Norwood Debates—Which Is Hebner’s Top Sport?-This Day In Norwood History-May 12, 1965

Is Norwood High’s Richy Hebner a better baseball or hockey player?

Everyone in Norwood agrees that Hebner, a 16-year-old junior, excels in both sports.

This Spring, Hebner, a shortstop, is belting Bay State League pitching for a hefty .571 average. Twelve of his 16 hits have been for extra bases, including four home runs. He has driven in 13 runs in eight games. He bats left and throws right.

Last Winter, Hebner, a smooth-skating forward, was named to the Bay State League All-Star hockey squad for the second straight year. He scored 10 goals in both his freshman and sophomore years.

This year as a junior, Hebner banged in 23 goals and finished second to teammate Blaine Maus for league scoring honors.

Of all the extra-base hits he has collected this Spring, Hebner probably relishes most the home run he stroked over the center field fence that sent Natick High down to its first defeat in seven games.

First-year coach Frank Jacques says Hebner has “the quickest and strongest wrists of any schoolboy I’ve ever seen.”

An aggressive hitter, Hebner can get good wood on any pitch, according to Jacques. “If Richy has a weakness, it’s his anxiety to swing the bat.”

Because Hebner is only a junior, it’s expected that major league scouts won’t jump on his bandwagon until next season. If Hebner retains his present batting form, he may eventually command the same dough as his former little league teammate, Skip Lockwood who signed with Kansas City last year for $100,000. Hebner and Lockwood, a Catholic Memorial graduate, played together for the Norwood LL. All-Stars which went to the State Championship finals five years ago.

The Norwood baseball team has a definite hockey flavor. Hehner’s mates on Norwood’s first skating line are also diamond starters. They are Maus, a right-handed pitcher, and Paul Angelo, a second baseman with a .345 average.

(The Boston Globe—May 12, 1965)

By NEIL SINGELAIS