DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association, working in conjunction with the St. Petersburg
Area Chamber of Commerce, has released the watch list of 50
candidates for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player
in collegiate baseball.
The
membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based
on three rounds of voting. The 2007 winner will be announced at
the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 15, at 10:00 a.m.
CDT.
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida
State University All-America shortstop and major league player and
manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as
college baseball's most prestigious award.
Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance
on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities
that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.
2007 DICK
HOSWER TROPHY WATCH LIST |
1B Dustin
Ackley, North Carolina |
P Corey
Kluber, Stetson |
P Adrian
Alaniz, Texas |
OF Kellen
Kulbacki, James Madison |
3B Pedro
Alvarez, Vanderbilt |
1B Matt
LaPorta, Florida |
P Travis
Banwart, Wichita State |
2B Tyler
Mach, Oklahoma State |
C Mitch
Canham, Oregon State |
P Brian
Matusz, San Diego |
C Sean Coughlin,
Kentucky |
RP Eryk
McConnell, N.C. State |
SS Brandon
Crawford, UCLA |
P Adam Mills,
Charlotte |
RP Kevin
Crum, VMI |
P Sean Morgan,
Tulane |
OF Mike
Dahm, Old Dominion |
OF Matt
Morris, UC Irvine |
OF Maurice
Davis, Alcorn State |
P David
Price, Vanderbilt |
P Andy DeLaGarza,
Coastal Carolina |
OF Kyle
Russell, Texas |
OF Grant
Desme, Cal Poly |
UT Joe Savery,
Rice |
SS Walter
Diaz, USF |
P Nick Schmidt,
Arkansas |
P/1B/DH
Sean Doolittle, Virginia |
3B Greg
Sexton, William & Mary |
C Edward
Easley, Mississippi State |
UT Matt
Spencer, Arizona State |
RP Daniel
Edwards, Kansas State |
3B Blake
Stouffer, Texas A&M |
P Barry
Enright, Pepperdine |
UT Damon
Sublett, Wichita State |
P Caleb
Grafenhein, P, East Tennessee State |
3B Bradley
Suttle, Texas |
OF Brandon
Guyer, Virginia |
2B Tony
Thomas Jr., Florida State |
RP Nick
Haggadone, Washington |
P Jacob
Thompson, Virginia |
P Bryan
Henry, Florida State |
SS Brandon
Turner, Mississippi State |
1B Steven
Hill, Stephen F. Austin |
DH Bobby
Verbick, Sam Houston State |
P Harris
Honeycutt, South Carolina |
1B Brett
Wallace, Arizona State |
OF Justin
Jenkins, West Virginia |
OF Robbie
Widlansky, Florida Atlantic |
2B Logan
Johnson, Louisville |
C Matt Wieters,
Georgia Tech |
A Florida native, Howser was a two-time All-America shortstop
at Florida State University (1957-58), then coached the Seminoles
in 1979 after a career as a major league player and coach. After
one year in the college ranks, Howser returned to the majors to
manage the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals and won the World
Series with the Royals in 1985. The baseball stadium on the Florida
State campus is named for Howser.
The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze
bust of Howser permanently displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg,
home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Both the winner and his school
receive a special trophy to keep.
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is in its 108th year
of existence in 2007. The organization has long been a vital force
in the baseball affairs of the city, both in spring training and
during the pursuit of a major league baseball franchise for the
Tampa Bay area, and continues its solid role in the 21st Century.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists.
Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's
only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser's
death. Previous winners of the Howser Trophy are Mike Fiore, Miami,
1987; Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State, 1988; Scott Bryant, Texas,
1989; Alex Fernandez, Miami-Dade Community College South, 1990;
Frank Rodriguez, Howard College (Texas), 1991; Brooks Kieschnick,
Texas, 1992 and 1993; Jason Varitek, Georgia Tech, 1994; Todd Helton,
Tennessee, 1995; Kris Benson, Clemson, 1996; J. D. Drew, Florida
State, 1997; Eddy Furniss, LSU, 1998; Jason Jennings, P, Baylor,
1999; Mark Teixeira, 1B, Georgia Tech, 2000; Mark Prior, P, USC,
2001, Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson, 2002; Rickey Weeks, 2B, Southern
U., 2003; Jered Weaver, P, Long Beach State, 2004; Alex Gordon,
3B, Nebraska, 2005; and Brad Lincoln, P, Houston, 2006.
2007 Dick Howser Trophy:
• April 26: Dick Howser Trophy watch list
• May 17: Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists
• June 7: Dick Howser Trophy finalists
• June 15: Dick Howser Trophy presented in Omaha
Related links:
• Official site (dickhowsertrophy.com)
•
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