Posted: May 23, 2006
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh junior catcher Matt McBride has been named a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award and a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace College Player of the Year Award. The Bench Award is given to the nation’s top Division I collegiate catcher, and the Wallace Award is handed out to the nation’s top Division I college player, regardless of position.
McBride’s name is one of ten still remaining on the potential list of Johnny Bench Award winners in 2006. The Bench Award is handed out by the Greater Wichita (Kan.) Sports Commission each year to the top Division I catcher in the country.
The semifinalist list for the Wallace Award has been trimmed to 30 names nationwide, including Lehigh’s McBride. The Brooks Wallace College Player of the Year Award is handed out to the top Division I player in the country, as voted on by coaches, baseball writers, and sports information directors. The award is presented by the College Baseball Foundation, based in Lubbock, Texas.
En route to helping to lead Lehigh to a share of the Patriot League regular season title, McBride captured the Patriot League regular season triple crown by pacing the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. To this point, McBride’s .421 batting average in 2006 currently ranks among the national leaders, and his 53 RBIs so far are a new Lehigh single season record. McBride’s 82 hits also set a new benchmark in both league and school annals.
Defensively, McBride has gunned down 15 would-be base stealers, and he boasts a fielding percentage of .991. McBride has started in all 52 of Lehigh’s games this season.
The local product was instrumental in helping the Mountain Hawks win their first ever Patriot League tournament title on May 14. Lehigh will appear in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history next week.
The Mountain Hawks are back in action on Saturday, May 27 when they visit Princeton for a 2:00 pm tilt. The two teams will then square off at the baseball field on Lehigh’s Goodman Campus on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
About the Johnny Bench Award
The Johnny Bench Award is named in honor of Bench, who is a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame following a stellar career. Bench’s career honors include: National League Rookie of the Year (1968); National League Most Valuable Player (1970, 1972); World Series Most Valuable Player (1976); 14-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner. In 1980, he set an endurance record by catching 100+ games for 13 consecutive seasons. Bench was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989 with the fourth highest percentage of total votes cast.
While Bench is remembered for his offense, he may have had the greatest impact behind the plate. He was the first receiver to use a protective helmet in the field, popularized catching one-handed and kept his throwing hand behind his back to protect it from foul tips.
The award will be handed out in Wichita on June 28, following the College World Series.
About the Brooks Wallace College Player of the Year Award
The Brooks Wallace Awards are dedicated to the memory of former Texas Tech shortstop and assistant coach Brooks Wallace. Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977 to 1980. A 4-year starter, he was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District Six his senior year when he lead the Red Raiders to their first-ever appearance in the Southwest Conference Tournament.
After playing two years in the Texas Rangers organization, he returned to Texas Tech and served as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach. In the summer of 1984 he was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease courageously until his death on March 24, 1985, at age 27.
The winner of the 2006 Brooks Wallace College Player of the Year Award will be announced on the Texas Tech campus on July 3.