In 1998, a fan named his son after Paul O’Neill. Twenty-six years later, the Yankees legend met his namesake. But it was much more than just a meeting.
Two years after their initial FaceTime call, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz finally met his namesake, former Yankees star and current broadcaster Paul O’Neill, in person. The two came together before the Pirates’ 9-4 victory over the Yankees on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
Cruz, speaking through Pirates interpreter and coach Stephen Morales, expressed his excitement and gratitude for the long-awaited face-to-face meeting, “I feel really happy, it’s my pleasure to finally meet him.”
Their first interaction took place during the Pirates’ visit to New York in 2022 when O’Neill wasn’t in the broadcast booth for YES Network. At that time, O’Neill, who spent 17 years in the majors with the Yankees and Cincinnati Reds, sent Cruz a signed jersey as a token of their connection.
O’Neill accepts emotional fan moment
O’Neill reflected on the honor of having fans name their children after him, calling it a special tribute. Cruz was born in 1998, a year that holds particular significance for O’Neill, as it was when the Yankees captured another World Series title.
The meeting between Cruz and O’Neill showcased the deep, generational bonds that baseball creates between players and fans, highlighting the respect and admiration shared across different eras of the game.
“When you hear these stories about Yankees fans naming their children, it’s quite an honor, really,” he said. “I saw he was born in 1998. It was a wonderful year for us [Yankees won the World Series].
Oneil Cruz’s distinctive name comes from his father, Rafael Cruz, who played briefly in the Texas Rangers organization in the mid-1980s. A devoted fan of Paul O’Neill, Rafael decided to name his son after his favorite player, born in 1998.
Cruz recalled that growing up, people in his hometown often thought he was named after basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. He would clarify the real inspiration, explaining that it was a tribute to his father’s baseball idol. Cruz admitted he hasn’t delved deeply into the story of his name but has always known its origin.
“In my hometown, ever since I was a child, everyone used to assume my name came from Shaquille O’Neal,”he explained. “I’d have to correct them and said, ‘No, it’s another guy, my dad’s favorite ballplayer.’ To this day, I haven’t really dug in to find out, but I need to get the full story.”
Though connected to O’Neill, Cruz has struggled against the Yankees early in his career, with just one hit in 11 at-bats since his debut in 2021. However, 2024 has been a breakout year for the young shortstop, as he’s hit 21 home runs, 34 doubles, and driven in 76 runs—statistics that caught the attention of O’Neill himself.
O’Neill praised Cruz’s physical attributes and performance, remarking on his impressive size and acknowledging his potential for a bright future in baseball. Hearing such recognition from the player who inspired his name adds a special layer to Cruz’s growing career.
This story underscores how baseball legacies can be passed down in unexpected ways—like a name—and how those connections can come full circle in a meaningful way years later.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
