Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner booed during Paul O'Neill's jersey retirement
Retired Yankees player Paul O'Neill speaks to fans during a number retirement ceremony before a baseball game between the Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in New York. Credit: AP/Corey Sipkin
Yankees fans’ anger over their team’s play of late isn’t reserved for Aaron Boone and his players.
During Paul O’Neill’s No. 21 jersey retirement before Sunday’s game, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner heard loud boos when he was introduced to the crowd. Steinbrenner, who was booed two different times — once walking onto the field and once walking off of it — did not have any noticeable reaction.
The fans otherwise bathed O’Neill — and the rest of the on-field dais — in cheers.
Former teammates Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera joined O’Neill in person for the ceremony. Don Mattingly, Joe Torre, David Cone and Derek Jeter delivered video messages to honor O’Neill that were shown on the centerfield scoreboard.
“You make it so much fun to win here in New York,” O’Neill told the crowd. “I’ll never forget how much it meant for you guys cheering. People didn’t want to come here and play because they were scared of you.
“Fans remember the teams that win,” O’Neill said, again to roars from the crowd. “And we won a lot.”
Four World Series titles in a five-year stretch from 1996-2000.
Stanton back this week?
Giancarlo Stanton
was the DH for Somerset again Sunday afternoon and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. He went hitless in seven at-bats with three strikeouts in two rehab games.
The plan remains for Stanton to face Luis Severino on Tuesday in a live BP session, with the likelihood of being activated before the Yankees’ series opener in Oakland on Thursday.
Extra bases
Boone said after Sunday’s victory that he didn’t have Scott Effross available Sunday as the righty was dealing with “shoulder stiffness.” Boone did not anticipate a need for testing . . . The Yankees placed righty Albert Abreu on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. Righty Luke Bard was called up from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
