Dick Howser Trophy

Dick Howser Trophy
A bust of the Dick Howser Trophy in a blue diamond, with the words "DICK HOWSER TROPHY" below in white letters on a blue background.
Logo for the Dick Howser Trophy
Awarded forCollege baseball's best player
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
History
First award1987
Most recent Charlie Condon, Georgia
WebsiteDick Howser Trophy

The Dick Howser Trophy is bestowed annually to the national college baseball player of the year.[1] The award is named after former collegiate and Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager Dick Howser, who died as the result of brain cancer on June 17, 1987, at the age of 51.[1] In that same year, the award was established by friends of Howser[2] and presented to Mike Fiore, the inaugural winner.[3][2] It is considered to be the Heisman Trophy of college baseball.[4][5][6]

Six winners of the Dick Howser Trophy are members of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.[7] Five winners—Kris Benson, David Price, Stephen Strasburg, Adley Rutschman, and Paul Skenes—went on to become the first overall MLB draft pick.[8] Jason Jennings, Buster Posey, and Kris Bryant went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award several years after winning the Dick Howser Trophy.[9] Jered Weaver is the only award winner to pitch a no-hitter,[10] while Mark Teixeira holds the record for most games with home runs from both sides of the plate.[11] Furthermore, seventeen players won the Golden Spikes Award alongside the Dick Howser Trophy.[12] Brooks Kieschnick is the only player to win the trophy more than once.[13]

The winners from 1987 to 1998 were selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).[14] The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) became the voting body in 1999, and now presents the award together with the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce in Florida.[4] The most recent recipient of the award is Charlie Condon of Georgia.

  1. ^ a b English, Antonya (June 16, 2012). "Florida Gators catcher Mike Zunino wins Dick Howser Trophy for college baseball player of the year". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Baseball's Adams Named A Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist" (Press release). Creighton University. May 21, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  3. ^ 2009 Dick Howser Trophy Archived 2004-06-06 at the Wayback Machine. National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Dick Howser Trophy". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference lincoln was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference rendon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "College Baseball Hall of Fame – Hall of Famers". CollegeBaseballHall.com. College Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  8. ^ "1st Picks Overall in the MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "Rookie of the Year Awards & Rolaids Relief Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  10. ^ "MLB No-Hitters". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  11. ^ Noble, Marty (June 25, 2012). "Switch-hit homers: Channeling The Mick". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  12. ^ "Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  13. ^ Mann, Jonathan (March 27, 2009). "Baseball set to retire Brooks Kieschnick's No. 23 on Saturday". TexasSports.com. Texas Longhorns. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  14. ^ "This is the ABCA" (Press release). American Baseball Coaches Association. July 17, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012.