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

1. O’Neill Says Farewell, 2001

Yankees fans got one last chance to say goodbye to Paul O’Neill in the 2001 World Series.

Throughout his Yankees career, Paul O’Neill played through everything. Sprains, scrapes, and even the death of his father during the 1999 World Series.

So it should come as no surprise that, when all 55,000 people in Yankee Stadium teamed up to serenade him one final time in the waning moments of the final home game of the 2001 World Series, he attempted to play through that, too.

Of course, after an entire inning of badgering, he couldn’t make it back to the dugout without relenting following an inning-ending double play. Syncopated chants of “PAUL O NEE-IL” simply would not subside, so with tears in his eyes, the man tipped his cap briefly on the dugout steps.

And, would you believe it? Down 2-0 with three outs to go, the Yankees came back in the ninth inning of this one, too, notching their second consecutive ridiculous comeback.

Though this World Series ended in despair, no group of New Yorkers ever poured more emotions into their team’s success, and no group of players ever gave more of it right back when needed.

O’Neill exemplified that give-and-take flawlessly.

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