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Both teams would eventually succumb the division to the [[New York Mets]] in 1973, but they would again find themselves in a tight race in {{mlby|1974}}. Hebner hit a three run home run off Cardinals [[closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Al Hrabosky]] at [[Three Rivers Stadium]] on September 19 to carry his team to a 8-6 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QH4cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=21EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6100,1945904&dq|author=Fred McMane|date=September 20, 1974|title=Pirates as Good as Giusti|newspaper=[[The Dispatch (Lexington)]]}}</ref> Four days later, his team would travel to [[St. Louis]]. The Pirates' [[Jim Rooker]] and Cardinals' [[Lynn McGlothen]] both pitched masterfully, as the game headed into extra innings scoreless. In the top of the tenth, Hebner drove in [[Miguel Dilone]] for the only [[run (baseball)|run]] of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=45dPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W1IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3186,6948190&dq|title=Pirates Triumph|newspaper=[[The Bryan Times]]|date=September 23, 1974}}</ref> They would go on to win the division by a game and a half over the Cards.
Both teams would eventually succumb the division to the [[New York Mets]] in 1973, but they would again find themselves in a tight race in {{mlby|1974}}. Hebner hit a three run home run off Cardinals [[closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Al Hrabosky]] at [[Three Rivers Stadium]] on September 19 to carry his team to a 8-6 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QH4cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=21EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6100,1945904&dq|author=Fred McMane|date=September 20, 1974|title=Pirates as Good as Giusti|newspaper=[[The Dispatch (Lexington)]]}}</ref> Four days later, his team would travel to [[St. Louis]]. The Pirates' [[Jim Rooker]] and Cardinals' [[Lynn McGlothen]] both pitched masterfully, as the game headed into extra innings scoreless. In the top of the tenth, Hebner drove in [[Miguel Dilone]] for the only [[run (baseball)|run]] of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=45dPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W1IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3186,6948190&dq|title=Pirates Triumph|newspaper=[[The Bryan Times]]|date=September 23, 1974}}</ref> They would go on to win the division by a game and a half over the Cards.


After batting a career low .246, and seeing a drop off in every offensive category in {{mlby|1975}}, Hebner's salary was cut by the Pirates for {{mlby|1976}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bl4vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a9sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4856,6499860&dq|title=Brown Backed Hebner Into Corner|newspaper=[[Beaver County Times]]|date=March 30, 1976}}</ref> An abysmal month of May (.149 batting average, 5 RBIs) landed Hebner square in the crosshairs of Pirates fans and sports writers. After hovering in the low .200s for most of the 1976 season, he rebounded with an excellent month of September to bring his season average to .249 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs (both even further drop offs from the previous season). Needing a change in scenery, Hebner opted to play out his contract and become a [[free agent]] at the end of the season.
After batting a career low .246, and seeing a drop off in every offensive category in {{mlby|1975}}, Hebner's salary was cut by the Pirates for {{mlby|1976}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bl4vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a9sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4856,6499860&dq|title=Brown Backed Hebner Into Corner|newspaper=[[Beaver County Times]]|date=March 30, 1976}}</ref> Hebner was unhappy with his club's decision, and made his feelings known to the fans and media. Coupled with an abysmal month of May (.149 batting average, 5 RBIs), this landed Hebner square in the crosshairs of Pirates fans and sports writers. After hovering in the low .200s for most of the 1976 season, he rebounded with an excellent month of September to bring his season average to .249 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs (both even further drop offs from the previous season). Needing a change in scenery, Hebner opted to play out his contract and become a [[free agent]] at the end of the season.


==Philadelphia Phillies==
==Philadelphia Phillies==
Pirates [[General Manager (baseball)|General Manager]] [[Pete Peterson (baseball)|Pete Peterson]] attempted to dissuade Hebner from signing with another team, and offered to match any dollar offer he would receive from another team. Regardless, Hebner signed with the division rival [[Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pn9IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4603,1091273&dq|author=Charley Feeney|date=December 8, 1976|title=Hebner Says He's Richer, Not Wiser|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]}}</ref>
Pirates [[General Manager (baseball)|General Manager]] [[Pete Peterson (baseball)|Pete Peterson]] attempted to dissuade Hebner from signing with another team, and offered to match any dollar offer he would receive from another team. Regardless, Hebner signed with the division rival [[Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pn9IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4603,1091273&dq|author=Charley Feeney|date=December 8, 1976|title=Hebner Says He's Richer, Not Wiser|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]}}</ref>


With perennial [[All-Star]] and [[Gold Glove]] winner [[Mike Schmidt]] already at third, Phillies [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Danny Ozark]] shifted Hebner (who was never a very good fielding third baseman) across the diamond to first base.
With perennial [[All-Star]] and [[Gold Glove]] winner [[Mike Schmidt]] manning third, the Phillies shifted Hebner (who was never a very good fielding third baseman) across the diamond to first base. Hebner took to his new position nicely (.991 [[fielding percentage]] versus .946 at third base for the Pirates), and also enjoyed something of a renaissance with the bat. He batted .285 with eighteen home runs and 62 RBIs to help the Phillies return to the post season for a second year in a row.

