The Freakout King of Baseball

[@snerdterguson]

Fans of the Yankees from 1993-2001 were allowed to watch one of the most competitive baseball players in history. Nobody expected more of themself than Paul did. I really hope I get to meet him someday so I can thank him in person for caring so much and so obviously. It was a true pleasure rooting for him.

[@F28aj]

😂 embarrassing

[@1neOfN0ne]

Ok relax guy lol Jesus Christ

[@iamhungey12345]

@@F28aj How?

[@SakAttack87]

​@@F28aj🧌 😂

[@matthewheide4797]

Paul O'Neill was an ESPN Sports Center favorite back in the day. The water coolers are epic, thanks for making me feel old again and please keep it up.

[@AndrewJano24]

Now he’s a favorite in the YES network booth

[@scottnotpilgrim]

Was a kid/teenager during his Yankee days, no water cooler was safe from O'Neil

[@HufflepuffBaseball42313]

Born in 2004. Would have killed to been around in the era when we actually beat the Red Sox in the playoffs

[@jimnfl7134]

Did Billy Martin return from the DEAD and in control of his brain?

[@henrywallacesghost5883]

I know Bobby Bouche was no fan of his.

[@IOWAHAWKEYES2020]

0:48 Actually, yes I have seen someone chuck their bat in frustration while hitting a HR. I was at Wrigley when Bryce Harper hit a high fly to left, he thought he just missed it, tossed his bat and the wind carried the ball out. I looked up the game and it was 5/26/2015. Harpers HR is in the 7th if you wanna see.

[@carlwilliams9642]

I think it happened a lot in 2019 too. Players would think they got under the pitch and the juiced balls just kept carrying. lol

[@joshtudryn2236]

I'll never forget the time Cosmo Kramer made a promise to a sick kid that Paul would hit two homers for him. And he almost did but the second home run, an inside the parker, was ruled a triple with an error.

[@cbgthekid]

That clip of papi beating the wall of the dug out with the bat flashes through my head about 10 times a week when I'm frustrated at work.

[@Cindoreye]

When I was a kid I received a poster of O'Neil from people who thought I was a bit intense in how I played. I can safely say though that I had nothing on the man himself. The reason that O'Neil was given a pass for most of his outbursts was because the target of these reaction was himself most of the time. He held himself to an impossible standard, which caused problems to certain extent, but is the kind of drive for success that should be admired. I still have that poster to this day.

[@codenamelarry6518]

I love Amir Garrett’s freakout where he tried to fight the entire Pittsburgh Pirates team with Puig (who had already been traded at that point)

[@WT1wL]

This video is about the WARRIOR. shush zoomer

[@codenamelarry6518]

@@WT1wL You make a good point, but your aggression makes you less credible and demonstrates that you are unhappy in your personal life, and you feel taking it out towards random people on the internet will make it better.

[@WT1wL]

@@codenamelarry6518 lol actually I was just bored. And obviously by your comment your a zoomer bc anyone who saw him play wouldn't be talking about amir Garrett

[@hi_c.v7289]

@@WT1wLliterally no one compared how they play dumbass they both just had funny freak outs old fucks can’t do anything without speaking down on someone

[@wwpjd28]

Warrior is genuinely so nice to everyone off the field. He just is a raging perfectionist off it. He has a storybook love story with his wife, great relationships with his kids, is a great son, and a great friend and guide to a lot of players. He just gets psycho on the field.

[@GaIeforce]

I looked at Paul O'Neill's stat page and can't help but notice he had a career high 22 stolen bases... in 2001... when he was 38. He was productive, even in the twilight of his career, and he still had wheels at an age where most players fall off a cliff. It makes me wonder how long he could've kept playing until he physically couldn't play above sea level anymore.

[@siloshroom2132]

I watch every Yankees game on YES, and I stg he is like the chillest dude ever behind the mic😂 always cracking jokes and just an overall cool guy

[@Mike-fd1lq]

It's truly hilarious how much Paul the person is NOTHING like Paul the player. He is just so laid back and humble off the field.

[@jaycepero8069]

I freaking love Paul O'Neil. Those late 90s Yankees are the last MLB dynasty.

