By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Trent Whitehead will be rubbing elbows with some of the best to ever play the game of baseball.
Whitehead, a star at East Carolina and a former standout with the Washington Pam Pack, will be among those honored at Monday’s Wilson Hot Stove League/North Carolina Baseball Museum annual banquet. The junior leadoff hitter for the Pirates will receive the Trot Nixon “Gamer” Award.
“I’m excited about it,” Whitehead said. “Coach (Billy) Godwin told me the award is for showing positive qualities in a game and I’m proud of that. I just try to be a gamer.”
Whitehead, who was named to the 10th Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Pro-Line Athletic Preseason All-America Second-Team and the 2010 Ping!Baseball preseason All-America third team earlier this year, will receive the award from Nixon himself.
Nixon had a successful baseball career, most notably with the Boston Red Sox. A first-round selection in the 1993 MLB Draft, Nixon was a .274 career hitter with 137 homers and 555 RBIs.
Now retired from baseball, Nixon spent the majority of his professional career with the Red Sox, but also had stints with the Cleveland Indians and New York Mets.
Nixon got his start at Wilmington’s New Hanover High School. As a senior, he was named the state’s Player of the Year in both football and baseball.
Nixon was set to join the N.C. State football team on a scholarship before being drafted by the Red Sox.
“That’s going to be cool to get the award from him,” Whitehead said. “I hope I can sit down and talk with him and get some pointers. He’s played in some big games, played in Yankee Stadium and had some big hits. Getting to talk to him would be special.”
Whitehead, who was named to the All-Conference USA second team and was a C-USA All-Tournament selection, is coming off a sensational sophomore season. The ECU leadoff hitter had a single-season record 105 hits (ranked fourth nationally).
He hit .376 with seven home runs, 47 RBIs, 24 doubles (ranked 17th nationally), 78 runs scored (ranked 12th nationally) and 10 stolen bases.
Whitehead, who has a career .351 batting average (129 for 367) to go with 10 home runs, 62 RBIs, 100 runs scored and 15 stolen bases, will be joined by Godwin, his parents, A.G. and Karen Whitehead, and his sister, Kristen Whitehead, at the banquet.
“I definitely am excited about it,” Whitehead said. “To see some former major league players there, it will be cool. I know it’s big deal.”
Receiving the Gaylord Perry Pitching Award at Monday’s banquet will be North Carolina junior pitcher Alex White, a former standout at D.H. Conley. White was named to three All-America teams and picked up the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year award.
The Pirates begin spring practice Friday, and open the 2010 season Feb. 19 at Clark-LeClair Stadium against preseason No. 3 Virginia.