O'NEILL 

UNIFORM NUMBER RETIRED: 2022

O'NEILL'S WARRIOR PERSONA GALVANIZED THE 

YANKEES FROM 1993 TO 2001. WITH A .303 

BATTING AVERAGE AND 858 RBI DURING HIS 

TIME IN THE BRONX, THE RIGHT FIELDER 

BROUGHT AN INTENSITY AND RELIABILITY THAT 

HELPED LIFT THE YANKEES TO FOUR WORLD 

SERIES TITLES. A FOUR-TIME ALL-STAR WHILE

WEARING THE PINSTRIPES, O'NEILL WON THE 

A.L. BATTING TITLE IN 1994 WITH A .359 AVERAGE.

In 2001, HE BECAME THE FIRST 39-YEAR-OLD 

IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY TO STEAL 20 BASES 

AND HIT 20 HOME RUNS IN THE SAME SEASON.