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 2008 winner will be announced
at the College World Series in Omaha on Saturday, June 14, 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.
2008 DICK
HOSWER TROPHY WATCH LIST |
1B Dustin
Ackley, North Carolina |
2B Jedd Gyorko,
West Virginia |
2B Josh Adams,
Florida |
SS Reese
Havens, South Carolina |
SS Gordon
Beckham, Georgia |
P Chris Hernandez,
Miami (Fla.) |
RP Kyle Bellamy,
Miami (Fla.) |
P Shooter
Hunt, Tulane |
3B Vince
Belnome, West Virginia |
2B Ryne Jernigan,
South Alabama |
1B Justin
Bour, George Mason |
C Corey Kemp,
East Carolina |
P George
Brown, St. John's |
OF Ryan Lavarnway,
Yale |
UT Jason
Buursma, Bucknell |
P Mike Leake,
Arizona State |
P Anthony
Capra, Wichita State |
P Brian Matusz,
San Diego |
2B Adam Carrithers,
UCLA |
OF Mike McKenna,
Florida Atlantic |
OF Sawyer
Carroll, Kentucky |
C Tim Park,
William & Mary |
3B Dane Carter,
Texas A&M |
C Buster
Posey, Florida State |
C Mark Carver,
UNC Wilmington |
OF Jacob
Priday, Missouri |
1B Matt Clark,
LSU |
UT Zach Putnam,
Michigan |
RP Tyler
Conn, Southern Miss |
OF Michael
Rockett, UTSA |
1B David
Cooper, California |
RP Michael
Schwimer, Virginia |
OF Collin
Cowgill, Kentucky |
1B Xavier
Scruggs, UNLV |
DH Chad Cregar,
Western Kentucky |
2B Kyle Seager,
North Carolina |
P Aaron Crow,
Missouri |
OF Chris
Shehan, Georgia Southern |
UT Ike Davis,
Arizona State |
1B Mike Sheridan,
William & Mary |
3B Chris
Dominguez, Louisville |
1B Justin
Smoak, South Carolina |
P Johnny
Dorn, Nebraska |
P Stephen
Strasburg, San Diego State |
RP Joshua
Fields, Georgia |
3B Jeremie
Tice, College of Charleston |
P Christian
Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky |
3B Brett
Wallace, Arizona State |
2B Johnny
Giavotella, New Orleans |
2B Jemile
Weeks, Miami (Fla.) |
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 109th 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; Brad Lincoln, P, Houston, 2006; and David Price,
P, Vanderbilt, 2007.
2008 Dick Howser Trophy:
• April 24: Dick Howser Trophy watch list
• May 15: Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists
• June 5: Dick Howser Trophy finalists
• June 14: Dick Howser Trophy presented in Omaha
Related links:
• More on the Dick Howser Trophy
• Official site (dickhowsertrophy.com)
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