Ridiculous Yankee fans win war over Paul O'Neill's number

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First they tore up new Yankee Stadium looking for an unwelcome David Ortiz t-shirt.

Then they asked the Pope if His Holiness wouldn't mind watching where he drives on the green shag rug at old Yankee Stadium.

Now America's leading franchise has made it a weekly hat trick of borderline insane news stories with the revelation that some vocal and obnoxious Yankee fans have finally broken the will of reliever LaTroy Hawkins.

After being routinely booed for wearing Paul O'Neill's old No. 21, Hawkins is finally crying uncle and switching to No. 22 for tonight's game against Boston.

Writes Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline:

Though the Yankees have not retired No. 21, O'Neill was the last to wear it, and New York fans still consider the former outfielder — and, obviously, his number — sacred. It reached the point on the club's last homestand that, while Hawkins pitched, the fans chanted O'Neill's name.

Hawkins made the decision to change after talking to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera; both said it wasn't worth the headache that it has been causing in the Bronx. Fortunately for the name of team chemistry, Hawkins made an admired decision to listen to his team leaders.

But it really shouldn't have even come to the point where Hawkins was goaded into giving up the number, which he was wearing as a tribute to Roberto Clemente.

Yes, O'Neill was a key leader and an extremely popular member of that World Series run. He embodies the "Yankees Way" and the team hasn't won a championship since his retirement.

But c'mon, it's still Paul O'Neill, a player who will always have to buy a ticket to Cooperstown just like the rest of us. If Yankee fans don't want anyone wearing that number, then they should go ahead and officially retire it. However, I suspect that even they know how silly that would be.

Look, you made your point, Yankees fans. You really like Paul O'Neill, an above-average ~~first baseman~~right fielder with a lot of great qualities everyone would want in a baseball player.

But give LaTroy his number back already, would you?

