Golden Spikes Award

Golden Spikes Award
The words "GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD" in gold on a brown polygonal background, with a pair of golden baseball spikes dangling from the last "S" in "Spikes".  Above the lettering reads "USA" in white colour.
Logo for the Golden Spikes Award
Given for Amateur baseball's best regular season player
Country United States
Presented by USA Baseball
History
First award 1978
Most recent Andrew Vaughn, California
Website Golden Spikes Award

The Golden Spikes Award is bestowed annually to the best amateur baseball player in the United States.[1] The award, created by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association, was first presented in 1978. It is given to an amateur player who best exhibits and combines "exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship."[2][3] The award is considered the most prestigious in amateur baseball.[4][5]

Ten winners of the Golden Spikes Award are members of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame,[6] including Bob Horner, the inaugural winner in 1978.[7] In that same year, he was the first overall MLB draft pick and proceeded to win the Rookie of the Year Award.[8][9][10] Seven Golden Spikes Award winners went on to become the first overall draft pick.[8] Only Horner achieved the Rookie of the Year Award in the same year (although Jason Jennings and Buster Posey were voted the top rookies of the National League several years after winning the Golden Spikes Award).[9] Jim Abbott, Jered Weaver and Tim Lincecum are the only award winners to pitch a no-hitter,[11] while Horner is the only one to hit four home runs in one game.[12] Furthermore, 17 players won the Dick Howser Trophy (considered to be the Heisman Trophy of college baseball)[13][14] alongside the Golden Spikes Award.[15] No player has won the award more than once.

Since 2014, the winner has been announced during a live broadcast of ESPN's SportsCenter.[16] Immediately following the announcement, the award winner and the other finalists are honored at a banquet in Los Angeles.[16] Although it can be given to any amateur player, the award has always been given to a college baseball player. In addition, only two winners were not attending NCAA Division I institutions when they won the award—junior college players Alex Fernández in 1990 and Bryce Harper in 2010. The most recent recipient of the award is Andrew Vaughn of the California Golden Bears.[17]

Winners

Wearing a blue helmet and white jersey of the Atlanta Braves, Bob Horner clutches his bat with both hands
Bob Horner, who won the inaugural Golden Spikes Award in 1978, also received the Rookie of the Year Award and was the first overall MLB draft pick in the same year.
Jered Weaver, wearing a red baseball cap and grey baseball uniform with the words ANGELS across and an "A" patch on the right sleeve, delivers a pitch
Jered Weaver, the 2004 recipient, is one of three award winners to pitch a no-hitter.
Tim Lincecum, wearing a black baseball cap and grey baseball uniform with the words SAN FRANCISCO across, delivers a pitch
Tim Lincecum, the 2006 winner, received the Cy Young Award in 2008 and 2009.[18]
Key
Year Links to the article about the corresponding baseball year
Player Name of the player
Position The player's position(s) at the time he won the award[lower-alpha 1]
School The player's college when he won the award
Italics Player was the first overall MLB draft pick in the same year
^ Player won the Rookie of the Year Award[lower-alpha 2]
§ Player also won the Dick Howser Trophy in the same year
dagger Member of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame
footnote Player is active[lower-alpha 3]
Winners
Year Player Position School Ref
1978 Bob Hornerdagger^ Third baseman Arizona State [7]
1979 Tim Wallachdagger Third baseman Cal State Fullerton [7]
1980 Terry Franconadagger First baseman Arizona [7]
1981 Mike Fuentes Outfielder Florida State [20]
1982 Augie Schmidt Shortstop New Orleans [7]
1983 Dave Magadandagger Third baseman Alabama [7]
1984 Oddibe McDowelldagger Outfielder Arizona State [21]
1985 Will Clarkdagger First baseman Mississippi State [7]
1986 Mike Loynd Pitcher Florida State [7]
1987 Jim Abbottdagger Pitcher Michigan [22]
1988 Robin Venturadagger§ Third baseman Oklahoma State [23]
1989 Ben McDonalddagger Pitcher LSU [24]
1990 Alex Fernández§ Pitcher Miami-Dade Community College [7]
1991 Mike Kelly Outfielder Arizona State [7]
1992 Phil Nevin Third baseman Cal State Fullerton [7]
1993 Darren Dreifortdagger Pitcher Wichita State [7]
1994 Jason Varitek§ Catcher Georgia Tech [25]
1995 Mark Kotsay Outfielder Cal State Fullerton [25]
1996 Travis Lee First baseman San Diego State [26]
1997 J. D. Drew§ Outfielder Florida State [27]
1998 Pat Burrell Third baseman Miami (FL) [28]
1999 Jason Jennings§^ Pitcher Baylor [25]
2000 Kip Bouknight Pitcher South Carolina [25]
2001 Mark Prior§ Pitcher Southern California [29]
2002 Khalil Greene§ Shortstop Clemson [25]
2003 Rickie Weeksdouble-dagger§ Second baseman Southern [25]
2004 Jered Weaver§ Pitcher Long Beach State [25]
2005 Alex Gordondouble-dagger§ Third baseman Nebraska [30]
2006 Tim Lincecumdouble-dagger Pitcher Washington [31]
2007 David Pricedouble-dagger§ Pitcher Vanderbilt [32]
2008 Buster Poseydouble-dagger§^ Catcher Florida State [33]
2009 Stephen Strasburgdouble-dagger§ Pitcher San Diego State [34]
2010 Bryce Harperdouble-dagger^ Catcher/Outfielder College of Southern Nevada [35]
2011 Trevor Bauerdouble-dagger Pitcher UCLA [36]
2012 Mike Zuninodouble-dagger§ Catcher Florida [3]
2013 Kris Bryantdouble-dagger§ Third baseman San Diego [37]
2014 A. J. Reeddouble-dagger§ First baseman/Pitcher Kentucky [38]
2015 Andrew Benintendidouble-dagger§ Outfielder Arkansas [39]
2016 Kyle Lewisdouble-dagger Outfielder Mercer [40]
2017 Brendan McKaydouble-dagger§ First baseman / Pitcher Louisville [41]
2018 Andrew Vaughndouble-dagger First baseman California [17]

