DALLAS
(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.
2011 DICK
HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS |
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)
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