May 20, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bo Carter
214-418-6132
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36 standouts up for college baseball's top honor Bookmark and Share
NCBWA NAMES 2011 DICK
HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS

Dick Howser TrophyDALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, working in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the College Baseball Foundation, has released the list of semifinalists for the 2011 Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball.

The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy Award recipient based on two rounds of national voting. This year’s 25th anniversary of the Dick Howser Trophy presented by Easton Foundations will be made even more special by the awarding of this year’s honor at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the new home of the College World Series. The award will be presented on Tuesday, June 21 at 10 a.m. CT, prior to the fourth day of the 2011 CWS.

The 36 candidates hail from 17 different conferences and 28 different schools. The Southeastern Conference leads the way with six semifinalists, followed by the ACC with four and the Big 12, Conference USA, Missouri Valley and the Southern Conference with three. Every position on the diamond is represented, including eight starting pitchers, four outfielders, utility players and three catchers, first basemen, relief pitchers and shortstop, among this diversified group.

OF Trever Adams, Creighton 3B Matt Leeds, College of Charleston
OF Daniel Aldrich, College of Charleston C Jake Lowery, James Madison
RP James Allen, Kansas State OF Mikie Mahtook, LSU
SP Trevor Bauer, UCLA SS Brad Miller, Clemson
1B C.J. Cron, Utah C Chris O’Brien, Wichita State
UT Cody Fick, Evansville 2B Dan Paolini, Siena
SP Grayson Garvin, Vanderbilt UT Tyler Pill, Cal State Fullerton
SP Sean Gilmartin, Florida State RP Matt Price, South Carolina
SP Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt SP Tyler Ray, Troy
SS David Herbek, James Madison DH Anthony Rendon, Rice
DH D.J. Hicks, UCF OF Victor Roache, Georgia Southern
1B Jeff Holm, Michigan State SP Will Roberts, Virginia
UT Danny Hultzen, Virginia SP Michael Roth, South Carolina
UT Brian Johnson, Florida OF George Springer, Connecticut
SP Taylor Jungmann, Texas 1B Adam Brett Walker, Jacksonville
RP Cory Knebel, Texas DH Brad Zebedis, Presbyterian
OF Jason Krizan, Dallas Baptist C Mike Zunino, Florida
2B Tommy La Stella, Coastal Carolina SS Chad Zurcher, Memphis

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 of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.

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.

A Florida native, Howser was twice an All-America shortstop at Florida State (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 Dick Howser Trophy was founded shortly after his death by a few friends of Dick’s in the St. Petersburg Area that played, coached and worked with him," said David Feaster of the Howser Trophy Committee. "All knew him personally and were aware of him as a tremendous player, coach and friend. The award was initially awarded at the Governors Baseball Dinner held each spring in St. Petersburg to welcome Spring Training to Fla. and as time progressed, we moved the presentation to Omaha, the center of college baseball, during the World Series. I have been involved with the award for over 20 years and have loved every minute of my involvement. I have had the opportunity to meet some great college players as well as some great young men. I am so proud of the Character quality we have in our award, which makes it unique. I am also proud of our selection process by the NCBWA which is the most democratic of any award and provides a true national scope."

"The Dick Howser trophy is now 25 years old and growing stronger," added Feaster. "It is a true testimony to Dick Howser’s ability as a player, coach and gentlemen. I am proud to be associated with it."

The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg – home of the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays and the 1999 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four – along with several other locations. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.

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 College Baseball Foundation was established in 2004 and has inducted 57 greats into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock. The group promotes the highest ideals and recognition of greatness on college baseball diamonds in the 150 years since the first intercollegiate contest in 1859 between Amherst and Williams.

The groups also have come together in 2011 to select the Dick Howser Trophy, Brooks Wallace Award (Division I Shortstop of the Year), NCBWA Stopper of the Year, CBF Pitcher of the Year, John Olerud Award (top two-way player) and NCBWA National Coach of the Year. The NCBWA All-America and Freshman All-America teams, the NCBWA Freshman Player and Pitcher of the Year also are being presented by these national entities.

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, 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/DH, Houston, 2006; David Price, P, Vanderbilt, 2007; Buster Posey, C, Florida State, 2008 and Stephen Strasburg, P, San Diego State, 2009; Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice, 2010.

2011 Dick Howser Trophy:
Thurs., Feb. 17: Dick Howser Trophy celebrates 25th anniversary
Fri., May 20: Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists announced
Thurs., June 16: Dick Howser Trophy finalists announced
Tues., June 21: Dick Howser Trophy winner announced

Related links:
More on the Dick Howser Trophy
Official site (dickhowsertrophy.com)