CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State catcher Mitch Canham is one of 50 baseball players from across the country on the watch list for the Dick Howser Trophy, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate player. Canham (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens HS) was on the list announced Thursday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which presents the award in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

Canham, a junior, is batting .370 with eight home runs and 45 runs batted in. He is currently tied for third in the Pacific-10 in RBIs, is fourth in on-base percentage (.490), is fifth in slugging percentage (.645), is tied for sixth in home runs and is seventh in batting average.

Criteria for the Dick Howser Trophy includes on-field performance, leadership, moral character and courage – qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life. Howser was a two-time All-America shortstop at Florida State; he later coached FSU and managed the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals, winning the World Series with the Royals in 1985. He died of brain cancer in 1987.

The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy recipient based on three rounds of voting, with the winner will be named at the College World Series on June 15. Past winners include Robin Ventura, Alex Fernandez, Jason Varitek, Todd Helton, Kris Benson, J.D. Drew, Mark Teixeira, Mark Prior, Khalil Green and Jered Weaver.

The NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and sports information directors. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it was founded in 1962.

Canham On List For Howser Trophy