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Former Yankee outfielder Paul O’Neill endorses Donald Trump
- Updated: March 9, 2016
JOE SKIPPER/REUTERSDonald Trump hugs former New York Yankees star Paul O’Neill (r) before a speech in Jupiter, Fla. on Tuesday.
This endorsement really came out of right field.
Former Yankee star Paul O’Neill endorsed Donald Trump on Tuesday at a Jupiter, Fla., news conference — and the bombastic bozo returned the “love.”
The YES Network broadcaster appeared at Trump National Golf Club, where the GOP presidential front-runner was discussing the results from Republican primaries in Michigan, Mississippi and Idaho and caucuses in Hawaii.
Trump had already been declared the winner of Michigan and Mississippi when he took the stage around 8:30 p.m. and showed his love for O’Neill.
“Hey, Paul, you come from Ohio?” Trumped asked.
TRUMP WINS MICHIGAN, MISSISSIPPI PRIMARIES; HILLARY WINS MISSISSIPPI, BUT LOSES MICHIGAN
O’Neill nodded and then Trump asked the former Yankee endorsed him.
O’Neil smiled and appeared to say, “I’m here.”
Trump gushed, saying, “I love you! Thank you!”
Word of O’Neill’s endorsement struck many Yankee fans like a fastball in the back.
“Finding out Paul O’Neill supports Trump is like finding out Santa brings toys to ISIS,” tweeted “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update writer Peter Schultz.
“Paul O’Neill, one of my all-time favorite Yankees, just endorsed Trump. … I also just learned that one of my favorite Yankees is an idiot …” wrote Clayton Davis.
FORMER MLB CLOSER JOHN ROCKER ENDORSES DONALD TRUMP
“Paul O’Neill being at a Trump rally is an assault on my childhood,” wrote Bobby Daniels.
But others were fans of the endorsement, and apparently of O’Neill. “Yankee Paul O’Neill endorses Trump!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I weren’t already a Trump supporter, I would be now,” right wing commentator Ann Coulter tweeted.
O’Neill isn’t the first ex-Yankee to voice support for the contentious candidate.
Last year, former slugger Johnny Damon said he’d support Trump, hoping he would “make a statement in this race.”
Damon’s endorsement was not much of a surprise considering he was a contestant on Trump’s reality show “Celebrity Apprentice.”
Lynne Sladky/APDonald Trump has compiled a list of strange celebrity endorsements that now includes Paul O’Neill.
On Tuesday night, Trump thanked O’Neill for appearing at the event, which featured a table laden with Trump wine, water and steaks, and said his endorsement would be a boon to the billionaire.
“Now that I have Paul O’Neill’s endorsement, I know I’m going to win Ohio,” Trump said.
That of course would require rival candidate John Kasich to lose the state where he’s the two-term governor.
The Ohio primary is Tuesday.
O’Neill, a 53-year-old former baseball icon who grew up in the Buckeye State, played 17 seasons in the MLB.
He definitely knows a thing — or five — about one of Trump’s favorite topics.
The outfielder was dubbed “The Warrior” by late Yankee owner George Steinbrenner for his fiery desire to win.
He became a beloved fixture of the Yankees in the 1990s, winning four World Series rings with the organization from 1996 to 2000.
He also played for the 1990 champion Cincinnati Reds.
Trump has racked up a long list of strange celebrity endorsements including John Rocker, Mike Tyson, Hulk Hogan, Mike Ditka, Ted Nugent and Gary Busey.
Ben Terris/The Washington Post
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