Does Paul O'Neill deserve to be voted in the hall of fame this year?

Question

i think he does, if mcgwire gets in that's a mistake b/c he may have cheated. O'Neill may not have mcgwire's numbers/stats but he was wholesome player who had that drive to win and lead his team to a championship. i think that a player's overall look at the game and what he did for it should also be looked at and not only his stats

if you think about it the main objective in MLB is to win a title, o'neill's led the Reds and Yankees to over 5 titles

Answer 1

Nope. He simply wasn't good enough. If their was a "Hall of Good" he would get in there.

Answer 2

Simply stated Paul O'Neill is a winner. Five world series championships and one of the toughest at-bats in baseball. He got the most out of his ability and you can't ask anymore than that. The Hall of Fame could do worse that's for sure but the reality of it is very good players don't make the hall of fame. McGwire in my eyes wasn't even very good. All in all Mark McGwire was a below average player who just happened to take steroids and hit a lot of home runs. I wouldn't worry about McGwire, he will never get in along with his cheating buddies like Bonds, Sosa, and the others.

O'Neill might have a chance down the road with the veterans committee. I've research the Hall of Fame players over the years and I can say this, O'Neills numbers are as good if not better than some hall of famers. The one thing that you have to consider is the position of the player and the era they played in. A lot to consider. Like someone already said, if he does happen to get in one day I certainly wouldn't mind. One more player to think about when it comes to a possible Hall of Fame bid and that's Bernie Williams. His numbers are right on the bubble!!

Answer 3

Paul O'Neil was an excellent ball player but not a great player. I understand what you're saying. If cheaters can get away with drugs and lying why can't a decent guy with excellent numbers be acknowledged in the HOF? O'Neil may not have the HRs but as a hitter was much better overall. Maybe one day his career will be reviewed by the veterans committee and he could get in. If that happens I'd would not be unhappy about it. I always liked O'Neil a lot.

Answer 4

The Bsaeball Hall of Fame has two criteria, in my opinion.

1) was a player dominant for a significant stretch (at least 7 years)?

2) Did the player offer an innovational piece to baseball over a long (12+ year career)?

You need to answer yes to at least one of these questions to consider enshrinement. Paul O'Neill doesn't come up with a yes answer to either.

Was he a guy that could fill a need on a team? Most certainly. Was he dominant for at least 7 years and fully feared? Nope...Heck, in 1990 he was a platoon OF and had to work like heck to be a good hitter against lefties. Was he an innovator at his position? Nope again....

If championships were the only barometer for the Hall of Fame, I guess ted Wiliams, Ernie banks, etc. would not be enshrined, but Feed Stanley and Vinegar Bend Mizzell would be. Oh well...

Scott in NY - i wish I were a HOFvoter, cause I would vote for Pete ose as a player

Answer 5

Paul O'Neil was a good ballplayer. That is it. He did play on several championship teams, but he was never the top or even second best players on any of the teams.

If you want to look at championships that players won, look at Hank Bauer. He was an outfielder on many NY Yankees championship teams, including 5 in a row. Ever heard of him? Look him up. He was the equivalent of Paul O'Neil 50 years ago.
Neither one was ever the best at their position, but they were very important complimentary players.

Answer 6

O'Neil does not deserve to be elected because his stats are not good enough overall. I can name 10 guys off the top of my head that deserve it more like Jim Rice and Tommy John for instance. Don't get me wrong, I think O'Neil was a heck of a player and a fierce competitor.

Answer 7

Really loved him when with the Yankees......stats might keep him out......"probably the toughest batter with 2 strikes" that alone should let him in....he would get 2 STRIKES on him the first two pitches and every time it seemed he would run out the count to full........really great arm as well in right field........Yes, everyone knows McGwire cheated.....but he retired in 2001 and steroids were not banned until 2002!.....technically he played within the rules.....so get of his case...let him in so as to not having to hear this argument every year until Never!!.......for the record his "testimony" in my mind took him of my list.......but he does have the numbers.....get him elected just to hear what his "Thank You" speech at the ceremony will like!!!GO YANKEES! STINKIN RED SOX!!

Answer 8

Paul O'Neill in the HOF??? You have got to be kidding!?! Not only are his numbers average, especially over 17 seaons, he is a proven scumbag. He consistently had temper tantrums like a little kid, throwing helmets and water coolers. The most fond memory I will have of O'Neill is him putting his hand in front of a camera after he struck out, despite his team winnning at the time. What a jerk.

Answer 9

In my opinion, Paul O'Neill should be in and would definitely get in. Hard working player that did everything he could to win. He would have sat out a game if Torre asked him without a complaint because he understood his place as a player - he'd be sour wanting to play, but he wouldn't blame Torre like a certain Shef would. He was a great team player who had a few exceptional years and came through in the playoffs. He was a focal player for a great Yankee run. 5 WS rings. I liked the way he'd hit a HR and put his head down and run without watching the ball just in case it didn't leave the park.

I wouldn't call O'Neill a wholesome player though. (-: I agree that stats aren't the only thing that counts in figuring out whether someone has HoF credentials.

McGwire should get in as well, but that wasn't the question.

Answer 10

No, Paul O'Neill was not good enough. He was a good player, but to put him in the hall of fame would be an insult to hall of famers.

Answer 11

i love paul, alltime one of the coolest guys in baseball. i didn't even hate him when he was a yankee, but putting him in the hall would be an insult to all the others already enshrined. if paul oneal goes in, then allan trammell must be put in. ron santo is the most deserving player of any and he's been waiting many years now.