Richie Hebner
From BR Bullpen
Richard Joseph Hebner ("Grave-Digger")
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 197 lb.
- High school Norwood (MA) High School
- Debut September 23, 1968
- Final Game October 3, 1985
- Born November 26, 1947 in Boston, MA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Richie Hebner hit 203 home runs over his 18-year career. He held an off-season job as a grave-digger at a time when major league ballplayers sometimes still held other jobs during the off-season.
Hebner, a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1966 amateur draft, reached the majors for good at the age of 21 in 1969. Along with Al Oliver, he formed a much-heralded rookie duo for the team. Hebner was a left-handed line-drive hitter with decent power, and played an adequate third base. He started at third for several Pirates' postseason teams in the early 1970s. Hebner was a slow runner, however, and his value as a starter was largely gone by his late 20s. He stayed in the majors for many years as a platoon first baseman who could pinch-hit and play some third and outfield, notably for the 1977-1978 division champion Phillies and later the 1984 Cubs.
After his playing career ended, Hebner was hitting coach of the Boston Red Sox from 1989 to 1991 and a member of the Philadelphia Phillies staff in 2001.He was the hitting coach for the AAA Durham Bulls from 2002 to 2006 and served as interim manager when John Tamargo was suspended for bumping an umpire. Following the 2006 season, Hebner was fired along with the rest of the Bulls field staff. In 2007, he became hitting coach of the Birmingham Barons. In 2008, Hebner was the hitting coach of the Nashua Pride, before being named as a replacement manager for the Frederick Keys on May 26, 2008.
Hebner's brother William Hebner, was an International League umpire.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1973)
- Won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Myrtle Beach Blue Jays | South Atlantic League | 83-56 | 1st/3rd | Toronto Blue Jays | Lost in playoffs | |
| 1995 | Syracuse Chiefs | International League | 33-39 | 5th | Toronto Blue Jays | replaced Hector Torres (0-1) | |
| 1996 | Syracuse Chiefs | International League | 67-75 | 4th | Toronto Blue Jays | ||
| 2000 | Nashville Sounds | Pacific Coast League | 34-51 | 13th | Pittsburgh Pirates | replaced Trent Jewett (29-28) on June 6 | |
| 2008 | Frederick Keys | Carolina League | 35-55 | 6th | Baltimore Orioles | replaced Tommy Thompson on May 26 | |
| 2009 | Frederick Keys | Carolina League | Baltimore Orioles |
[edit] Sources and Further Reading
- Cauley, Bill: "Richie Hebner Returns As Keys' Manager", in The Frederick News-Post, January 13, 2009. [1]
