Hebner was part of a controversial play in the 1977 National League Championship Series. With the series tied at one game apiece, and the Phillies holding onto a 5-3 lead in game three at Veterans Stadium, Dusty Baker and Rick Monday led off the Dodger half of the ninth inning with ground outs, tying Hebner for the NLCS record for putouts with fourteen. After a single by Vic Davalillo and double by Manny Mota scoring Davalillo, Davey Lopes hit a ground ball to third that Schmidt was unable to handle cleanly. Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa quickly picked up the ball, and hurled it to Hebner for what appeared to be the final out of the game, and a National League record fifteenth putout for Hebner. First-base umpire Bruce Froemming called Lopes safe, however, allowing Mota to score the tying run. After a botched pickoff attempt moved Lopes to second, Bill Russell drove him home with a single to center for the game-winning run.