February 4, 2008
[size=150]BURRELL TO BE INDUCTED INTO UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HALL OF FAME[/size]
Outfielder Pat Burrell will be inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame on February 13. Burrell will be one of eight inductees.
Burrell played three seasons for Miami (1996-98) and is the university’s only baseball player to win the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur player, winning it in 1998. He finished his college career with the best batting average in school history (.442) and continues to hold the school’s record for slugging percentage (.886). Burrell ranks in Miami’s all-time top five in home runs (61, 2nd), total bases (465, 2nd), RBI (187, 5th) and walks (170, 4th).
As a freshman, Burrell batted a school-record .484 and hit a home run in five of his first six games en route to becoming the first freshman in NCAA history to lead the nation in hitting. He hit 23 home runs and had 64 RBI as the Hurricanes advanced to the championship game of the College World Series (CWS), where he became only the third player ever to win the CWS MVP award when his team did not win the title. He was named a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America.
During his sophomore season, Burrell hit .409 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI, once again winning All-American honors. He toured with Team USA and hit 12 homers in 34 games and was named Summer Player of the Year by Baseball America.
In 1998, Burrell missed 38 games due to a back injury, but still slugged 17 home runs and had 47 RBI to go with his .432 batting average, leading Miami to the CWS for the third straight year. He became the first Miami player to be drafted first overall when the Phillies selected him in the 1998 draft.
Burrell will be inducted alongside President’s Cup golfer Woody Austin, basketball stars Octavia Blue and Mike Wittman, football's Jeff Feagles, Randal Hill and K.C. Jones, and Olympic diving medalist Wendy Williams.
For more information on the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, visit umsportshalloffame.com.
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Press Releases provided courtesy of the Phillies, Media Relations. Thanks, guys!
