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Yankees: 3 Paul O’Neill playoff moments that prove he’s The Warrior

By Adam Weinrib

Rightfielder Paul O'Neill #21 of the New York Yankees runs to first base against the Seattle Mariners during game five of the American League Championship Series on October 22, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 12-5 and won the best-of-seven series four games to one to advance to the World Series. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Rightfielder Paul O'Neill #21 of the New York Yankees runs to first base against the Seattle Mariners during game five of the American League Championship Series on October 22, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 12-5 and won the best-of-seven series four games to one to advance to the World Series. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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16 Apr 2000: Paul O”Neill #21 of the New York Yankees stands on a base as he look on during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York. The Yankees defeated the Royals 8-4. Mandatory Credit: David Leeds /Allsport /

2. Gut-it-Out Walk vs the Mets, 2000

The Yankees won a thrilled over the Mets in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series thanks to Paul O’Neill’s patience.

Paul O’Neill could do it with the bat, sure, chopping down on the ball and taking a lumbering no-look jog around the bases over and over again.

But the threat of O’Neill’s stamina was enough to send any opposing pitcher into a frenzy, and he completely flipped the 2000 Subway Series when he mentally outworked Mets closer Armando Benitez.

Down 3-2 with one out and nobody on in the ninth inning, O’Neill refused to relent, doggedly grinding out a 10-pitch walk against one of the game’s hardest throwers (and a known erratic one, too).

Luis Polonia, the very man whom O’Neill robbed in the ’96 Series, singled next, followed by a Jose Vizcaino single and a bases-loaded Chuck Knoblauch sac fly.

And just like that, we were destined for a 13-inning Yankee win.

Much like everything O’Neill did, his walk turned a tough series into an eventual five-game triumph, which looks very different on paper than it felt in reality. On this day, the grinder’s earned his due.

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