Richie Hebner
Encyclopedia
Richard Joseph Hebner is an American former professional baseball
third baseman
. He played from 1968 to 1985 in Major League Baseball
. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Philadelphia Phillies
, New York Mets
, and Chicago Cubs
, all of the National League
, and the Detroit Tigers
of the American League
. He was a starter for the Pittsburgh team that won the 1971 World Series
. Hebner compiled a lifetime batting average
of .276 with 203 home run
s and 890 runs batted in in 1908 career games.
Hebner was also known for working as a gravedigger at a cemetery run by his father and brother Dennis.
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. 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. He was named the hitting coach for the Norfolk Tides
on January 7, 2010, but only lasted one season in that capacity when the Orioles declined to retain him on September 24.
Hebner was born in Norwood, Massachusetts
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
. He played from 1968 to 1985 in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, all of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. He was a starter for the Pittsburgh team that won the 1971 World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Hebner compiled a lifetime batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .276 with 203 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 890 runs batted in in 1908 career games.
Hebner was also known for working as a gravedigger at a cemetery run by his father and brother Dennis.
He also has had a long career as a batting coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
at the Major League (Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1989–91); Phillies (2001)) and minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
levels, as well as serving as a minor league manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in the Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
farm systems. His was also the hitting coach for the 2006 Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
, the Triple-A affiliate of the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Hebner spent three years in the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization. He was hired as manager of the Frederick Keys
Frederick Keys
The Frederick Keys minor league baseball team is the "High-A" class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for Star Spangled Banner poet Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. The team mascot is a coyote known as...
49 games into the 2008 campaign on May 26, replacing Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson (baseball, born 1957)
Tommy Brian Thompson is an American manager in minor league baseball. A catcher and first baseman during his playing days, he batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 6 feet tall and weighed 180 pounds ....
who was granted a leave of absence
Leave of absence
Leave of absence is a term used to describe a period of time that one is to be away from his/her primary job, while maintaining the status of employee...
due to personal reasons. 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. He was named the hitting coach for the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
on January 7, 2010, but only lasted one season in that capacity when the Orioles declined to retain him on September 24.
Hebner was born in Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,602. The community was named after Norwood, England...
.