DALLAS (NCBWA) – The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of
Commerce and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
(NCBWA) have named the four finalists for the 22nd annual Dick
Howser Trophy, which will be presented in Omaha, Neb., on June
14, to college baseball's player of the year.
The
four finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy are Georgia shortstop
Gordon Beckham, Missouri pitcher Aaron Crow, Florida
State catcher Buster Posey and Arizona State third baseman
Brett Wallace.
One member of this quartet will be named the winner at a news
conference on Saturday, June 14, at 10 a.m. (CDT) at the Greater
Omaha Chamber of Commerce (1301 Harney St.), as the recipient of
the award, given annually since 1987.
Beckham set the single-season home run record (24) at Georgia
this year and was voted the SEC Player of the Year. He ranks among
the national leaders in several offensive categories. Beckham is
batting .397 with 24 home runs, 65 RBI, 85 runs scored and 189 total
bases.
Crow set a Missouri record with 13 wins, most in the nation,
and had 43 consecutive scoreless innings, unofficially the fourth-longest
streak in Division I. His 127 strikeouts are tied for the second
most in Mizzou school history. The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year tossed
four complete games and posted a 2.35 ERA.
Posey is seeking to become just the fourth student-athlete in
ACC history to win baseball's version of the triple crown as he
currently leads the league in average (.468), home runs (24) and
RBI (86). The ACC Pitcher of the Year was also was a relief pitcher
who had six saves to lead Florida State.
Wallace was the Pac-10 Player of the Year for the second straight
season. He led the conference with a .414 average; had 94 hits,
scored 83 runs, hit 21 home runs, drive in 81 runs and recorded
173 total bases.
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 Rays. Both the winner and his school receive
a special trophy to keep.
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce has had over 100
years of community service since its founding in 1899. 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, Baylor, 1999;
Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, 2000; Mark Prior, Southern California,
2001; Khalil Greene, Clemson, 2002; Rickey Weeks, Southern, 2003;
Jered Weaver, Long Beach State, 2004; Alex Gordon, Nebraska, 2005;
Brad Lincoln, Houston, 2006; and David Price, 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)
|