Hebner was part of a controversial play in the [[1977 National League Championship Series]]. With the series tied at one game apiece, and the Phillies holding onto a 5-3 lead in game three at [[Veterans Stadium]], [[Dusty Baker]] and [[Rick Monday]] led off the Dodger half of the ninth inning with ground outs, tying Hebner for the [[National League]] playoff record for putouts with fourteen. After a [[single (baseball)|single]] by [[Vic Davalillo]] and [[double (baseball)|double]] by [[Manny Mota]] scoring Davalillo, [[Davey Lopes]] hit a ground ball to Schmidt at third that he was unable to handle cleanly. Phillies shortstop [[Larry Bowa]] quickly picked up the ball, and hurled it to Hebner for the final out of the game, and a National League record fifteenth putout for Hebner. However, first base [[umpire]] [[Bruce Froemming]] called Lopes safe, allowing Mota to score the tying run. After a botched [[pickoff]] attempt moved Lopes to second, [[Bill Russell (baseball)|Bill Russell]] drove him home with a single to center for the game winning run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BWYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NTIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=3443,3900426&dq|title=Hebner of Phillies Sure Lopes was Out at First|newspaper=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]|date=October 8, {{mlby|1977}}}}</ref>


==Coaching==
==Coaching==

Revision as of 10:24, 21 June 2013

Richie Hebner
Third baseman
Born: (1947-11-26) November 26, 1947 (age 76)
Norwood, Massachusetts
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
debut
September 23, 1968, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last appearance
October 3, 1985, for the Chicago Cubs
Career statistics
Batting average.276
Home runs203
Runs batted in890
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Richard Joseph Hebner (born November 26, 1947) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, and the current batting coach for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Hebner was also known for working as a gravedigger at a cemetery run by his father and brother, Dennis, during the off-season.

Early years

The left handed batting Hebner threw right handed, and was originally a shortstop when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round (15 overall) of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft.[1] He was converted to third base in the minors, and batted .308 with twelve home runs and 84 runs batted in to receive a September call-up to the majors in 1968.

Pittsburgh Pirates

When Maury Wills was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft,[2] it created a hole at third base that Hebner was expected to fill.[3] Hebner got off to a torrid start to his rookie season, as he flirted with a .400 batting average through the middle of May. By season's end, he settled into a .301 average with eight home runs and 47 RBIs.

Hebner put up similar numbers in 1970 (.290 average, 11 home runs, 46 RBIs), but crushed Chicago Cubs pitching (.333 average, 3 home runs, 13 RBIs in 15 games) to help his team capture the National League East by five games over their division rival. Despite the fact that they were swept by Cincinnati's mighty "Big Red Machine" in the 1970 National League Championship Series, Hebner had a great series. He was six-for-eight with two walks.

Whereas his batting average dipped in 1971 (.271), Hebner's power numbers increased, as he clubbed seventeen home runs and drove in 67. The Pirates repeated as division champions, and faced the San Francisco Giants in the 1971 National League Championship Series. With the series tied at one game apiece, and the Pirates winning the third game by a score of 1-0, Hebner committed a throwing error in the sixth inning that allowed the Giants to tie the score. He redeemed himself in the eighth, however, hitting a game winning solo shot off Juan Marichal to give the Pirates the 2-1 edge in the series.[4] He provided similar heroics in the fourth game of the NLCS with another Hall of Fame pitcher on the mound. With the Giants leading 5-2, Hebner hit a three run home run off Gaylord Perry to tie the score.[5]

The Pirates went on to a 9-5 victory, and faced the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Hebner continued his trend of hitting home runs off Hall of Fame pitchers, as the only scoring the Pirates did off Jim Palmer in the second game of the series was Hebner's three run homer.[6] The Pirates would win the World Series in seven games.

Hebner clubbed nineteen home runs and batted an even .300 in 1972 to help his team cruise to the post season for the third straight year. He hit a career high 25 home runs in 1973, the most memorable of which came when the St. Louis Cardinals and Pirates went into extra innings in the first game of a September 3 doubleheader. When the two teams battling for first place in the division, Hebner led off the bottom of the thirteenth inning with a walk off inside-the-park home run.[7]

Both teams would eventually succumb the division to the New York Mets in 1973, but they would again find themselves in a tight race in 1974. Hebner hit a three run home run off Cardinals closer Al Hrabosky at Three Rivers Stadium on September 19 to carry his team to a 8-6 victory.[8] Four days later, his team would travel to St. Louis. The Pirates' Jim Rooker and Cardinals' Lynn McGlothen both pitched masterfully, as the game headed into extra innings scoreless. In the top of the tenth, Hebner drove in Miguel Dilone for the only run of the game.[9] They would go on to win the division by a game and a half over the Cards.