[@dirtface5923]

he had such a cool swing and he caught a ball in his hat for a kid dying of cancer.

[@TheShadowXIII]

Paul O’Neill wanted to get a hit or get on base every time he came up to the plate and he damn well made sure he tried too and thats one of the reasons why us Yankee fans loved him so much. Sure that dynasty dosent exist without the key ingridients like Mariano, Jeter, or Bernie. But it dosent exist without Paul either.

[@ricaug50]

Nice job guys! I'm a life long baseball/Cardinal fan, I always got a kick (no pun intended) from watching guys blow their tops during the game and Paul O'Neill was a master. As good as he was smashing water coolers and throwing helmets, he was even better at getting clutch hits, (and clutch kicks)! He truly was a baseball warrior.

[@BenjaminHyink]

My favorite freakout is big Papi demolishing the phone in the dugout in Baltimore

[@georgerodriguez2987]

Great Yankee very underrated player around baseball saw most of it as a kid loved him like crazy just one of those incredible competitors in Yankees history A-Rod said it best in that Esquire article you did not want O’Neill to beat you

[@floridasportsworld]

That Yankee team in the late 90's was special. I loved Paul O'Neil, Daryl Strawberry, Jeter, David Wells, Bernie Williams, Posada, El Duque, Hideki Irabu, Tino Martinez, David Cone, Pettit. Rivera, that team was legendary. Tough, Gritty, New York. I hated the Yankees but admired them at the same time. Nothing like the old Yankee Stadium, the fans and that team was special. Tino Martinez as well so many players on that team were so good and critical.

[@bartbujanda7297]

Posada

[@jaycompany4886]

Paul O'Neil was a important cog in those championships....great money player.....i remember that catch he made against the braves in their 1st chip.

[@explorewithme4707]

I just started this video. But somewhere in here better be the time. He kicked the ball to 1st base. That’s one of the greatest baseball clips ever.

[@FicoCS2]

I couldn't make a vid about him without showing the clip haha

[@ethanniedorowski116]

Life long baseball fan 37 never seen that.... maybe greatest willing this shit to happen I've ever seen... 🤔 I mean really dropped the ball an in 1 sec makes the call that kicking a dot was the only play

[@TheRandalHandle]

I remember watching O'Neill destroying various features in the dugout when I was a kid. It was pretty impressive. Unfortunately I'm a Seattle fan so there are bad memories as well....

[@bryantsteury8910]

“No you’ll never get another hit again” that’s exactly the kind of sarcasm my dad used when we were kids and struggling. It absolutely helped however because it comically put it into perspective how absurd that question was

[@snap8626]

There's a reason 42000 NY fans stood chanting the name of this non hall of famer for the entire final half inning of his career. he actually cared.

[@NR-xj3nf]

I was watching him on the YES postgame tonight (game 4 2024 WS), and you can tell he *still* really cares. He has the passion of a fan. Whether he's playing in the game, or just a spectator. That's why he's so beloved.

[@GaIeforce]

Lou Piniella managed Paul O'Neill back in his Cincinatti years, but it's also important to know that Lou Piniella, too, was no stranger to freakouts of his own as well. That freakout of his when he kicked his cap around was a classic.

[@joeabraham878]

I'm the same age as O'Neill and also from Columbus, so I played against him quite a bit growing up. He had a major temper then and we used to needle him from the dugout. One game in high school, he was pitching (he threw gas, naturally) and we hit him some and Brookhaven took him out and put him in right field. He was seething. I recall there was no fence - or a really deep one - and one of our guys hit one over his head. He went back and got the ball, I'm guessing maybe 380 feet from the plate and threw an absolute strike to third base to almost get the runner. We were in the third base dugout and all of us who had been riding him just looked at each other and started laughing, like wtf was that?

[@joeabraham878]

And by some crazy chance, I happened to go on a baseball trip in 1989 to several stadiums and was sitting in an empty right field in Philly when O'Neill kicked that ball back into the infield.

