I'm one of the many fans who believe that Paul O'Neill's number 21 should be retired. He was a great player with the Yankees for nine seasons, and the heart and soul of 4 World Series championship teams. After six seasons of collecting dust I figured that was the plan. Well Peter Abraham is reporting that Morgan Ensberg is now wearing #21, so maybe that wasn't the plan after all.
Peter also reminds us that "George Selkirk, Bob Metheny, Eddie Bockman, Hal Peck, Roy Weatherly, Allen Clark, Frank Colman and Cliff Mapes wore No. 3 after Babe Ruth." So there still is a chance that the number will be retired at some point in the future.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
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4 Comments:
I truly can not believe what I’m reading. I grew up a Paul O’Neill fan through and through… I wore 21 in every sport i played because of Paul. I watched Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan play basketball SPECIFICALLY because they wore 21. I hate the giants but i have a tiki barber jersey… why? 21. I even like Deion Sanders cause he wore 21. LaDainian… 21. When i saw 21 on all the helmets this year in the NFL, it reminded me more of Paul O’Neill than it did Sean Taylor. Roberto Clemente, the best right fielder of all time, wore 21. There were talks of globally retiring 21 for his sake much like 42, and I wouldnt mind it, at least no one else would have it anymore.
The part that really irks me is that we as fans of “The Warrior” have been kept on this leash for 7 years now without that number being given out. I made a pact with my father the day Paul walked off the field as they chanted his name in 2001 that when they retired his number, 21, we would go to that game and sit closer than we ever did.
Paul was a model athlete, meant everything to his team and his team meant everything to him. He exemplified an entire generation of the hard work the yankees put forth in the mid-nineties… Ive checked every schedule as it came out every December hoping to see Paul O’Neill Day on there since 2005. Now after 7 years of respect we can just throw this all away?
What about the other fans just like me? What about the thousands of 21 jerseys i always see scattered around the stadium sitting up in the tier and looking down and smiling seeing all the 21s in the stands…
What about George? George LOVED Paul, Im sure it was Georges decision not to give out Paul’s number, does Hank not have the same soft spot? Is this his doing?
Do NOT give this number to Morgan Ensberg, if you wouldnt give it to Roger, or Cano, dont just dump it on Ensberg… there are far too many fans who pride that number.
Forever 21. Forever Paul O’Neill.
This is a disgrace!
Dump that WORTHLESS piece of garbage. (I will NOT say his name)and issue Ensberg #45.
I'm very glad to see I'm not the only one who is upset by this.
I absolutely agree with you. O'Neill was truly a warrior and gave his all for the Yankees. He was the heart and soul of the team during the dynasty years. I still miss seeing him take practice swings in right field. Giving his number out is as bad a decision as renaming Legends Field.
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