Hebner named Keys manager
Hebner will join the club in Kinston to manage the Keys as they open a road trip against the Indians on Memorial Day at 6:00 p.m. Hebner was the hitting coach for the Nashua Pride of the Independent Can-Am League.
Hebner played in the Carolina League with Raleigh in the Pirates system in 1967. He made his major league debut the following year and reached the bigs for good in 1969. He was the starting third baseman on the 1971 World Series Champion Pittsburg Pirates and played with the Bucs through the 1976 season. Hebner would continue his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs. In his 18-year career, Hebner would bat .276 in over 1900 games hitting 203 career home runs. Most recently in affiliated baseball, Hebner was the hitting coach for the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League in the Chicago White Sox organization.
He managed in the minors in the Toronto Blue Jays system with Single-A Myrtle Beach in 1988 and Triple-A Syracuse in 1995-96.
Former Keys manager Tommy Thompson left the team for personal reasons prior to the Keys series opener against Lynchburg Friday, May 16th. Thompson, who managed the Keys to their third Carolina League Championship in 2007, is taking a leave of absence but will remain in the Orioles organization.
Partial and season ticket plans are still available for the duration of the 2008 season. For information pertaining to these plans or other group events at Harry Grove Stadium contact the Keys Group Department at 301-815-9900.