Rice Owl Rendon wins Howser Trophy

BY JOHN SULLIVAN
Special to the Rice News

Anthony Rendon, Rice University’s slugging third baseman and already the 2010 National Player of Year according to both Baseball America and the American Baseball Coaches Association, was named winner of the Dick Howser Trophy at the College Baseball Foundation’s National Awards Show July 2 in Lubbock, Texas.

	TOMMY LAVERGNE
	ANTHONY RENDON

As the baseball equivalent of football’s Heisman Trophy, the Dick Howser Trophy is the annual award presented to the nation’s outstanding collegiate baseball player. Nominees for the prestigious award are selected from the country’s 288 Division I colleges and voted on by more than 300 members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Dick Howser Trophy Committee.

“This is overwhelming,” Rendon said shortly after receiving the award. “It was an honor just being one of the finalists, and being named the actual winner is amazing. I want to thank my parents, who took me to hundreds of little league games, provided transportation and equipment and opportunities. I want to thank (head) coach (Wayne) Graham, who has been in coaching 30 years and seen it all and is easy to talk to and a very great and supportive coach. I want to thank the Rice assistant coaches, the other support staff and our fans.”

In his standout season of 2010, Rendon helped lead the Rice baseball program to its 16th-straight NCAA tournament appearance, 16th-consecutive season with 40 or more wins and 15th-straight conference championship. He batted .394 while leading Conference USA with 26 home runs, and he was among the nation’s leaders in runs scored (83), walks (65) and RBIs (85). The former Lamar High School star also maintained an .801 slugging percentage and a .530 on-base percentage, and he finished with more home runs than strikeouts (22). Defensively he had a .973 fielding percentage at third base (only four errors all season) and started a total of 16 double-plays for the blue and gray.

“Anthony is, as my dad used to say, ‘poetry in motion,'” Graham said. “I’ve seen him hit line drives in batting practice that were moving like golf balls. He was a leader from day one when he came to campus. I do not have to push him. I just make sure to spell his name right in the lineup card every game.” Graham just completed his 19th season at the helm of the Owls baseball program.

“We are deeply honored by this tremendous recognition of Anthony Rendon as the recipient of the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy,” said Rick Greenspan, director of Rice athletics. “Anthony’s love of the game, humility, academic achievements and talent parallel the aspirations of all Rice student-athletes. His skills, along with coach Graham’s unparalleled coaching, have crafted not only one of the best baseball players in America but also one of the best teammates. The faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Rice University congratulate Anthony Rendon.”

Rendon, the son of Rene and Bridget Rendon of Houston and a member of Rice’s Wiess College, will be a junior this fall. He received many other accolades during his sophomore year, including first team All-America from a host of media organizations, C-USA Male Athlete of the Year, the conference Baseball Player of the Year (for the second-straight year and just the second player in league history to earn that honor in back-to-back seasons), first team all-conference, selection to the C-USA All-Tournament team and designation as Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Austin regional. Houston Mayor Annise Parker ’78 declared June 29 as “Anthony Rendon Day” and presented a proclamation to him at a City Council meeting.

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.

Rendon is the 24th recipient of the Howser Trophy, which dates back to 1987. The award is officially presented by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce through the College Baseball Foundation’s home in Lubbock, site of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Previous winners of the 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, USC, 2001; Khalil Greene, Clemson, 2002; Rickey Weeks, Southern U., 2003; Jered Weaver, Long Beach State, 2004; Alex Gordon, Nebraska, 2005; Brad Lincoln, Houston, 2006; David Price, Vanderbilt, 2007; Buster Posey, Florida State, 2008; and Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State, 2009.

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.

Anthony Rendon facts

2010 honors

Dick Howser Trophy winner.

C-USA Male Athlete of the Year (fall 2009 and spring 2010).

Honored by Mayor Annise Parker and Houston City Council with “Anthony Rendon Day in Houston” on June 29.

Rawlings Sporting Goods National Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

National Player of the Year by Baseball America magazine.

National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District VII Player of the Year for the second time in as many years.

Invited by the United States National Team to represent his country in games against international competition (Japan, Cuba and others later this summer).

All-America selection (essentially all college baseball publications).

All-Region selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association for the second time in two years.

Most Outstanding Player of NCAA Austin regional.

Only the second player in Conference USA history to be named the league’s Player of the Year two years in a row.

First team All-Conference USA for the second time in two years.

C-USA All-Tournament Team for the second time in two years.

Three-time C-USA Hitter of the Week honoree.

All-Silver Glove Series team (for annual five-game series with crosstown rival Houston).

Voted the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year by C-USA coaches.

2010 stats

Led the team and was among the NCAA leaders in home runs (26), RBIs (85) and walks (65) in 63 games.

Tops on the Owls and among the C-USA’s best in batting average (.394), runs (83), slugging percentage (.801), on-base average (.530) and steals (14).

One of only two Owls to start every game (and has started every game in his collegiate career).

Cleanup hitter in 60 of 63 starts.

Tallied more home runs (26) than strikeouts (22), and almost had three times as many walks (65) as strikeouts.

Hit a steady .400 in the NCAA tournament, .402 in C-USA league games and .412 in all home games at Reckling Park.

Batted .422 with runners on base, .493 with runners in scoring position.

Two of his four hits with the bases loaded were grand slam home runs.

Hit .407 when there were two outs already recorded in the inning.