[@Jungle61767]

I played 1 year of baseball with him at Brookhaven, he was a senior , and I was a freshman, He was unbelievable, I remember him hitting home runs at Brookhaven, that hit houses on carbone ave., once he broke picture window on a house…

[@medguy12]

Oldest player to reach the 20/20 plateau. He was always finding ways to help his club win

[@big8dog887]

The irony of the Paul O'Neill-Lou Piniella beef is that Piniella had pretty much the exact same personality.

[@jamz5871]

Your right, I watched Piniella smash a few coolers in the 70's with the Yankees. Frankly, I think guys like them and Munson who are hard on themselves bring out the best in their team mates. Hence, "The Warrior".

[@denistuohy2535]

One of the most underrated and under appreciated players ever

[@Where2bub]

😂 SNY “Or snee if you would” @1:24

[@Headhunter_212]

lol. I heckled O’Neill (1988? With Cincy vs KC Haines city FL?). In spring training game. He was a mile behind some guy’s belt-high fastball for a swinging strike. We were 5-6 rows directly behind the plate at weekday day game and I’m giving him both barrels (clean material, mind you). And he steps out and stares right back at where we were sitting. I Didn’t buy another beer all day.

[@guardianeifie]

Best baseball freakout: Lloyd McClenden when he ripped the bases out of the ground and chucked them around the diamond.

[@jeffjacobson59]

Hal McRae

[@gloriagurinko9237]

My absolute fave of all time! Loved his passion for the game!!! I don't have just one favorite memory, but I loved his last game when fans chanted his name for what seemed like FOREVER❣️ Also, how I wept right along with him to the song "We Are the Champions" after the game the night his father passed.

[@bigdavey8863]

They begged him for one more year? No they didn't, they knew he was retiring and chanted his name as a thank you knowing it was his last appearance at Yankee stadium. Seeing these extra flourishes added to a story makes me wonder when watching videos about players before my time. What extra details get added that someone from that time would say "no it didn't ya goof"

[@David..]

Loved watching this man play. Very clutch hitter and always put good at bats together in high pressure situations liked Matsui for the same reason. It’s kind of funny how he’s like basically a human Labrador Retriever in retirement since I spent all those years watching him destroy water coolers and being a crazy person but that’s just how it goes when you’re really focused and intense about something. Side note I’m pretty sure the companies that sponsored those coolers (or what was in them) loved the attention he drew to them 😂.

[@elissacasiano1969]

I don't know if anyone noticed, but his temper really cooled off toward the end of his career. I read the book he wrote about him and his dad, and it turns out that his kid started throwing O'Neill tantrums in little league. Got him thinking about all the kids that watched him play every day and what kind of role model he used to be. Just another reason to love him!

[@scruggy3337]

In my family, those types of intense outbursts of anger, were simply referred to as "Getting Your Irish Up".

[@mikeshoe74]

'Flame thrower and All Around Bastard, John Rocker'.....hahahaha

[@BSmokeyGaming]

I can definitely see why Bryce Harper actually adapted that personality from Paul O’Neal and Bryce actually reminds me of O’Neal’s play style and his passion of baseball back then.

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

People still dislike Bryce Harper for how arrogant he is...

[@elissacasiano1969]

Bryce Harper spent years sh*tting on the city he played for. They are not the same.

[@JustinTheSpider]

My Aunt's favorite player. him and Tino "My Paulie" my Aunt says to me

[@pac-man2907]

Paul O’Neil was the first pro baseball player that I ever met in person. 1991 at a baseball signing in a mall. His size and physicality blew me away. Worthy tribute.

[@elliotthunter6226]

Seems like he was always a tough out. Underrated player for sure

[@uberboomer8670]

I was a teenager watching him and the Yankees dominate my Sox, but he was one of those guys that no matter how fierce the rivalry you couldn't help but respect the hell out of

[@BronsonFerri]

"Your dad got to watch this one" fucking got me.

[@joehuettinger3300]

My favorite player growing up. I always wore his number

[@elissacasiano1969]

I still wear his number at the games!

[@SlugCult718]

I'm Bronx born and raised in the Mattingly era, and I grew up practically inside Yankee Stadium. But I think every Yankee fan who's a little older has to rate George Brett's pine tar freak out in their top three freakouts of all time. I was present for many memorable moments at Yankee Stadium, but I WISH I was there for that one!!

