Education
Born in Denver, Colorado, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado.
Born in Denver, Colorado, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado.
His.029 career batting average is the lowest batting average in Major League history for a player with a minimum of 100 at-bats. After two seasons at Northern Colorado, Herbel signed as an amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants. He spent five seasons in San Francisco"s farm system when he received a September call up to the Giants in 1963.
He made two relief appearances with the Giants, both against the, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds.
Herbel was used both in relief and as a starter in 1963, as he made 22 starts and eighteen appearances out of the bullpen. In his first Major League at-bat on May 6, he struck out against Larry Jackson of the Chicago Cubs.
Foreign the season, Herbel made 54 plate appearances without getting a hit, and struck out thirty times. On the mound, however, he was much better.
Herbel went 9–9 with a 3.07 earned run average and 98 strikeouts.
He registered his first major league hit and Reserve Bank of India on May 21 in his first major league game on astroturf, while holding the Houston Astros to just five hits themselves in the complete game victory. lieutenant was his only hit of the season, though he was credited with a second run batted in on July 28 when he walked with the bases loaded. 1965 was Herbel"s best season with the Giants.
If it could be said that he had a best season with the bat, it would be 1967 when Herbel had three hits, two of which were doubles, two walks, three successful bunts and struck out only fourteen times for a.107 batting average.
lieutenant was also Herbel"s first real season as a reliever. Though he made eleven starts, he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen, earning one save.
Over the next two seasons, Herbel made only six starts. Following the 1969 season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton and Bobby Etheridge to the San Diego Padres for Frank Reberger.
Herbel went 2–2 with a 1.38 European Research Area and one save in twelve relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games back of the Pirates.
Combined with his 64 appearances with the Padres, Herbel"s 76 appearances on the mound led the National League, and was only one less than major league leader Wilbur Wood. Following the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Bob Aspromonte. Herbel spent one season in Atlanta, where he went 0–1 with a 5.23 European Research Area and one save in 25 appearances for the third place Braves.
He signed with the Minnesota Twins in 1972, and spent the entire season with their triple A Pacific Coast League affiliate before retiring.
He died on January 20, 2000 in Tacoma, Washington at 62 years old.