Richie Hebner. Great to hear you again. One of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet and a fine ballplayer. He was beloved by his teammates. Forbes field. I was in the 2nd grade listening to my first World Series. Rooted for the Pirates because I loved the sleeveless uniforms. Bill Mazeroski hit the game winning homer and I didn't get to hear it because my friend sitting next to me had his transistor radio going. The teacher heard it and confiscated it. I wish they'd bring back afternoon baseball for the World Series.
I was a kid loving baseball when growing up. Two different times my grandmother said something about knowing Richie Hebner's family or his mother or something.I was too young to really care or ask her for details before she passed on. Always wondered how she knew them. I just know he was no easy out. A real competitor.
Richie was a real character and also a very good player too! One thing I will always remember is that he used to pull the back of his shirt up around his neck when he would be at bat :)
Do remember if when Richie was with the Phillies if he ever bunted the ball down the 3rd base side for 4 singles. I believe it was against Cinn, when the Reds played the shift against Richie?
Hebner very underrated, good player. I would have disagree with him on Pittsburgh being a football town. Yes, the Steelers had their dynasty years in the late 70's but the Burg had long been a baseball town 60's &70's. On chilly day 3 Rivers was brutally cold, Roberto was so much more than 3000 hits to us.
A childhood hero of mine. Richie Hebner. I was 9 in 71'. I remember the series, as my cousins lived in Baltimore and we lived outside of Pittsburgh. I was also at clemente's 3000th hit. Aaaaah, the good ole' days. I'd love to meet Richie
Back in the mid-70's my family had a restaurant in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. The Phillies used to stay in condos just down the road. One day Richie and a couple of other Phillies came in for breakfast. I ended up getting to know Richie really well and he got me into many spring training games over two years. Great guy and great memories for a young kid like me. Thanks Richie!
Saw a double header in 73 against the Padres...in the1st game Ken Brett almost pitched a perfect game while hitting a home run I think....in the second game, Brett hit another homer as a pinch hitter....also Pittsburgh was down by a run with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, and Hebner homered!
I can say I saw a game in Forbes Field in the 60s. Don't even remember who we played. Sat on the left field side with the great Willie Stargell not far away. I remember looking down on the big long grill covered with sizzling hot dogs. Things were simple then.
Thank you for posting this. I have fond memories of the Pirates starting in the mid 1960's. Richie was quite a character but a very productive ball player. He was an important part of the Pirate team that won 5 division titles in 6 years and 1 World Series. He then went on to help the Phillies win 2 division titles. I'm not sure if he was on the Phillies World Series team in 1980.
I was a big Hebner "Grave Digger" fan when I first started watching baseball after he moved to Philly in the mid to late 70's. He'd moved on to the Mets / Tigers by 1980 because Pete Rose signed with the Phillies in "79".
I would take the trolley into Oakland from East Liberty to watch the Pirates in the 60's. My mother would give me 5 bucks and that would cover everything.
Too bad he wasn't 5 years older he could of helped the Pirates win the title in 66 Bob Bailey wasn't too good. Nice comment about Forbes Field. Prince nicknamed him Elver Dugo
Richie Hebner. Great to hear you again. One of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet and a fine ballplayer. He was beloved by his teammates. Forbes field. I was in the 2nd grade listening to my first World Series. Rooted for the Pirates because I loved the sleeveless uniforms. Bill Mazeroski hit the game winning homer and I didn't get to hear it because my friend sitting next to me had his transistor radio going. The teacher heard it and confiscated it. I wish they'd bring back afternoon baseball for the World Series.
I was a kid loving baseball when growing up. Two different times my grandmother said something about knowing Richie Hebner's family or his mother or something.I was too young to really care or ask her for details before she passed on. Always wondered how she knew them. I just know he was no easy out. A real competitor.
Loved the Pirates, loved Richie.
As a little leaguer Hebner was my idol. The 70s was a great time to be a pirate fan.
I remember Hebner...great ball player...a good hitter and good fielder...great days...
Richie was a real character and also a very good player too! One thing I will always remember is that he used to pull the back of his shirt up around his neck when he would be at bat :)
I remember Richie playing at Forbes Field with Clemente, Stargell, Robertson, Sangy. Maz. He was a rookie.
I remember him. Played for my Mets one year.
I've been a Pirate fan since I can remember. Richie Hebner was one of my favorite players.
Do remember if when Richie was with the Phillies if he ever bunted the ball down the 3rd base side for 4 singles. I believe it was against Cinn, when the Reds played the shift against Richie?
Hebner very underrated, good player. I would have disagree with him on Pittsburgh being a football town. Yes, the Steelers had their dynasty years in the late 70's but the Burg had long been a baseball town 60's &70's. On chilly day 3 Rivers was brutally cold, Roberto was so much more than 3000 hits to us.
not a football town until maybe 72, when Steelers made playoffs for first time.
@@stevea6816 which was when Clemente got his 3,000th hit
Would love to hear the complete interview. Hebner was always a good clutch hitter for the Bucs.
Richie Hebner Graduated high school With my brother Kevin , from Norwood high school .
A childhood hero of mine. Richie Hebner. I was 9 in 71'. I remember the series, as my cousins lived in Baltimore and we lived outside of Pittsburgh. I was also at clemente's 3000th hit.
Aaaaah, the good ole' days.
I'd love to meet Richie
That is so cool
Back in the mid-70's my family had a restaurant in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. The Phillies used to stay in condos just down the road. One day Richie and a couple of other Phillies came in for breakfast. I ended up getting to know Richie really well and he got me into many spring training games over two years. Great guy and great memories for a young kid like me. Thanks Richie!
Saw a double header in 73 against the Padres...in the1st game Ken Brett almost pitched a perfect game while hitting a home run I think....in the second game, Brett hit another homer as a pinch hitter....also Pittsburgh was down by a run with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, and Hebner homered!
my favorite all time team, the '71 pirates.
lovedrichie! saw him hit an inside the park home run against the Cards
I can say I saw a game in Forbes Field in the 60s. Don't even remember who we played. Sat on the left field side with the great Willie Stargell not far away. I remember looking down on the big long grill covered with sizzling hot dogs. Things were simple then.
Thank you for posting this. I have fond memories of the Pirates starting in the mid 1960's. Richie was quite a character but a very productive ball player. He was an important part of the Pirate team that won 5 division titles in 6 years and 1 World Series. He then went on to help the Phillies win 2 division titles. I'm not sure if he was on the Phillies World Series team in 1980.
I was a big Hebner "Grave Digger" fan when I first started watching baseball after he moved to Philly in the mid to late 70's. He'd moved on to the Mets / Tigers by 1980 because Pete Rose signed with the Phillies in "79".
I would take the trolley into Oakland from East Liberty to watch the Pirates in the 60's. My mother would give me 5 bucks and that would cover everything.
You could never tell that Richie is from Boston with that accent 😅
heck no!
Grave digger in Massachusetts
Too bad he wasn't 5 years older he could of helped the Pirates win the title in 66 Bob Bailey wasn't too good. Nice comment about Forbes Field. Prince nicknamed him Elver Dugo
That was Richie Zisk..El Verdugo.."The Hatchet"....