[@manuelpinzon7207]

I am 31, liked the Yankees since I have memory, and Paul is one of the first players I remember, a pleasure to watch him play

[@chriscreaturo8809]

I never get tired when the YES broadcast brings up the water cooler incident 😂😂 so good

[@Chili-su3mm]

He is my favorite player of all time, thank you for this.

[@jeffreykoran4820]

HE SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME...HE WAS THAT GOOD!!!!

[@jclad5929]

Bro thats literally me, Im way too competitive in Baseball and I can't control myself, I also have high standards for myself and if I do one thing wrong Ill get so mad.

[@SRSMike]

My Mets fan father might disown me for saying I appreciate Paul O'Neill

[@shawnrieser6299]

Went to high school with him good dude

[@jeffpestano1296]

That’s what happens when you play in a little league park. That clip should be enough evidence for the MLB to force the Yankees to put a wall up at the distance for adults. In my HS & college career I never got to play on a field that easy to hit HRs in. O’Neil thought he hit a pop up.

[@nypinstripes]

The Warrior!

[@voidvisual]

PAUL O'NEILL 👏👏👏👏👏

[@NeoJester23]

He was the reason I wore 21 on my high school baseball team

[@MikeyB540]

Dudes will see this and say hell yeah

[@zacharyliles8657]

hell yeah

[@FicoCS2]

hell yeah

[@tonyrichard7966]

The warrior!!! Bar none!!!!

[@joegti10]

paul oneill has intangibles and was a pure winner which cant be statistically measured by the nerds.

[@decker528]

There's nothing the nerds can't measure, just ask one

[@joeschmoe6908]

Being on high-payroll teams full of superstars is an intangible now?

[@SakAttack87]

​@@joeschmoe6908Highest payroll? Is that why the Orioles won the WS in 1998?

[@keithharper1470]

Paul always had a good swing

[@Bpg1111]

Lou Piniella is Spanish. The true pronunciation of his last name is “Pee-nay-ya”

[@gamebred88]

I remember watching O’Neil as a kid. Dude was intense 😂

[@MassTrucker92]

I love the Banjo Kazooie music. Perfect for Paul.

[@johncooper9887]

O'Neill was guerilla handler for Daryl Strawberry, I remember watching him dragging Daryll back to the dugout many times

[@king_like_playa]

Tomorrow night, Paul O’Neil has to catch a fly ball in his hat…

[@smoceany9478]

jim abbot and pat venditte also have special handedness sections on their bbref

[@masonthorne1107]

Mike I need to know where you got that Randy arozarena shirt I need it

[@behindthe_bases]

My dad named my middle name after him. He is one of my faves to listen to on YES.

[@davidperez909]

This was so great to watch as a kid.

[@miguelecastro]

My favorite Yankee of all time, Paul O'Neil.

[@josephsalyers8405]

Growing up as a Reds fan, I was pretty young when they traded O'neill to the Yanks. But I still remember thinking that they we're making a mistake even then. Maybe it was his destiny to play in pinstripes, still even now I can't help but wish he could've retired with us. Hard not to respect a man who leaves it all on the field every single time. Miss you Paulie! 😡🤬🤪

[@SomeTomahawk]

Prayers for your friend good sir I'm so sorry he's going through that ):

[@JB-wh3we]

Love Paul O, but in all fairness, he never had to overcome such an opressive obstscle like Jazz Chisolm's being teased by his older teammates. Lol.

[@jgangstahippie]

Should have included his game saving catch in the 96 WS on a balky hamstring.

[@MuRR1zzLe]

Never forget the water cooler memorial at his # retirement

[@sporer_]

I totally get the "let me get more mad at myself than anyone else can get at me" mentality as I'm guilty of it, too, but it's suuuuuper uncomfortable for other teammates and I'm sure a lot of guys hated that shit

[@kevinarthur8488]

As an 80s baby and 90s kid, and a lifelong yankees fan…. Yes even before 1996…. 3 players I never felt got the credit they deserved in pinstripes were bernie Williams, hideki matsui, and Paul O’Neil. When the bright lights of the playoffs came on you could always count on these guys to step it up. Also Paul O’Neil is a pretty decent commentator/broadcaster nowadays. He’s nearly the opposite personality as I thought he would be, and I mean that in a very good way.

