The Pittsburgh Pirates’ No All-Star Game All-Star Team

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 08: Neil Walker #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the game at PNC Park on August 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 08: Neil Walker #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the game at PNC Park on August 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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Third Base

Richie Hebner

Richie Hebner was another quite productive hitter throughout his major league career, yet never got to participate in any all-star games. A first-round pick by the Bucs in 1966, Hebner became a fixture in the Pirates infield throughout the 1970s.

As a Pirate, Hebner put up a strong 277/.350/.442 batting line, had 128 home runs and finished with a .355 wOBA, 122 wRC+/OPS+. Hebner wasn’t much of a defender though. He had -49 total zone runs and a -2.7 dWAR throughout his time with Pittsburgh. But he still reached over 20 fWAR (24.7) which leads all Pirates’ hot corner players with at least 1000 plate appearances. He was also second to Bobby Bonilla in wRC+, third in home runs behind Frank Thomas and Pedro Alvarez, and 4th in wOBA.

Hebner had many productive seasons, but his best campaign was in 1972. Hebner was one of the Pirates’ best hitters. Through 492 plate appearances, the lefty had a .300/.378/.508 line, .395 wOBA, and 151 wRC+. He also crushed 19 home runs and hustled out 24 more doubles. Hebner posted a 5.6 fWAR this season, a career-best.

The third baseman was still a good hitter once leaving the Pirates. From 1977 to 1985, he hit .273/.355/.428 with a .347 wOBA, and 114 wRC+. This did include a 78 game/186 PA stretch in a reunion with the Bucs in ‘83, but Hebner had a wRC+ of at least 120 in 9 different seasons where he had 350 or more plate appearances, yet never got to go to the Mid-Summer Classic.