[1] Herbel set another record for batting futility: He accumulated the fewest hits of any pitcher or position player in major league history, reaching his first 100 at-bats with one.

He made two relief appearances with the Giants, both against the New York Mets, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds.

[7] It was Herbel's 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.

Following the 1969 season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton and Bobby Etheridge to the San Diego Padres for Frank Reberger.

The Padres were 50–82, 341⁄2 games behind the Cincinnati Reds when they dealt Herbel to the reigning World Series champion New York Mets, who were in the midst of a playoff drive again in 1970 (two games behind the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League East at the time of the trade), and needed to add an arm to their bullpen.

[9] Herbel went 2–2 with a 1.38 ERA and one save in 12 relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games behind the Pirates.

He signed with the Minnesota Twins in 1972, and spent the entire season with their Triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliate before retiring.