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Richie Hebner Named New Nashua Pride Hitting Coach

January 22, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
American Defenders of New Hampshire News Release


(NASHUA, NH, January 22, 2008) The Nashua Pride today announced that Norwood native, Richie Hebner has been named the hitting coach for the 2007 Can-Am League Champions. The former Pittsburgh Pirate third baseman brings over 30 years of baseball experience to the Pride, including a World Series championship in 1971 and 3 years as the Boston Red Sox hitting coach.

Hebner has over 14 years of coaching experience in affiliated and major league baseball, including 4 years as a manager and 9 years as a hitting coach. Once his playing career came to an end, Hebner was hired as the manager of the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays, the single A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, where he led the team to a playoff berth in 1988. The following year, Hebner was hired by the Red Sox, where he served as the team's hitting coach for three years ultimately helping the Red Sox capture the AL East in 1990.

In 1995, Hebner rejoined the Toronto Blue Jays organization as the manager of the AAA affiliate Syracuse Chiefs. He served two years as manager of the Chiefs before moving on to manage the Nashville Sounds, the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Pacific Coast League in 2000. Hebner spent the 2001 season as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies coaching staff.

From 2002 through 2006, the former Pittsburgh third baseman served as the hitting coach for the Durham Bulls, the AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Last season, Hebner was brought on by the Birmingham Barons, the AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, to be the team's hitting coach.

As a hitting coach, Hebner has tutored former Red Sox stars Wade Boggs, Ellis Burks, Mo Vaughn, Mike Greenwell, Dwight Evans and current Rays All-Star Carl Crawford.

The former first round draft pick made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1968 at the age of 20. Hebner spent the first nine years of his major league career with the Pirates and was the starting third baseman on the 1971 team that won the World Series. Hebner spent the last nine years of his major league career with the Phillies, Mets, Tigers, Pirates and Cubs. Over his 18 year career, Hebner hit .276 with 203 HRs, 890 RBIs and 273 doubles with a .352 on-base percentage.

During his playing career, Hebner was famous for holding a job as a gravedigger, at a cemetery owned by his father, at a time when major league ball players still held other jobs during the off-season.

The Nashua Pride Professional Baseball Club, entering its eleventh season, provides a fun, affordable, community-based and fan-friendly source of sports entertainment. The 2007 Can-Am League Champions will be participating in its third year of play in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball.



Canadian American League Stories from January 22, 2008


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