|
Warner Jones Named Semifinalist For Dick Howser Trophy 5/14/2004
Warner Jones Named Semifinalist For Dick Howser Trophy 5-14-04 DENVER, Colo. — Sophomore second baseman Warner Jones was named one of 30 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, awarded to the top player in collegiate baseball. Jones has started all 47 games at second base and leads the team in batting average (.413), base hits (78) and doubles (24). His 24 doubles lead the nation and he is second in doubles per game with a 0.55 mark. His .413 batting average is second in the SEC and 21st in nation. Earlier in the season, he set the Vanderbilt and SEC record with a 32-game hitting streak (spanning over two seasons). He was named the NCBWA National Hitter of the Week and SEC Player of the Week after breaking the record. He has hit safely in 39 games and reached base in 43 of 47 games this season. He totals 21 multiple hit games, including a 5-5 performance at Baylor. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, working in Association with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, released the list on Thursday. The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2004 winner will announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 18 at 9:30 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. A Florida native, Howser was twice an 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 and the 1999 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep. The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is in its 105th year of existence in 2004. 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, P, USC, 2001, Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson, 2002; and Rickey Weeks, 2B, Southern U., 2003. For more information, please visit: www.DickHowserTrophy.com 2004 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS |
