Paul O'Neill

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Paul O’Neill

Born:	February 25, 1963
Birthplace:	Columbus, Ohio
Height:	6' 4"
Weight:	215 lbs
Bats:	Left
Throws:	Left
Drafted:	1981: 4th Rd by the Cincinnati Reds
College:	Otterbein College
High School:	Brookhaven High School (OH)
Teams:	Cincinnati Reds 1985-1992 New York Yankees 1993-2001

Paul Andrew O'Neill (born February 25, 1963 in Columbus, OH) was a tall lanky left handed right fielder for the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees. O'Neill was an intense, fiery, rage filled player that was loved by Yankees fans and hated pretty much by everyone else. He is debatably (with Scott Brosius) one of the most hated Yankees during the 1990's.

1 Career Overview
2 Achievements
3 Awards
4 Trivia
5 Transactions
6 External Links

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Career Overview

Paul O'Neill was drafted in the fourth round of the 1981 Amateur Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. O'Neill had a few short stays with the Reds before he broke in full time with them in 1988. For the next four years, O'Neill was the Reds everyday right fielder putting up decent numbers and playing excellent defense. In 1990, the Reds, under Lou Piniella, won the World Series. O'Neill had a large part in the Reds success, hitting .270 with 16 HR's and 78 RBI's. However, because O'Neill played a corner outfield position, the Reds wanted him to him for more power. When O'Neill's performance suffered because of this the Reds traded him the NY Yankees in November of 1992.

O'Neill's first season with the Yankees he hit .311. In fact, he hit above .300 for the next five years, including .359 in the strike-shortened 1994 season. Although he never hit for much power, O'Neill developed into an all-around hitter. He hit at least 30 doubles with the Yankees every year except two (1994, 2000) and averaged around 20 HR's and 100 RBI's. He was a mainstay on the Yankee championship teams of 1996 and 1998-2000, hitting .281 in 17 postseason series with the Yanks

His intensity made him a fan favorite in the Bronx. Some of the times it seemed to go to an extreme. There were times when O'Neill would hit a home run into the short RF porch at Yankee Stadium and he would slam his bat down in disgust after contact, only to see it clear the fence. This intensity turned him into a hated player outside of New York.

In 2001, at the age of 38, Paul O'Neill retired

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Achievements

1994 AL Batting Champion
20-Home Run Seasons: 7 (1991, 1993-95, 1997-98, 2001)
100 RBI Seasons: 4 (1997-2000)
Threw a Major League Record 4,230 temper tantrums.

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Awards

One-time National League All-Star - 1991
Four-Time American League All-Star (one-time starter 1997) - 1994-95, 1997-98

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Trivia

He is a direct descendant of Mark Twain
Was on the Reds bench when Pete Rose singled to break Ty Cobb's record of 2,191 hits
Played on 5 World Champion teams
His .303 batting average ranks 11th all time in Yankees history.
Ranks 12th all time in Yankee history with a .869 OPS

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Transactions

June 8, 1981: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 4th round of the 1981 amateur draft. Player signed June 11, 1981.
November 3, 1992: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds with Joe DeBerry (minors) to the New York Yankees for Roberto Kelly.
November 10, 2000: Granted Free Agency.
November 16, 2000: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
November 19, 2001: Granted Free Agency