Harvey Named Golden Spikes Award Finalist

Tucson, Ariz. -- USA Baseball announced today that University of Nebraska All-American Ken Harvey is one of five finalists for the 1999 Golden Spikes Award, amateur baseball's most prestigious award. The 22nd annual presentation of the award will serve as the featured event at the Major League Baseball Players Association sponsored Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner, to be held on Nov. 3, at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Harvey joins former Husker standout Darin Erstad as the only Husker to be a finalist for this award.

Harvey was nominated for the honor after leading the nation with a .478 batting average last season. The other finalists are Bobby Hill of Miami, Jason Jennings of Baylor, Marshall McDougall of Florida State and Eric Munson of USC.

Harvey, a fifth-round draft choice by the Kansas City Royals, had the best season ever for a Husker hitter, hitting a school record 23 home runs and earning first-team All-America honors from six different publications. The Los Angeles, Calif., native started 55 games, also hit 15 doubles and drove in 86 runs in helping NU to a 42-8 record. He also had just two errors at first base to lead the team with a .996 fielding percentage. Harvey and the Huskers won the Big 12 Conference tournament title, marking the school's first baseball title since 1950, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1985. Harvey was also one of three finalists for the Rotary Smith Award. He ended his career on a 15-game hitting streak and hit safely in 52 of 57 games on the year. Currently with the Spokane Indians, Harvey won the Northwest League batting title with a.397 average, helping Spokane to its first title since 1990.

For the past 20 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award is presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball stars such as Robin Ventura, Darren Dreifort, Jason Varitek, Will Clark and current Philadelphia Phillies manager Terry Francona.

1999 Golden Spikes Award Finalists
Player School Pos. Yr. June '99 Draft

Ken Harvey Nebraska 1B Jr. 5th Round (Kansas City)
Led the nation with a .478 batting average and the Cornhuskers to the Big 12 title.

Bobby Hill Miami SS Jr. 2nd Round (Chicago-AL)
Led the Hurricanes to the National championship by batting .378 with 72 runs scored.

Jason Jennings Baylor RHP Jr. 1st Round (Colorado)
Two-way star went 13-2, 2.78 ERA on the mound and belted 17 home runs at the plate.

Marshall McDougall Florida State 2B Jr. 26th Round (Boston)
Hit an NCAA record six home runs with 16 RBI in a single game.

Eric Munson USC C Jr. 1st Round (Detroit)
Third pick overall, batted .346 with 15 home runs while playing outstanding defense.