O’Neal, a sinkerballer and split-finger pitcher, bounced from the Tigers’ starting rotation to bullpen to Triple-A affiliate in 1985-86, never winning manager Sparky Anderson‘s confidence. He opened the 1987 season with Atlanta, posted a 5.23 ERA in 11 games, and got into a scuffle with manager Chuck Tanner when told he was being sent down. He was traded to St. Louis for Joe Boever the next month. He played three more seasons before being released for the final time in October 1990.
