As part of their continuing efforts to salute amateur baseball excellence, USA Baseball - in partnership with the Major League Baseball Players Association - will hand out the 2005 Golden Spikes Award - "Amateur Baseball's Most Prestigous Honor" - in July. Recognized as one of the most revered awards in amateur sport, the presentation of the Golden Spikes Award also underscores the commitment of USA Baseball and Major League baseball players to support the development of baseball from the grassroots level.
The five finalists for the 2005 Golden Spikes Award will be announced by USA Baseball in early June. Meanwhile, here are forty players from across the nation that have been identified as potential recipients. These players are not semifinalists for the '05 GSA award, and can be taken off the "watch list" at any time - based on performance.
2005 Golden Spikes Award Watch List
|
PLAYER |
Pos |
Yr |
College |
|
Brennan Boesch |
OF |
So |
California |
|
Dennis Bigley |
RHP/DH |
Sr |
Oral Roberts |
|
Cameron Blair |
IF |
Sr |
Texas Tech |
|
Brian Bogusevic |
LHP/DH |
Jr |
Tulane |
|
Ryan Braun |
IF |
Jr |
Miami-FL |
|
Lance Broadway |
RHP |
Jr |
Texas Christian |
|
Travis Buck |
OF |
Jr |
Arizona State |
|
Cesar Carillo |
LHP |
Jr |
Miami-FL |
|
Adam Carr |
IF |
Jr |
Oklahoma State |
|
Daniel Carte |
OF |
Jr |
Winthrop |
|
Jeff Clement |
C |
Jr |
USC |
|
Ben Copeland |
OF |
Jr |
Pittsburgh |
|
Jeff Corsaletti |
OF |
Sr |
Florida |
|
Mike Costanzo |
RHP/IF |
Jr |
Coastal Carolina |
|
J. Brent Cox |
RHP |
Jr |
Texas |
|
Trevor Crowe |
OF |
Jr |
Arizona |
|
Jacoby Ellsbury |
OF |
Jr |
Oregon State |
|
Alex Gordon |
IF |
Jr |
Nebraska |
|
Tyler Greene |
IF |
Jr |
Georgia Tech |
|
Kris Harvey |
RHP/DH |
Jr |
Clemson |
|
Craig Hansen |
RHP |
Jr |
St. John's |
|
Stephen Head |
LHP/OF |
Jr |
Mississippi |
|
Jay Heafner |
IF |
Jr |
Davidson |
|
Luke Hochevar |
RHP |
Jr |
Tennessee |
|
Jeff Larish |
OF |
Jr |
Arizona State |
|
Tim Lincecum |
RHP |
So |
Washington |
|
Erik Lis |
IF |
Jr |
Evansville |
|
Jed Lowrie |
IF |
Jr |
Stanford |
|
Andrew Miller |
LHP |
So |
North Carolina |
|
Micah Owings |
RHP/DH |
Jr |
Tulane |
|
Ryan Patterson |
OF |
Sr |
LSU |
|
Steve Pearce |
IF |
Sr |
South Carolina |
|
Mike Pelfrey |
RHP |
Jr |
Wichita State |
|
Cliff Pennington |
IF |
Jr |
Texas A&M |
|
Cesar Ramos |
LHP |
Jr |
Long Beach State |
|
Shane Robinson |
OF |
So |
Florida State |
|
Ricky Romero |
LHP |
Jr |
Cal State Fullerton |
|
Max Scherzer |
RHP |
So |
Missouri |
|
Scott Sizemore |
IF |
So |
VCU |
|
Ryan Zimmerman |
IF |
Jr |
Virginia |
The 2005 Golden Spikes Award winner will be announced in July during the broadcast of the 28th Annual Golden Spikes Award show. The broadcast, presented in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Players Association, will also highlight USA Baseball's athlete programs as well as some of the various organizational youth baseball initiatives supported by USA Baseball and the MLBPA.
"USA Baseball is once again proud to recognize the inspiring performances of the nation's top collegiate baseball players. We also appreciate our ongoing relationship with the Major League Baseball Players Association and the undying support Major Leaguers display in helping amateur baseball players, especially at the grassroots level," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director / CEO.
For the past 27 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first ever presentation of the Award to Bob Horner of Arizona State in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
The 2004 Golden Spikes Award winner was Jered Weaver of Long Beach State University. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball stars such as Khalil Greene ('02), Mark Prior ('01), Jason Jennings ('00), Pat Burrell ('98), J.D. Drew ('97), Travis Lee ('96), Mark Kotsay ('95), Jason Varitek ('94), Darren Dreifort ('93), and Phil Nevin ('92). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Alex Fernandez ('90), Ben McDonald ('89), Robin Ventura ('88), Jim Abbott ('87), Will Clark ('85), Dave Magadan ('83), Terry Francona ('80), Tim Wallach ('79), and Bob Horner ('78).
