The Warren Spahn Award

ESPN “SportsCenter” Anchor John Anderson wins Bill Teegins Award

OKLAHOMA CITY — Organizers of the Warren Spahn Award Gala announced today that John Anderson, ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor and co-host of ABC’s hit primetime television series “Wipeout,” is the 2011 Bill Teegins Excellence in Sportscasting Award winner.

The Teegins Award is presented annually to an outstanding sportscaster with Oklahoma ties. Prior to joining ESPN, Anderson was a sports reporter and weekend sports anchor at Tulsa’s KOTV from 1990 to 1996 and a sports photographer and reporter at Tulsa’s KTUL from 1988 to 1990. Anderson worked directly with the late Bill Teegins on Oklahoma City Blazers and Tulsa Oilers simulcasts in the mid-1990s.

Randy Cassimus, chair of the Teegins Award selection committee, said it will be a pleasure to present this year’s award to Anderson. "John's body of work and his character easily meet the criteria, and the fact that he and Bill actually had the opportunity to work together in Oklahoma makes the selection even more special. It's wonderful that John's talent has taken him to a national stage where so many more sports fans can appreciate him.""

The Teegins Award honors previous OSU men’s basketball play-by-play announcer Bill Teegins, who died tragically in a 2001 plane crash, along with 10 OSU basketball players and support personnel. Teegins donated many hours to the Oklahoma sports community as a volunteer and was inducted posthumously into the Oklahoma Sports of Fame in 2001 and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002.

“Clearly, I am honored to be chosen for the award, but I am humbled as well,” Anderson said. “I had the great pleasure of knowing and often working with Bill early in my career. There were lessons in excellence, professionalism and how to treat people in just watching him go about his job. To be linked to Bill through this award is truly special as was my time in Oklahoma as a young journalist."

The Teegins Award will be presented to Anderson at the Warren Spahn Award Gala, hosted by Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Rotary Club and the Jim Thorpe Association. The gala will be held on January 26th at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame & Jim Thorpe Museum in Oklahoma City. Tickets are available now. Proceeds will benefit several local charities including Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Autism Walk, Red Ribbon Week, Christmas Connection and Alzheimer’s Walk.

Previous Teegins Award winners include Dave Hunziker, John Brooks, Bob Carpenter, Joe Simpson, Bob Barry Sr., Bobby Murcer, Curt Gowdy, Ross Porter, Bill Mercer and John Rooney.

In addition to the Teegins Award, the Warren Spahn Award will be presented at the gala to this year’s best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. The 2011 Spahn Award winner is Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For more information, visit OKCSpahnAwards.com. To purchase tickets, contact Bill Hickman at 405.605.2375 or hickman@hickmanlawgroup.com.

Clayton Kershaw named best lefty pitcher in MLB

OKLAHOMA CITY, OCTOBER 20, 2011—Warren Spahn Award organizers announced today that Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers is the 2011 Spahn Award winner.

The Spahn Award is presented annually to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball and is based on a pitcher’s wins, strikeouts and earned run average. Kershaw led in all categories with 21 wins, 248 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA.

“It is a genuine honor to have my named mentioned alongside one of the greatest lefties in the history of the game,” Kershaw said. “Mr. Spahn accomplished so much both in baseball and in his life off the field. I am truly humbled by this award. Thank you.”

Greg Spahn, son of the late Warren Spahn, said this is the first time an award winner has placed first in every category since Randy Johnson won in the late 1990s.

“Congratulations to Clayton Kershaw on an incredible season, leading all lefties with a 2.28 ERA,” Spahn said. “In fact, he led in each category of the Warren Spahn Award, with the Dodgers a third place club in the National League West. I look forward to handing him the award.”

Sponsored by Farmers Insurance Group, the Spahn Award is named after Oklahoman and National Baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, who holds the MLB record of 363 wins as a left-handed pitcher.

“Warren Spahn was most well-known for his record number of wins, so it’s appropriate that this year’s Spahn Award winner is also the Dodgers’ first 20-game winner in over two decades,” said Bill Hickman, chairman of the Warren Spahn Award board. “Congratulations to Mr. Kershaw on an outstanding season and on winning this prestigious award.”

Kershaw’s 2011 accomplishments also include being selected as the Dodgers’ Opening Day Starter, being selected to the National League squad for the MLB All-Star Game and being awarded the NL Player of the Month and NL pitching Triple Crown. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Kershaw was drafted by the Dodgers in 2006 and made his major league debut in 2008 as the youngest player in the league.

In its 13th year, the Spahn Award will be presented at the Warren Spahn Award Gala, hosted by Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Rotary Club and Jim Thorpe Association in January at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame & Jim Thorpe Museum.

Past Spahn Award winners include: David Price (2010); CC Sabathia (2007–2009); Johan Santana (2004, 2006); Dontrelle Willis (2005); Andy Pettitte (2003); and Randy Johnson (1999–2002). For more information, visit OKCSpahnAwards.com.

ARCHIVES