Wilkerson to receive SEC Legends honor

Featuring former standouts from Southeastern Conference member institutions, the inaugural SEC Baseball Legends Program Presented by AT&T will be honored at the 2012 SEC Baseball Tournament May 22-27 at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala.

“The SEC Baseball Legends Presented by AT&T allows us to honor the deep tradition and history of baseball in our league and show everyone why the SEC is the nation’s premier baseball conference,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “We are grateful to our friends at AT&T for helping make this program possible.”

The 2012 class includes Dr. Jeffrey Laubenthal, Alabama; Kevin McReynolds, Arkansas; Brad Wilkerson, Florida; Rev. Reggie Andrews, Georgia. Wilkerson, who will be the Gators’ first-ever inductee into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, will be in Gainesville this weekend for UF’s key series against Eastern Division rival Georgia. Four legends will be recognized each year, with representatives from Auburn, LSU, Kentucky and Missouri set to be honored in 2013.

“AT&T is excited to be a part of the inaugural year of the SEC Baseball Legends program. Our presenting sponsorship further strengthens our relationship with and commitment to the Southeastern Conference,” said Jamie Kerr, Director, AT&T Corporate Sponsorships. “We couldn’t be happier to support the conference in honoring the success that these former student-athletes have shown both on the playing field and well after they have hung up their spikes.”

Each SEC Baseball Legend will have on-field recognition and awards presentation by Commissioner Slive on Saturday, May 26, during the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Fans will have an opportunity for autographs and photos with the honorees on the concourse immediately following. The Legends will also participate in the annual SEC Youth Clinic on Friday morning.

Video elements highlighting the 2012 SEC Baseball Legends Presented by AT&T will be shown on the videoboard at Regions Park throughout the entire SEC Baseball Tournament.

Complete biographical information on each honoree in the inaugural SEC Baseball Legend’s class follows:

2012 SEC BASEBALL LEGENDS

ALABAMA – Dr. Jeffrey Laubenthal, Outfield/Designated Hitter, 1990-93

Dr. Jeff Laubenthal was a four-year letterman for the Alabama baseball team from 1990-93…During his career, the outfielder/designated hitter posted a .284 batting average in 133 games, while making 78 starts for the Crimson Tide…He finished his playing days with nine home runs, 14 doubles, 56 RBI and 88 total hits…His senior season in 1993 was his best, as he started 51 of 52 games, posting a .289 average with six home runs, 30 RBI and 33 runs scored…A First Team Academic All-American in 1993, Laubenthal was honored as the H. Boyd McWhorter Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1992, the SEC’s highest academic honor…A three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll (1991-93), Laubenthal earned an SEC postgraduate scholarship, which he used to attend the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical School, graduating in 1997…Laubenthal specializes in family practice and sports medicine at the West Alabama Family Practice Center in Tuscaloosa…He joined the University of Alabama Athletic Department Sports Medicine team in 2001, and currently works with several athletic programs, including serving as the primary doctor for the Alabama baseball team…He is married to the former Katherine Kelleher, an All-American gymnast at Alabama who earned a SEC Postgraduate Scholarship of her own…The couple has two daughters, Lilly and Claire.

ARKANSAS – Kevin McReynolds, Outfield, 1979-81

McReynolds, a native of North Little Rock, Ark., put together a great career as an Arkansas Razorback…McReynolds was a three-year letterwinner at Arkansas, appearing in 151 games with a career batting average of .337 while also totaling 33 home runs and 121 RBI…Ranks tied for 10th in school history in career homers and third in career slugging percentage with a .642 mark…As a freshman, McReynolds guided the Razorbacks to the first College World Series appearance in program history…Earned College World Series All-Tournament team recognition in helping the Razorbacks to a second-place finish…Also earned All-American and All-Southwest Conference honors in 1980 and 1981…Named Most Valuable Player at the 1980 Southwest Conference Tournament…Following his collegiate playing career at the University of Arkansas, McReynolds was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft and went on to play 12 seasons in the Major Leagues…McReynolds played for the San Diego Padres, the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals in his professional career… His best season as a pro came in the 1988 season for the New York Mets…McReynolds had a .288 batting average, 27 home runs and 99 RBI to finish third in the National League MVP vote.

FLORIDA – Brad Wilkerson, First Base/Pitcher/Outfielder, 1996-98

Drafted as the 33rd pick in the first round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft by the Montreal Expos…First three-time All-American in Florida school history…Finalist for the 1998 Golden Spikes Award…Named as the 1998 Collegiate Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and won the Smith Award given to the National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year as selected by CoSIDA…1998 First Team All-American selection by Baseball Weekly, Baseball America, Sporting News and Collegiate Baseball…Preseason Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball…Re-set UF career batting average, HR, RBI, runs, walks and slugging percentage standards…Broke seven individual season batting records and tied/reset seven individual performance marks…55 career home runs, the eighth player in SEC history to hit 50 or more home runs…Reached base safely in 141 consecutive games at one point of career and reached base in 190 of 195 career games…First player in NCAA history to hit 20 home runs, win 10 games and steal 20 bases…One of two players to start every game in 1998…Most Outstanding Player, 1996 NCAA East Regional held in Gainesville…1996 College World Series All-Tournament team…All-SEC and ABCA All-South Region , 1996-1998…Three-time SEC Player of the Week during his career.

GEORGIA – Rev. Reggie Andrews, Shortstop, 1953-55

Georgia shortstop who lettered 1953-55…Captain of the 1955 team…A second-team ABCA All-American in 1955 (the second All-American in Georgia baseball history) and 1955 Team MVP…A three-time All-SEC selection (1953-55) …NCAA Third District All-Star Team in 1953 and 1955…Part of two SEC Championship teams (1953, 1954) and one Eastern Division Championship team (1955), all under Coach Jim Whatley…Career batting average of .301 with 7 home runs and 72 RBI…Led the 1955 team with 33 RBI and four home runs…The 1953 Georgia team advanced to the NCAA District Playoffs and went 2-2; the 1954 Georgia team turned down an NCAA Regional bid due to exams…Inducted into the Macon Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in April 2006… After UGA career, sustained a kidney injury while serving a three-year commitment with the Air Force, which ended his chance of a pro baseball career…Spent 34 years as a civilian worker for the Air Force…Was the top civilian for the USAF at Lockheed-Georgia Company for his last 17 years in government service that included administering all government contracts and was the key contact in negotiations for all C141 and C5 aircrafts…Mr. Andrews is now an Ordained Minister and has been for the past 16 years…Reggie and his wife, Judy, reside in Kennesaw, Ga.

Courtesy SEC Sports