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1. Posted by toml Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT
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Will the fans complain that he has taken Roger's number instead? I respect Paul O'Neill and do remember that Roger pitched some great games (steroid issues notwithstanding), but let LeTroy Hawkins wear the number that makes him comfortable and allows him to concentrate on his pitching. Short of retiring his number, I'm sure Paul O'Neill would be happiest see LeTroy Hawkins contribute to #27.
2. Posted by Foo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT
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Duk, Paul O'Neill played right field for the New York Yankees, not first base...get your facts straight before you rip into Paul O'Neill. He did things for the Yankees that do not show up in the box score (hustle, playing hurt, fouling off tough pitches in a clutch situation, etc.). He didn't win 4 championships for looking pretty out there. Tino Martinez was the first baseman for all those championships...you must be either be a Red Sox fan or a Met fan because you look like you don't think too highly of Paul O'Neill and you think that Yankee fans are a bunch of morons for admiring an "above-average" player.
3. Posted by 'Duk Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT
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Brain fart over the 1B thing, though I think it proves my point further.
4. Posted by Mickey D. Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT
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Brain fart on the extra span tagging which was throwing off the formatting of the page too? ;-)
Paul O'Neill news? Seriously? Where's my Troy O'Leary update?
5. Posted by Psyluk Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT
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The worst thing about this is that the vast majority of good fans that root for the Yankees can care less that Hawkins wears #21 and that they know he was wearing it for Clemente. It's just that the obnoxious losers that choose to make a mountain out of a molehill have now given the entire fanbase a bad name. It's just a number, let it go. I love O'Neill just like everyone else that grew up with the Yankees in the 90's, but he's not a Hall of Famer. Why isn't there any umbrage over people wearing Tino's #24 or Bernie's #51? It'll happen eventually, so just let it go.
6. Posted by 'Duk Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT
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Good catch, Mickey D. No idea how that span stuff got in there, especially since it wasn't showing in the previewed post.
7. Posted by daniel g Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT
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That's what it comes down to: As much as I love O'Neill, his number hasn't been retired. Although it does look weird, Hawkins still has every right to wear it. As for cuddlykupo talking about Bernie's number...you know for a fact that it will be retired. The guy has more postseason homeruns than anyone in MLB history. He's done it all in a Yankee uniform. I would imagine there would be an even bigger uproar if someone wore #51.
8. Posted by mixleplix1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT
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Hey #7, if the Fans (the people that pay your salary) do not want you to wear something (especially Yankee fans) you better step up and make them happy. O'Neill was their heart during the years they actually won rings, Reds players have that affect.
9. Posted by Matt M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT
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O'Neill's number needs to be retired you don't see people in Baltimore trying to wear #8, his number should not be worn. Then again if the yankees keep it up there going to run out of numbers with all their great players.
10. Posted by titan baseball Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT
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People were seriously booing him over the number he was wearing? What's next, booing a guy for wearing high socks instead of low socks? Get a grip. If the number's not retired, it's fair game.
11. Posted by Jimmy V Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT
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Cano is wearing Tino's number (24). Which is 42 backwards... I think everybody should shout Tino! Tino! when Cano comes to the plate. That will make things even!
12. Posted by Biff Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT
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Duk fans have a right to boo whoever they want. O'Neil played the game the right way and just because you brain farted and don't know who the everyday RF for one of the greatest dynasties in baseball history was doesn't mean he wasn't a good player. In fact, it makes your credentials to be blogging for Yahoo suspect if anything else. There are a lot of players in Monument Park who are not Cooperstown worthy, but live on in Yankee lore. By your reasoning, did Thurman Thomas not deserve to have his number retired because he was not a Hall of Famer? Give me a break. You fail.
13. Posted by Connor F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT
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#5 nobody would wear 51, Randy Johnson was 51 before he came to NY but they made the hall of famer switch because of Bernie.
14. Posted by John P Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm EDT
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If you don't understand why the fans don't want Letroy wearing #21, then you are 1 not a yankee's fan, or 2 out of touch with the sport of baseball. I can understand non-Yankee fans thinking this is crazy, but every real Yankees fan knows O'Neill was the heart and soul of the team. If Steinbrenner still had his wits about him he would never let this happen!! Also #12 lets not compare Tino and Paulie O. Tino was with Seattle for a while before the Yankee's, and he didn't retire a Yankee. O'Neill played the majority of his career as a Yankee and retired a Yankee. As far as O'Neill not getting in the HOF I can understand that, but one thing is for sure while his numbers aren't overwhelming they are pretty damn good and you know he wasn't on the juice like these other humps.
15. Posted by Biff Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT
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Actually John P, Tino Martinez did retire a Yankee. It also wasn't his decision to leave the Yanks, since the brass signed Giambi and Tino had to look for work elsewhere. He played a few years with the Cards, one year with the Rays, then resigned with the Yanks and ended his career with the Yanks.
16. Posted by Ethan Duke Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT
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Paul who?
17. Posted by YankeeFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT
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Come on guys, sooner or later we are going to run out of numbers, Then what happens. Get a grip and just enjoy the game. GO YANKEES,
18. Posted by Mark v Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT
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#13 Thurman Thomas is a HOF'er. You might want to get your facts straight before you make a dumb point. As for O'neill being loved, I don't understand it. I've never seen anyone act like such a 4 year old when a call didn't go his way. He is the players equivalent to Lou Piniella or Ozzie Guillen. How can such a crybaby be so respected?
BOOOOOOOO
19. Posted by Mark v Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT
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I'm guessing #13 was talking about Thurman Munson? Please, if you don't even know the names of some of the greatest players on your "favorite" team don't argue for them. It just makes the fans sound like douche bags. Or if you're a 17 year old Yankee fan and you refer to the 26 Championships the "you're team" won, just stop that too. You can brag about the 90's not the damn 20's.
20. Posted by Fansport77 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT
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To Yankeefan... Don't worry about running out of numbers. Like Ted Kennedy once said, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there".
21. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:36 pm EDT
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Do all of you Italian Yankee fans look that dumb and stupid?
22. Posted by Biff Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT
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ooooo i make a typo and everyone freaks out. Yeah, I meant Munson. And #20, don't you mean "your" team, not "you're"? Yeah, pointing out typos is fun isn't it!
23. Posted by TKO Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT
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So he switched to #22? How long until the "Clemens" chants start?
24. Posted by TKO Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT
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so he switched to #22? how long until the "clemens" chants start?
25. Posted by sdhbomb Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT
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Clemens nowhere near holds the same spot in Yankee fans hearts as O'Neill does.
Nice move by Hawkins even tho he isnt worth the dirt on the mound he pitches from.
The Yanks haven't been the same since O'Neill retired, thats why #21 is a big deal.