The YES Network refuted errant social media posts that claimed Yankees legend and YES analyst Paul O’Neill has cancer.
“There are some fake Facebook posts (and who knows what else) circulating, stating that Paul O’Neill has cancer,” Yes Network’s vice president of communications Eric Handler told The Post and other outlets in a statement. “I just spoke with Paul. He DOES NOT have cancer!”
A Facebook post from a Yankees-centric accounted posted Wednesday that O’Neill had cancer and even included a fabricated quote from the 62-year-old, among other posts amplifying the same false claim.
Said account has plenty of fake posts regarding the team, yet has 13,000 followers.
The O’Neill fabricated report had more than 900 likes, over 275 likes and 40-plus shares as of Wednesday afternoon.
O’Neill is a beloved figure among Yankees fans for his role in the team’s dynastic run that netted four World Series titles from 1996-2000.
Known as “The Warrior,” O’Neill played nine years in The Bronx from 1993-2001 and won championships in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
He hit .303 with a .377 on-base percentage, .492 slugging percentage and .869 OPS with the team, hitting 185 homers and tallying at least 100 RBIs in four straight years from 1997-2000.
O’Neill won the AL batting crown after hitting .359 in 1994, and the franchise retired his No. 21 jersey in 2022.
He also earned a reputation for a fiery personality, often taking out his frustrations at the plate and in the field on unsuspecting water coolers.
During his 17-year career, which included eight years with his home state Reds, he tallied 2,105 hits and batted .288 with an .833 OPS.
The Yankees acquired him in a trade that sent Roberto Kelly to the Reds.
This past season marked O’Neill’s 24th with YES Network and he has won five Emmys during his time with the network, according to his bio.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
