Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz Meets New York Yankees Legend

Title: Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz Meets New York Yankees Legend Oneil Cruz, a Pittsburgh Pirates player, finally got to meet the person he was named after, former New York Yankees outfielder Paul O'Neill. Cruz's father named him Oneil because of his admiration for Paul O'Neill, who played for the Yankees during their successful 1998 season. O'Neill was honored and grateful that Cruz was named after him, especially given the star-filled Yankees roster that year. O'Neill had a standout 1998 season, batting .317 with 24 home runs and 116 RBIs, making the All-Star team for the final time in his career. O'Neill batted over .300 in the first six seasons of his tenure with the Yankees and won the batting title in 1994. O'Neill won the World Series four times with the Yankees and once with the Cincinnati Reds in 1990. O'Neill's number 21 jersey has been retired by the Yankees, a testament to his contributions to the team. O'Neill expressed his impression of Cruz and his bright future in the league. Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, also played minor league baseball. The article highlights the connection between Oneil Cruz and the Yankees legend Paul O'Neill, and the significance of Cruz being named after him.

Original Article: https://www.si.com/mlb/pirates/news/pittsburgh-pirates-oneil-cruz-meets-yankees-paul-oneill

Original Article Author: Nathaniel Marrero