I think so. he was the soul of the Yanks from 95 to 2001, he played every game like it was his last, and his 4 WS rings, along with the one he won in Cincy are among the best... Not counting he´s my favorite Yankee player from the last dinasty.
Your thoughts?
2006-11-27 08:43:26 · 14 answers · asked by jorgeyankee 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Good to see Paul O'Neil's name come up. He and Mattingly were my favorites and remain among my favorites to this day. O'Neil was one of those players that brought an intangible to the games he played - a determined grit... a never surrender quality to every at bat. He carried this with him for every game he played.
He wouldn't give up and wouldn't let anyone else around him give up - a true warrior of the diamond.
This quality is seldom reflected in stats - a shame... On numbers alone, he wouldn't make the hall. In the minds and hearts of those who saw him play and witnessed his daily contributions - it matters not.
2006-11-27 11:13:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A remarkably consistent player, a true winner, and a fan favorite. But not a Hall of Famer.
If players of O'Neill's caliber were allowed into the Hall of Fame the floodgates would open. We would have thousands in the Hall and it will no longer mean as much to the players or the fans.
His numbers just don't warrant it: Only four 100+ RBI seasons, 281 home runs, and a .288 batting average. Nothing to scoff at, to be sure. But his comparables according to baseball-reference.com include Bobby Bonilla, Bernie Williams, and Ruben Sierra - good players, but not Hall of Famers.
Pauly's rewards for a great career are his rings and free beers for life from any bar in New York.
2006-11-27 16:54:57 · answer #2 · answered by monkeyandmolly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's one of those players that are on the fence so to speak. Very nice career with impressive stats. Five world series rings. One with the Reds and four with the Yankees. He may get in one day as part of the veterans committee but not in the near future. If there was a "Hall Of The Very Good" he would be elected today!
2006-11-27 16:55:32 · answer #3 · answered by Cutie Pie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't get me wrong, I think Paul Oneil is a great Yankee, but he's not HOF material. He played hard, gave it his all and won 4 World Series but the HOF is for those who were above the rest. If he had better numbers he would make it.
I hope that we hear more from him as a Yankee announcer on YES.
2006-11-27 16:54:19 · answer #4 · answered by Oz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he was my favorite player and a true Yankee. He was the part that held the most recent Yankee dynasty together. He had some impressive years and an overall good career. I hate to say it and I wish it weren't true but I don't think Paul is going to make it into the hall.
2006-11-27 21:03:12 · answer #5 · answered by Jack NYY #1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul O'neill was an excellent player. Very solid. But his lifetime stats are just solid. Apart from one year where he had a particularly high avg he had an above average career. His lifetime numbers aren't that exciting. The Hall of fame is for superstars that owned the league during their long and consistent careers.
2006-11-27 21:35:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I LOVE Paul Oneil. He and Don Mattingly are my all time Favorite guys to wear the Yankee Uniform. But Pauley is not a Hall Of famer. His Number deserves to go into the Retired numbers, but hall of fame? unfortunately no. He and Bernie Williams are in same boat, When they were great, they where GREAT..but they werent GREAT for long enough stretch to justify HOF.
2006-11-27 18:18:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No...
He was a good, solid player, but not good enough to be in the hall... Just because he played with a group of guys who could win doesn't make him a Hall of Famer... Look at the NHL Hall of Fame... They took Clark Gillies just because he was part of an amazing Islanders team which had Mike Bossy and Billy Smith... Was Gillies a good player??? Yes... Should he be in the Hall??? No... It's the same deal with O'Neill...
2006-11-27 17:11:36 · answer #8 · answered by HONORARIUS 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Paul O'Neil was great. He was my favorite player as well. I like to see players get emotional. It shows they care. I know, in baseball, it's better to stay at an even keel. Don't get too high or too low. But from a fans point of view, it's hard to watch one of your players strike out and just stroll back to the dugout like it's just another day at the office. I want bats broken and water coolers thrown. I miss him.
2006-11-27 17:58:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, no. And I am sure Paul O'Neill would say the same. He was a solid, productive ballplayer for several years. But he was never considered the best at his position.
2006-11-27 19:49:36 · answer #10 · answered by jpbofohio 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