He batted .182 in July, and .230 with no home runs and six RBIs in August. He soon began feeling the ire of the frustrated Mets fan base, and once flipped-off the Shea Stadium crowd following a strikeout to show them that the feeling was mutual. Hebner ended the season tied with Lee Mazzilli for the team lead in RBIs with 79. Regardless, on October 31, 1979, the Mets traded Hebner to the Detroit Tigers for Phil Mankowski and former Met Jerry Morales.