Paul O'Neill's "Seinfeld" Cameo Continues to Pay Dividends, Literally

Former New York Yankees star Paul O'Neill's brief appearance on "Seinfeld" still earns him residuals, albeit a modest amount of $57 per episode.

Paul O'Neill's brief but memorable cameo on the hit sitcom "Seinfeld" continues to yield financial rewards for the former New York Yankees star, albeit in a modest but amusing way.

During a recent broadcast of the Yankees game against the Houston Astros on the YES Network, O'Neill's fellow commentator David Cone playfully referred to him as a "star" for his acting role in the show. Cone then asked O'Neill if he still received residuals from the show.

With a chuckle, O'Neill replied, "Yeah, they're like 57 bucks." He added, "It's not big time, but it's a good reminder that you were on the show. It's kinda cool."

Play-by-play announcer Michael Kay quipped, "That's a glass of wine for you at a nice restaurant."

O'Neill appeared in the seventh season episode titled "The Wink," where Kramer promises a hospitalized boy that he would get the Yankees' right fielder to hit two home runs to retrieve a signed birthday card for George Steinbrenner.

While the in-game home runs did not materialize in the episode, O'Neill had 15 multi-homer games during his illustrious career, including a three-homer game in 1995.

O'Neill's "Seinfeld" appearance was one of several cameos by Yankees players during the show's peak in the 1990s. Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Danny Tartabull, and manager Buck Showalter also graced the show with their presence. A stunt double was used for Steinbrenner, voiced by co-creator Larry David.

In 2022, the Yankees retired O'Neill's No. 21, a testament to his enduring legacy as a key member of the team's championship teams. The number had been unofficially retired since 2008, when LaTroy Hawkins wore it and was met with boos from the Yankee faithful.

O'Neill played for the Yankees from 1993 to 2001, after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds. He was a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, known for his exceptional defense and timely hitting.

While his "Seinfeld" residuals may not be a significant source of income, they serve as a reminder of O'Neill's enduring presence in both the baseball and pop culture realms. The fact that his brief cameo still generates modest returns adds a humorous twist to his legacy as a Yankee icon.