Paul O’Neal’s brief “Seinfeld” cameo still pays off, literally.
The former New York Yankees star appeared in the Season 7 episode “The Wink” as one of several Yankees to appear on the popular 1990s series.
For those who don’t know, O’Neal’s episode involves Kramer, played by Michael Richards, promising a young boy in the hospital that he’ll let him hit two home runs in one game into right field. A birthday card signed by a member of the Yankees sold by owner George Steinbrenner has been returned.
During Wednesday’s broadcast of the Yankees-Houston Astros game on the YES Network, color commentator David Cone called O’Neal a “star” for his work on the show.
Cone, who was O’Neal’s teammate from 1995 to 2000, asked O’Neal if he still had any leftovers from the program.
“Yes, it’s about $57.” O’Neill answered. “It’s not a big time. But I have fond memories of you being on that show. It’s kind of cool.”
Play-by-play announcer Michael Kay quipped, “That’s a glass of wine at a nice restaurant.”
In addition to O’Neal, Yankees players Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Danny Tartable and director Buck Showalter also appear in the series, which features a stunt double for Steinbrenner and co-creator Larry David. The scene, which was voiced by Steinbrenner (the real Steinbrenner did the movie), was never used, but it wasn’t as open to the mistakes made in trading Jay Buehner for Ken Phelps as the fake scene. ).
O’Neal hit multiple home runs in 15 games during his career, including his third home run on August 31, 1995. (The game in the “Seinfeld” episode wasn’t included, since it was clearly an on-field home run.) He hit a triple and scored on an error. )
The Yankees will retire his number 21 in 2022.
It was worn by pitcher LaTroy Hawkins in 2008, seven years after O’Neal retired, but was booed for doing so and remained unofficially retired until officially honored at Monument Park.
O’Neal played for the Yankees from 1993 to 2001 after spending the previous eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds.
