Temple University Athletics
Barksdale Named To Wallace Watch List For Nation's Top Player
12.10.07 | Baseball
Dec. 10, 2007
Wallace Award Watch List By School
PHILADELPHIA - Temple junior OF Sean Barksdale has been named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List, annually awarded to the nation's top collegiate baseball player. Barksdale is one of five Atlantic 10 and one of three Philadelphia Big 5 players on the list.
The Wallace Award is presented in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual induction festivities. The 2008 award banquet will be held Thursday, July 3, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.
Last year's Brooks Wallace award went to Vanderbilt pitcher, David Price. Price was the first overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft and is currently pitching in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. The 2006 winner was standout pitcher/designated hitter Brad Lincoln of Houston. Nebraska's Alex Gordon, now with the Kansas City Royals, took home the 2005 trophy. The inaugural award was given in 2004 to Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton, who is now catching for the Oakland A's.
The Wallace Award is a dedication to the memory of the former Texas Tech player and assistant coach Brooks Wallace. Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977 to 1980. A four-year starter, he was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District his senior year. He led the Red Raiders to their first-ever appearance in the Southwest Conference Tournament in 1980. 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.
Barksdale, a first team All-Atlantic 10 selection and Philadelphia Big 5 Co-Player of the Year, made an immediate impact in the Temple lineup last spring after transferring from Gloucester CC (NJ). The city leader in RBI (59), he batted .359 with 13 doubles, three triples and seven home runs and led the team in slugging percentage (.544), stolen bases (14) and RBI (59). The 59 runs batted in are good for fourth on the Temple single-season list and are the most at TU in 22 years.
A one-time Atlantic 10 and Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week (5/21), the Glenolden, PA native batted a team-high .432 with runners in scoring position. He owned a 19-game hitting streak from March 23-April 22, batting .457 over that span. Barksdale also had five games with at least four RBI, including three in his final six games.
Barksdale joins Charlotte's Chris Taylor and Brad McElroy, Richmond's Brian Alas and La Salle's John Rickards on the list from the A-10. Penn's Todd Roth also appeared.
Temple opens its season on February 22 at Bethune Cookman.
