USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award on Baseball Almanac

USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award

The Golden Spikes Award is presented each year to the baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability AND exemplary sportsmanship. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball stars Robin Ventura, Jason Varitek, Mark Kotsay and Phil Nevin, as well as 2001 winner Mark Prior of the Chicago Cubs.

For the previous twenty-four years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with this award. The Golden Spikes Award is sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), underscoring the commitment of Major League Baseball players to the grassroots development of baseball programs, particularly for youth, around the world. Baseball Almanac is pleased to present each recipient of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.

"I wanted to go out and play every game as hard as I could this season, with it being my last year in college. To be able to look back on the year and know that I was named the best amateur player as the Golden Spikes Award winner, it’s just a very special honor." - 2002 USA Golden Spikes Award winner Khalil Greene

USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award In Chronological Order
Year	Name	College Attended
1978	Bob Horner	Arizona State University
1979	Tim Wallach	Cal State Fullerton
1980	Terry Francona	University of Arizona
1981	Mike Fuentes	Florida State University
1982	Augie Schmidt	University of New Orleans
1983	Dave Magadan	University of Alabama
1984	Oddibe McDowell	Arizona State University
1985	Will Clark	Mississippi State Univresity
1986	Mike Loynd	Florida State University
1987	Jim Abbott	University of Michigan
1988	Robin Ventura	Oklahoma State University
1989	Ben McDonald	Louisiana State University
1990	Alex Fernandez	Miami-Dade Community College
1991	Mike Kelly	Arizona State University
1992	Phil Nevin	Cal State Fullerton
1993	Darren Dreifort	Wichita State University
1994	Jason Varitek	Georgia Institute of Technology
1995	Mark Kotsay	Cal State Fullerton
1996	Travis Lee	San Diego State University
1997	J.D. Drew	Florida State University
1998	Pat Burrell	University of Miami
1999	Jason Jennings	Baylor University
2000	Kip Bouknight	University of South Carolina
2001	Mark Prior	University of Southern California
2002	Khalil Greene	Clemson University
2003	Rickie Weeks	Southern University
2004	Jered Weaver	Long Beach State University
2005	Alex Gordon	University of Nebraska
2006	Tim Lincecum	University of Washington
2007	David Price	Vanderbilt University
2008	Not Yet Announced	--
Year	Writer	College Attended
Golden Spikes Award

When the 2002 Baseball Golden Spikes Award was announced, they simultaneously celebrated their 25th Anniversary and announced their anniversary team (below):

25th Anniversary Golden Spikes Award Team

Pitchers: Jim Abbott, Ben McDonald & Mark Prior.
Infielders: Pat Burrell, Will Clark, Bob Horner, Phil Nevin & Robin Ventura.
Outfielders: J.D. Drew, Terry Francona, & Mark Kotsay.

Did you know that Khalil Greene (2002 recipient of the Golden Spikes Award) played for the Clemson Tigers and was the second NCAA player to ever collect four-hundred hits during his collge "career"?

Do you know who was drafted ahead of Greene? Do you remember what team drafted Greene? Check the 2002 First Round Draft Picks today. Names which appear on the chart above in gray did not make it to the Major League level.

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