[@snerdterguson]

Bernie Williams is the perfect definition of borderline HOF. He was the offensive driving force of the best team in baseball over a stretch of about 8-10 years, is in the top ten of basically every postseason batting stat, from 1995-2003 was a better hitter than Ken Griffey Jr. All that screams HOF, but his overall numbers in the regular season fall a bit short of Hall worthiness. I personally feel he's a HOF worthy player, but I don't think it is outrageous that he's not in like I feel for Mattingly and Munson. And Bernie is my favorite Yankee in my lifetime. I was lucky enough to see him play a TON of games when he was in AA. So many, that he recognized my 9-10 year old self when my family was on vacation in Pennsylvania and decided to catch an AC Yankees v Reading Phillies game. Saw us sitting by the visitor dugout and came jogging over pre game and called to me and my sister by name. Completely blew my mind, and I've never forgotten how kind and outgoing he was to kids like me at the ballpark when he was on his way up. Class act.

[@thomasguglielmo1509]

The Tommy lasodra freakout

[@MrOctober44]

Great Yankee. 🙂

[@theDiReW0lf]

Favorite player of all time. Probably why I would get so pissed off when I struck out in little league.

[@MelvinTheMilkman]

"Im a Yankees fan" goes on to massacre Sweet Lou's last name. Okay

[@TurfShoeNation]

you should do a video on the 1980s islanders dynasty in the nhl. they won 4 stanley cups in a row and won the most playoff series in a row by any north american sports team ever. their dynasty is so forgotten

[@Bojax-y3z]

Hockey is for Canadians

[@JoeRogansForehead]

Cause nobody cares about hockey

[@susanmenegus5543]

The warrior 🗽🗽🗽

[@rickywilsoniv4414]

0:48 The wall was 314, it was the biggest joke in baseball... in his defense, it was a fuckin pop up 😂

[@DemoMan_69]

The first freakout I ever saw was Ramon Laurano against the Astros

[@stephen_cs]

Cespedes kick turned out worse for the New York team in 2015

[@chrisfloyd7316]

I hate the US healthcare system. Can't believe they're refusing to treat a cancer patient

[@FicoCS2]

It really fucking sucks.. shouldn't be a thing that can happen

[@lunarumbreon7699]

But how did he react after his 3rd homer of the day was changed to a triple and an error?

[@frankb3118]

I Wish that the Yankees new generation learn from O’Neill, I hate guys striking out 200 time and not getting mad

[@LegendMkr7]

Flamethrower and all around bastard, love it.

[@dink0011]

How do you not show the clip where he kicks the balll to the cutoff man from right field.

[@janellemaynait]

Only Albert Belle could be worst with anger issues but he was a beast

[@TheManchise517]

Oneals rant were epic but what a sweet swing..

[@joeysmiff1746]

Oneil is still my fave Yankee to this day

[@jemmemccann2952]

I love your channel and all of your content, but when you mispronounce Lou Piniella’s name, I have no trouble believing you are not actually a “baseball historian.” 😀

[@MrBerger6]

0:52 yes Bryce Harper on that opposite field home run vs the Cubs.

[@SheltonHull]

You're doing God's work here.

[@ChairmanMeow1]

Its a miracle there arent freakouts constantly. I mean its cliche to say, but you fail 70% of the time! O'Neill was batshit but he put that passion into his game too, so everyone loved him.

[@iamhungey12345]

Plus the fans may have seen themselves in the guy at times as well. If things doesn't goes well, he'd share the same frustration.

[@rasfrank1]

Wasn’t it O’Neil that got beaned in the back by Baltimors Benitez, to start the brawl of the century??!!!! How could that be left out??!!!!

[@michaelcatalano6208]

Na it was tino Martinez

[@andrewsells3420]

THE COLLAB TOOK ME OFF GUARD LETS GO

[@bigdavey8863]

"Pinyella"