After spending 20 years playing professional baseball across the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs, Norwood native Richie Hebner found himself lending a hand right back home as the third-base coach for the Norwood American Legion baseball team.
Far from making a superficial celebrity appearance, Hebner seamlessly integrated into the dugout. “The kids know him, so he’s no big deal with them,” said Coach Pete Wall. “He’s just a regular guy… It’s not like somebody came down from outer space or anything.”
Hebner preferred it that way, aiming to stay behind the scenes and assist rather than overshadow the coaching staff. “I’m just having some fun,” Hebner explained. “Maybe one or two kids might ask me a question, but I tell people I just coach third. Pete runs the show. I don’t try to and I don’t plan to.”
Hebner’s illustrious 17-year major league career came to a close just two weeks prior to Opening Day during spring training when the Chicago Cubs indicated he might miss the final roster cut under 24-man roster limitations. Unable to secure a trade, Hebner opted to hang up his major league cleats without regret. “The 24-man roster didn’t help,” he reflected. “I would have liked to make the club, but I was up 17 years, so I wasn’t embarrassed.”
Faced with his first summer without professional baseball in two decades, Hebner gravitated back to his roots in Norwood, attending local workouts before Pete Wall officially brought him onto the coaching staff. “I thought it would be an enjoyable thing to do and that’s exactly how it’s turned out,” Hebner said. “I thought it would be fun and when you’re 31-1, it’s a little more fun.” (Reporting by John Johnson, The Patriot Ledger).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
-
Murphy Five-Hitter Downs Wellesley High Nine, 9-2-April 26, 1957
Sophomore Norwood Hurler Fans Nine In Mound Debut By NICK CURRAN Sophomore pitcher Paul Murphy hurled a smart 5-. hitter as his teammates pounded out 14 hits which enabled the Norwood High squad to easily defeat Wellesley High, 9-2 last Monday afternoon at the Civic Field in Norwood. Gerry Cloherty started off for Norwood with…
-
Little League Rosters Set-April 25, 1957
League Auditions Closed, Ready To Begin Season After holding their annual player auction last week, the Minor League and the Eight-Year-Old League are ready with a record number of applicants to begin another baseball season. A complete list of rosters of all the teams follows: REDWINGS Bruce Hunter, Andrew Bedar, Francis Dyer, Richard Cummings, Billy…
-
Bunker Looks For Upgrade In Phillies System Next Year-October 4, 1956
Bunker Looks For Upgrade In Phillies System Next Year-This Day In Norwood History-October 4, 1956
-
Little League All-Stars Set For Tourney Play-This Day in Norwood History-July 21, 1955
This Day in Norwood History-July 21, 1955-Little League All-Stars Set For Tourney Play
-
“Irish” Oakes Still Calling ’em In Bay State Diamond Circuit-This Day in Norwood History-May 10, 1954
Ernest ‘’Irish” Oakes, affable and popular Norwood umpire these past twelve years in both semi-pro and schoolboy baseball circles, continues to find himself held in high regard by all those interested in the National pastime as….
-
Norwood High Wins Bay State League Title As Dick Bunker Hurls 2 To 0 No-Hit Shutout-This Day in Norwood History-June 11, 1953
Norwood High School closed out its 1953 baseball season in unforgettable fashion, traveling to Natick and returning home with both a 2–0 victory and the Bay State League championship. The star of the afternoon was left‑handed ace Dick Bunker, who delivered the finest performance of his high‑school career — a no‑hit shutout that secured the…
-
Dick Bunker, Schoolboy Star-May 21, 1953
DICK BUNKER is the big reason Norwood High is favored to win the Bay State League baseball championship. . . . The six-foot lefty pitcher-first baseman. an all scholastic pitcher last season, is better than ever—averaging 12 strikeouts and only two walks per game. … He has a great curve ball, plenty of speed and…
-
Dick Bunker, Schoolboy Star-May 21, 1953
DICK BUNKER is the big reason Norwood High is favored to win the Bay State League baseball championship. . . . The six-foot lefty pitcher-first baseman. an all scholastic pitcher last season, is better than ever—averaging 12 strikeouts and only two walks per game. … He has a great curve ball, plenty of speed and…
-
7 Norwood Candidates Start Climb To Pro Baseball Careers–This Day in Norwood History-March 28, 1947
All War Veterans And Ex-Murraymen By JOHN J. COOK Norwood will be well represented on the collegiate and minor league baseball diamonds this year. Seven young men —all of them veterans and former Norwood High athletes— have left recently or will leave soon-reach with a promising baseball career ahead of him. Do you remember an…
-
Norwood Junior Legion Baseball Squad-This Day In Norwood History-July 26, 1945
This Day In Norwood History-July 26, 1945-Norwood Junior Legion Baseball Squad Click to see the player names.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.