The NCAA News - News and Features

November 24, 1997

Florida State's Drew awarded Golden Spikes honor

J. D. Drew, a junior outfielder at Florida State last season, is this year's recipient of the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the country.

Drew, who received the award from USA Baseball, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies as the No. 2 pick in this year's baseball draft. He opted, however, to sign and play with St. Paul of the Northern League, where he was named rookie of the year.

He was selected for the award from among nine finalists.

Drew last season became the first college baseball player to hit more than 30 home runs (31) and steal 30 bases (32). He hit .455 and also collected 100 runs batted in. He set a Florida State record with a 34-game hitting streak.

He set a single-game College World Series record in 1995 with three home runs against Southern California, and hit a total of five home runs through six CWS games in 1995 and 1996.

Other finalists for the award were pitcher Matt Anderson and first baseman Lance Berkman of Rice, third baseman Pat Burrell of Miami (Florida), infielder Troy Glaus of UCLA, pitcher/outfielder Tim Hudson of Auburn, shortstop Adam Kennedy of Cal State Northridge, shortstop Brandon Larson of LSU and pitcher/outfielder Roberto Vaz of Alabama.