See also

Notes

  1. This does not necessarily reflect the player's future position at Major League level. For example, Alex Gordon was originally a third baseman, but subsequently moved to left field in 2010.[19]
  2. Won either in the same year or several years later.
  3. A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.

References

General

  • "Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved August 5, 2012.

Specific

  1. Drellich, Evan (June 6, 2011). "Golden Spikes Award field narrows to three". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  2. "The official site of the Golden Spikes Award – About the Golden Spikes Award". Golden Spikes Award. USA Baseball. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Finkelstein, Zachary (July 6, 2012). "Zunino named Golden Spikes Award winner". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  4. Berry, Adam (June 5, 2012). "Appel, Zunino among Golden Spikes finalists". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  5. Huffman, Dane (June 5, 2012). "NC State pitcher a finalist for Golden Spikes Award". NBC17.com. NBC. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  6. "College Baseball Hall of Fame – Hall of Famers". CollegeBaseballHall.com. College Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Shocks' Dreifort chosen for Golden Spikes award". Lawrence Journal-World. Associated Press. October 28, 1993. p. 4C. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  8. 1 2 "1st Picks Overall in the MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Rookie of the Year Awards & Rolaids Relief Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  10. Sugiura, Ken (May 6, 2010). "Nine questions: Bob Horner". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ajc.com. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  11. "MLB No-Hitters". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  12. "National League; Horner Ties Mark with 4 Home Runs". New York Times. July 7, 1986. p. C4.
  13. "Houston pitcher Lincoln wins Howser Trophy". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. June 17, 2006. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  14. Martin, Jeffrey (July 2, 2010). "Rice's Rendon claims prestigious Dick Howser Trophy". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  15. "Dick Howser Trophy". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "USA Baseball Names 2017 Golden Spikes Award Finalists" (Press release). USA Baseball. June 14, 2017. Archived from the original on June 23, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Andrew Vaughn becomes Cal's first Golden Spikes winner". SFChronicle.com. 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  18. "Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  19. Kaegel, Dick (November 2, 2011). "Gordon takes home first Gold Glove". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012. Alex Gordon, a third baseman for the Royals until last year, is now among baseball's elite outfielders...[H]is switch from third base to the outfield in 2010 went amazingly well.
  20. Elliott, Bob (December 10, 1981). "Montreal prospect Fuentes wins Golden Spikes award". Ottawa Citizen. p. 2C. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  21. "McDowell Given Golden Spikes Baseball Award". The Press-Courier. Oxnard, California. Associated Press. November 8, 1984. p. 16. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  22. "Michigan pitcher wins Golden Spikes Award". The Gainesville Sun. October 9, 1987. p. 3D. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  23. "Ventura wins Golden Spikes Award". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. Associated Press. November 2, 1988. p. 17. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  24. "McDonald selected Golden Spikes winner". The Times Daily. Florence, Alabama. November 10, 1989. p. 2B. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Programs & Events – Golden Spikes – Jered Weaver wins 2004 Golden Spikes Award". MLB Players Association. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  26. "Lee wins Golden Spikes Award as top amateur". The News. Boca Raton, Florida. November 13, 1996. p. 2B. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  27. "Drew wins Golden Spikes Award". Star-News. Wilmington, North Carolina. Associated Press. November 12, 1997. p. 3C. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  28. "Burrell wins Golden Spikes Award". The Gainesville Sun. October 30, 1998. p. 2C. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  29. "Prior wins Golden Spikes Award". The Beaver County Times. December 11, 2001. p. B7. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  30. "Nebraska's Gordon wins Golden Spikes Award". USA Today. Associated Press. June 24, 2005. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  31. Mayo, Jonathan (June 23, 2006). "Lincecum named Golden Spikes winner". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  32. "Former Vanderbilt star Price named nation's top amateur player". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. June 30, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  33. Hoch, Bryan (July 16, 2008). "Giants pick nabs Golden Spikes Award". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  34. "Strasburg garners another award". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. July 14, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  35. "Harper wins Golden Spikes Award". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. July 13, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  36. Mayo, Jonathan (July 15, 2011). "D-backs Draft pick Bauer wins Golden Spikes". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  37. "San Diego's Bryant wins 36th Golden Spikes Award as nation's best player". USA Baseball. NCAA.com. July 20, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-09-08. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  38. Fordin, Spencer (July 17, 2014). "Astros' prospect Reed wins Golden Spikes Award". MLB.com. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  39. "Benintendi wins Golden Spikes Award". USA Baseball. NCAA.com. June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  40. "Mercer's Kyle Lewis wins the Golden Spikes Award". USA Baseball. NCAA.com. June 30, 2016. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  41. "Louisville's Brendan McKay Wins 2017 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award" (Press release). USA Baseball. June 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.

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