Whereas his batting average dipped in 1971 (.271), Hebner's power numbers increased, as he clubbed seventeen home runs and drove in 67. The Pirates repeated as division champions to face the San Francisco Giants in the 1971 National League Championship Series. With the series tied at one game apiece, and the Pirates winning the third game by a score of 1–0, Hebner committed a throwing error in the sixth inning that allowed the Giants to tie the score. He redeemed himself in the eighth, hitting a game-winning solo shot off Juan Marichal to give the Pirates the 2–1 edge in the series.