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Richie Hebner
Richard Joseph Hebner (born November 26, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1968 through 1985, most prominently as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and won the World Series in 1971. After his playing career, Hebner spent several years as a hitting coach at the major league and minor league levels. He also managed minor league teams in the Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles organizations.
Hebner was born in Brighton, Massachusetts, a neighborhood of Boston. He was known for working as a gravedigger at a cemetery run by his father and brother, Dennis, during the offseason. 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 MLB draft out of Norwood High School. He was moved to third base in the minors, and batted .308 with 12home runs and 84 runs batted in (RBI) over three seasons in the minors to receive a September call-up to the majors in 1968.
Hebner also was quite the hockey player at Norwood, where he set a Bay State League record for career goals as one of the elite players in Massachusetts history. So physically dominant was the 6-foot, 210-pound center that he became villainized by rival fans. He was sometimes called "The Ted Williams of the Bay State League" because of the volume of catcalls that came his way. During his Pirates career, team broadcaster Bob Prince commonly referred to him as "Puck" in tribute to his hockey roots.
When Maury Wills was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft, it created a hole at third base that Hebner was expected to fill. Hebner got off to a torrid start to his rookie season. His batting average was as high as .398 in mid-May before he faltered late in the season. He closed with a .301 batting average, eight homers and 47 RBI.
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 RBI in 15 games) to help the Pirates capture the National League East by five games over their division rivals. While his team was swept by the favored Cincinnati Reds in the 1970 National League Championship Series, Hebner was one of its few players to have a productive series. He finished with four hits in six at-bats and two walks.
Whereas his batting average (.271) dipped in 1971, Hebner's power numbers increased. He clubbed 17 homers and drove in 67 runs. The Pirates repeated as division champions to face the San Francisco Giants in the 1971 National League Championship Series, which saw Hebner step up in a big way.
With the series tied at one game apiece and the Pirates ahead in the third game, 1–0, Hebner committed a throwing error in the sixth inning that allowed a run to score. He redeemed himself two innings later, hitting a game-winning solo shot off Giants ace Juan Marichal to give his team a 2–1 lead in the series.
Hebner provided similar heroics in the fourth game of the NLCS with another future Hall of Fame pitcher on the mound. The Giants led 5–2 when Hebner hit a three-run home run off Gaylord Perry to tie the score. The Pirates went on to a 9–5 victory and a date with the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
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Richie Hebner
Richard Joseph Hebner (born November 26, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1968 through 1985, most prominently as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and won the World Series in 1971. After his playing career, Hebner spent several years as a hitting coach at the major league and minor league levels. He also managed minor league teams in the Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles organizations.
Hebner was born in Brighton, Massachusetts, a neighborhood of Boston. He was known for working as a gravedigger at a cemetery run by his father and brother, Dennis, during the offseason. 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 MLB draft out of Norwood High School. He was moved to third base in the minors, and batted .308 with 12home runs and 84 runs batted in (RBI) over three seasons in the minors to receive a September call-up to the majors in 1968.
Hebner also was quite the hockey player at Norwood, where he set a Bay State League record for career goals as one of the elite players in Massachusetts history. So physically dominant was the 6-foot, 210-pound center that he became villainized by rival fans. He was sometimes called "The Ted Williams of the Bay State League" because of the volume of catcalls that came his way. During his Pirates career, team broadcaster Bob Prince commonly referred to him as "Puck" in tribute to his hockey roots.
When Maury Wills was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft, it created a hole at third base that Hebner was expected to fill. Hebner got off to a torrid start to his rookie season. His batting average was as high as .398 in mid-May before he faltered late in the season. He closed with a .301 batting average, eight homers and 47 RBI.
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 RBI in 15 games) to help the Pirates capture the National League East by five games over their division rivals. While his team was swept by the favored Cincinnati Reds in the 1970 National League Championship Series, Hebner was one of its few players to have a productive series. He finished with four hits in six at-bats and two walks.
Whereas his batting average (.271) dipped in 1971, Hebner's power numbers increased. He clubbed 17 homers and drove in 67 runs. The Pirates repeated as division champions to face the San Francisco Giants in the 1971 National League Championship Series, which saw Hebner step up in a big way.
With the series tied at one game apiece and the Pirates ahead in the third game, 1–0, Hebner committed a throwing error in the sixth inning that allowed a run to score. He redeemed himself two innings later, hitting a game-winning solo shot off Giants ace Juan Marichal to give his team a 2–1 lead in the series.
Hebner provided similar heroics in the fourth game of the NLCS with another future Hall of Fame pitcher on the mound. The Giants led 5–2 when Hebner hit a three-run home run off Gaylord Perry to tie the score. The Pirates went on to a 9–5 victory and a date with the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
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