After batting a career low .246, and seeing a drop off in every offensive category in 1975, Hebner's salary was cut by the Pirates for 1976.[10] Hebner was unhappy with his club's decision, and made his feelings known to the fans and media. Coupled with an abysmal month of May (.149 batting average, 5 RBIs), this landed Hebner square in the crosshairs of Pirates fans and sports writers. After hovering in the low .200s for most of the 1976 season, he rebounded with an excellent month of September to bring his season average to .249 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs (both even further drop offs from the previous season). Needing a change in scenery, Hebner opted to play out his contract and become a free agent at the end of the season.

Philadelphia Phillies

Pirates General Manager Pete Peterson attempted to dissuade Hebner from signing with another team, and offered to match any dollar offer he would receive from another team. Regardless, Hebner signed with the division rival Philadelphia Phillies.[11]

With perennial All-Star and Gold Glove winner Mike Schmidt manning third, the Phillies shifted Hebner (who was never a very good fielding third baseman) across the diamond to first base. Hebner took to his new position nicely (.991 fielding percentage versus .946 at third base for the Pirates), and also enjoyed something of a renaissance with the bat. He batted .285 with eighteen home runs and 62 RBIs to help the Phillies return to the post season for a second year in a row.

Hebner was part of a controversial play in the 1977 National League Championship Series. With the series tied at one game apiece, and the Phillies holding onto a 5-3 lead in game three at Veterans Stadium, Dusty Baker and Rick Monday led off the Dodger half of the ninth inning with ground outs, tying Hebner for the National League playoff record for putouts with fourteen. After a single by Vic Davalillo and double by Manny Mota scoring Davalillo, Davey Lopes hit a ground ball to Schmidt at third that he was unable to handle cleanly. Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa quickly picked up the ball, and hurled it to Hebner for the final out of the game, and a National League record fifteenth putout for Hebner. However, first base umpire Bruce Froemming called Lopes safe, allowing Mota to score the tying run. After a botched pickoff attempt moved Lopes to second, Bill Russell drove him home with a single to center for the game winning run.[12]

Coaching

He also has had a long career as a batting coach at the Major League (Boston Red Sox (1989–91); Phillies (2001)) and minor league levels, as well as serving as a minor league manager in the Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays farm systems. His was also the hitting coach for the 2006 Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Hebner spent three years in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He was hired as manager of the Frederick Keys 49 games into the 2008 campaign on May 26, replacing Tommy Thompson who was granted a leave of absence due to personal reasons.[13] In the two seasons under Hebner's watch, the Keys went 35–55 (6–15/29–40) in 2008 and 64–75 (31–38/33–37) in 2009.[14] He was named the hitting coach for the Norfolk Tides on January 7, 2010,[15] but only lasted one season in that capacity when the Orioles declined to retain him on September 24.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mets Get First Choice in Free Agent Draft". The Virgin Islands Daily News. June 9, 1966.
  2. ^ "Expos Raid Pirates; Padres Tap Giants in Expansion Draft". The Palm Beach Post. October 15, 1968.
  3. ^ "Three Rookies May Start for Pirates". Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina). March 26, 1969.
  4. ^ "1971 National League Championship Series, Game Three". Baseball-Reference.com. October 5, 1971.
  5. ^ "1971 National League Championship Series, Game Four". Baseball-Reference.com. October 6, 1971.
  6. ^ "1971 World Series, Game Two". Baseball-Reference.com. October 11, 1971.
  7. ^ "Cardinals Win Second Game Over Pirates to Keep Lead". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. September 4, 1973.
  8. ^ Fred McMane (September 20, 1974). "Pirates as Good as Giusti". The Dispatch (Lexington).
  9. ^ "Pirates Triumph". The Bryan Times. September 23, 1974.
  10. ^ "Brown Backed Hebner Into Corner". Beaver County Times. March 30, 1976.
  11. ^ Charley Feeney (December 8, 1976). "Hebner Says He's Richer, Not Wiser". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  12. ^ "Hebner of Phillies Sure Lopes was Out at First". Lodi News-Sentinel. October 8, 1977. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Goldberg, Stan. "Hebner is Keys' new manager," Frederick (MD) News-Post, Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
  14. ^ "Hebner To Continue As Keys Skipper in 2009," Frederick Keys press release, Tuesday, January 13, 2009.
  15. ^ "Tides Name 2010 Coaching Staff," Norfolk Tides press release, Thursday, January 7, 2010.
  16. ^ Connolly, Dan. "Facebook allows Patton to meet half-sister for first time," The Baltimore Sun, Saturday, September 25, 2010.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Boston Red Sox Hitting Coach
1989–1991 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Frederick Keys manager
2007-2008 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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