UNITED STATES – The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the official watch list for the 2010 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza. Fifty-three catchers were nominated for the award by their coaches. Because the award is given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 5, 2010.

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.

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.

2010 Johnny Bench Award Watch List:

Jeff Arnold (Louisville), Jared Avchen (East Carolina), Chris Berset (Michigan), Alex Black (Coppin State), Ty Boyles (Gardner-Webb), Ross Brayton (Cal Poly), Tyler Bullock (Southern Illinois-Carbondale), Dan Burkhart (Ohio State), Tony Caldwell (Auburn), Chad Comer (Texas-Arlington), Josh Cryer (SE Louisiana), Kevin David (Oklahoma State), Aaron Dudley (Toledo), Justin Echeverria (Stony Brook), Tyler Elkins (Bowling Green), Kyle Enders (South Carolina), Erick Fernandez (Georgetown), Kevin Flynn (Hofstra), Blake Forsythe (Tennessee),Dean Forthum (Columbia), Micah Gibbs (LSU), Victor Gomez (Marshall), Travis Graves (Southern Mississippi), Ben Heath (Pennsylvania State), Bryan Holaday (Texas Christian), Jose Iglesias (Coastal Carolina), Ed Jayjack (North Carolina-Greensboro), Aaron Johnson (Illinois), Jim Klocke (Southeast Missouri State), Kyle Knudson (Minnesota), Matt Koch (Loyola Marymount), Francis Larson (UC Irvine), Rafael Lopez (Florida State), Myckie Lugbauer (Maine), Kyle Mahoney (High Point), Jeremy Mayo (Texas Tech), James McCann (Arkansas), Cameron McConnell (Notre Dame), Mike Murray (Wake Forest), Rafael Neda (New Mexico), John Nester (Clemson), Marcus Nidiffer (Kentucky), Joe Oliveira (Pacific), Tyler Ogle (Oklahoma), Dominic Piazza (Cal State Northridge),Nick Rickles (Stetson), Cameron Rupp (Texas), Joey Stevens (Eastern Kentucky), Beau Taylor (Central Florida), John Turk (Akron), Cody Stanley (UNC-Wilmington) and Chris Wallace (Houston).

Photo courtesy of Texas Athletics

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Tags: NCAA Division I