As far as I know this number is not retired but for some reason they haven't used it.
2006-09-08 02:25:28 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
The same reason they don't use number 49 or 73 or 145. There are more numbers than players. Also there is probably a good chance it will be retired relatively soon, it was Paul O'neill's number.
2006-09-08 02:34:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the previous posters are correct, O'Neill wore #21, but I can't believe the Yankees would consider retiring his number. Yes, he was an important part of their World Championships, but his career numbers aren't anywhere near Hall of Fame caliber, and you should have to be AT LEAST that good to have your number retired. With the way the Yankees hand out this "honor," they'll have to start assigning numbers in the triple digits sometime in the next decade or two... (Using the O'Neill standard, Rivera, Jeter and Williams are shoe-in's for having their numbers retired, and A-Rod, Sheffield, Matsui, Posada, Johnson and possibly even Giambi will probably make it into Monument Park -- not to mention other players I'm sure I'm forgetting. They've already retired 16 numbers, plus Jackie Robinson, so they'd be up to at least 27 numbers if all of these guys have their number retired. That's just lame...)
2006-09-08 11:59:35 · answer #2 · answered by rangersfan34 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are NOT going to be retiring Paul O'neil's number. He was, at best, an above average player who was more famous for his temper tantrums than his skills on the ball field. A good player who always put everything he had into every game, not even close to being an all-time Yankee............. LET'S GO METS!!!
2006-09-08 16:55:34 · answer #3 · answered by Mike D. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul O'Neill is a perfect example of the media magnification that New York ballplayers receive.
That guy sucked when he was with Cincinnati. Never had a season over .300, and only had one out of six (playing in more than 100 games) where he batted over .275.
Then, he gets traded to New York, a team that was absolutely "stacked" in the mid-to-late nineties, and his statistics inflate because of the personnel around him.
The media treats him like the greatest thing since sliced bread. Hall of Fame....please. He's a career .280 hitter with less than 300 home runs. With the storied history of the New York Yankees, that doesn't say Hall of Fame to me.
2006-09-08 15:58:08 · answer #4 · answered by Brian 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because chances are, they're going to retire Paul O'Neill's number. The guy was a centerpiece for 4 world championship teams, and one of the best eras in yankee history.
2006-09-08 10:23:16 · answer #5 · answered by Offended? Aww Have a Cookie! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They're retiring Paul O'Neil's number? I mean he was decent and all, but was he REALLY that good?
Remember that 'Seinfeld' episode where O'neil had to hit 2 home runs for Kramer to get the Steinbrenner birthday card back?
God that one was funny!
---
"Hey, listen Paul, tomorow you have to catch a fly ball in your cap!" - Kramer
2006-09-08 11:29:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would they retire Paul O'Neill's number? He wasnt that good.
2006-09-08 10:03:20 · answer #7 · answered by J-Far 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Paul, oh and did ya'll know Deion Sanders used it in 1989 #21
2006-09-11 10:54:49 · answer #8 · answered by Soul_Monk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was Paul O'Neil's number...no player has asked to wear it since it was last used by Paul. There is no real reason for it...just no one has asked to wear it.
2006-09-08 10:04:19 · answer #9 · answered by brianwerner1313 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
out of respect to paul O'Neill it will be retired soon paul was one of those true yankees
2006-09-08 09:31:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