In the May/June issue of The Bootleg Magazine
(re-published on TheBootleg.com in late-June), we introduced The
Bootleg Honor Roll and also released a list of 30 finalists for this award
for the 2002/2003 school-year. Here
is a link to that story.
The criteria are as follows:
Each academic year, The Bootleg’s Honor Roll will
recognize the top ten Stanford student-athletes who have performed at an
exceptional level, with athletic accomplishments that are both extraordinary and
inspirational. While achieving athletic success, these athletes should also have
displayed uncommon leadership, sportsmanship and respect towards their fellow
teammates and opponents. Finally, these honorees’ performances and actions
should also demonstrate their love for their particular sport as well as their
school pride, the famed “Spirit of Stanford.”
During the month of July, we will be releasing the 10
winners of this prestigious award, one by one.
Baseball
catcher Ryan Garko (Walnut, CA) is our first winner. After going un-drafted as a
junior, Ryan dropped 15 pounds, greatly improved his defense and recorded one of
the best all-around seasons in the proud history of the Stanford baseball
program. Garko led the Cardinal to its third College World Series runner-up
finish in the last four seasons and an overall record of 51-18 in 2003
(third-best on the school’s all-time list). He became only the sixth Stanford
player to bat over .400 for a season, finishing at .402. Remarkably, Ryan
finished the season with more homers (18) than strikeouts (17). The 18 homeruns
rank #8 on the all-time Stanford single-season list. Further, his 92 RBI tied
the single season Stanford record set by Rick Lundblade in 1985. Garko also lead
the team in doubles (24, tied with Carlos Quentin), total bases (182), slugging
percentage (.703) and extra-base hits (42). He also ranked second on the club in
hits (104).
Garko was deservedly named the winner of the Fourth Annual
Johnny Bench Award as the nation’s top collegiate catcher. Garko was also the
Co-Pac-10 Player of the Year, a First Team All-American, Regional Most
Outstanding Player and All-College World Series selection in 2003. For the week
ending May 4, he was named Pac-10 and College Baseball Insider West Regional
Player of the Week.
Garko was drafted in the 3rd round (#78 overall)
by the Cleveland Indians. (Hey, what’s with their mascot name?)
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