Posted 25 multiple-hit games, 20 multiple-RBI games and maintained a 14-game hitting streak.

Tied a career high with four hits in a game (three times).

Registered three or more hits in a game 11 times.

Recorded four games with two or more home runs, including Rice’s first three-home-run game since 1995 (which he did in the NCAA tournament).

Amassed 181 total bases, the seventh-best single-season total in school history.

Tallied a career-best 13 total bases in the three-homer day against Rider, one of the highest marks in school history.

Had the program’s seventh-highest single-season RBI total (85) and best by an Owl since 1998.

Drove in five runs (or more) in a game four times and three or more RBIs 11 times.

Registered eight RBIs in a victory over eventual NCAA tournament team California, the highest total by an Owl since 2002.

Twice scored a career-high four runs in a game.

Once drew four walks in the season-opener at Stanford, a level of respect that followed him all season.

Intentionally walked 12 times.

Shared the team lead in steals (14) and converted on 14 of 18 stolen base attempts.

Logged an eye-opening .978 fielding percentage at third base.

Totaled 140 defensive assists from the hot corner.

Tallied a career-high seven defensive assists at third base against Southern Miss.

Involved in 16 of the team’s 67 defensive double plays.

In a May 27 game across town at the University of Houston, Rendon was two-for-two with two runs scored, a stolen base and five RBIs, all in the first inning. (Rice batted around in the top of the first inning, and in his second time at bat, he hit a grand slam. On that day he already had five RBIs before the home team even came up to bat.)

Rendon’s Rice record chase

Career slugging percentage of .750 is the second-highest in school history, trailing only Major League All-Star Lance Berkman in the Rice ledgers.

Rendon’s .801 slugging percentage is the fourth-best single-season mark in school history and better than Lance Berkman’s .747 mark in 1996.

Owns 46 career home runs, the third-highest total in school history and trailing only eventual major leaguers Lance Berkman and Bubba Crosby.

Only player in Rice history to reach 20 home runs in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

The 26 home runs this season ties for the second-highest single season total in school history.

Career batting average of .391 is the second-highest in C-USA history and in Rice history, trailing only 1998 ABCA Player of the Year Damon Thames.

The 65 walks is tied for the second-highest single-season total at Rice, and one better than longtime major league star and Rice great Jose Cruz Jr.

2009 honors

Named a national semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award as a true freshman.

Greater-Houston Collegiate Player of the Year by the Houston Astros/local chapter of the Baseball Writers Association.

Baseball America National Freshman of the Year.

All-America.

Freshman All-America.

NCBWA District VII Player of the Year.

NCAA All-Regional Team.

Conference USA Player of the Year.

C-USA Freshman of the Year.

First Team All-Conference USA.

Most Valuable Player of C-USA tournament.

Most Outstanding Player of 2009 Silver Glove Series.

2009 stats

Led the conference in batting average (.388), slugging percentage (.702) and home runs, with a Rice freshman record of 20 round-trippers.

Tops on the team and among the league’s best in RBIs (72).

Knocked 14 doubles and scored 60 runs in 61 games.

Drew 31 walks for a .496 on-base average.

One of only two Owls to start every game.

Batted fourth in the lineup in 57 of 61 starts.

Started at third base on opening day and was there for each of the next 534.2 consecutive innings.

Played 98.4 percent of the team’s 542.2 innings at third base.

Left the final game of the NCAA super regional in the second inning with an ankle injury, stopping his defensive innings streak as well as a blazing 12-for-19 (.632) hitting pace that included a home run, two doubles, seven RBIs and five runs scored.

Hit .500 in the Owls’ seven-game run through the NCAA tournament, .392 in C-USA games and a steady .405 in all home games at Reckling Park.

Loves the big games in front of big crowds, batting .467 (14-for-30) with 10 RBIs in nine games where the attendance was more than 4,500 fans.

Batted .404 with runners on base, .478 with runners in scoring position and .571 (four-for-seven) with the bases loaded.

Hit .450 when there were already two outs already recorded in the inning.

Shared the team lead in multiple-hit games, multiple-RBI games and longest hitting streak (13-straight games).

Twice collected a career-best four hits in a game.

Registered three or more hits in a game 12 times.

Recorded two two-home-run games (against Tulane and eventual College World Series participant Southern Miss).

Tallied nine total bases in the two-homer day against the Green Wave, the most by an Owl in a game all year.

Had the program’s highest single-season RBI total in seven years and 11th-best mark in school history.

Drove in four runs in a game four times and three or more RBIs nine times.

Scored a season-high three runs in a game three times.

Walked more times (31) than struck out (23).

Intentionally walked five times.

Once drew three walks in a single game.

Converted on nine of 11 stolen-base attempts.

Finished fifth on the team with nine steals (but was only two steals away from leading the team).

Logged the best fielding percentage at third (.945) since eventual major leaguer Craig Stansberry finished with .949 mark in the national championship season of 2003.

Made more defensive put outs than any other Owl third baseman (47), or combination of Owl third basemen, dating back to the College World Series team of 2002.

Totaled 159 defensive assists from third, one of the highest marks in school history.

Tallied a season-high five assists in game six different times, including a stretch of three consecutive games against Notre Dame, Oral Roberts and San Diego.

Involved in 20 of the team’s 73 defensive double plays, including 16 that went around-the-horn, two where he snared a line drive and doubled a runner off first and two where he stepped on third before throwing to another station.