Jump to content

Minor League 1B Coach killed by line drive


whitesoxfan101

Recommended Posts

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/base...s.ap/index.html

 

Coolbaugh dead at 35

Tulsa Drillers' first base coach killed by line drive

Posted: Monday July 23, 2007 2:14AM; Updated: Monday July 23, 2007 2:57AM

 

Mike Coolbaugh was struck in the side of the head during in the top of ninth inning.

Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

 

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Tulsa Drillers coach Mike Coolbaugh died Sunday night after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach's box during a Texas League game with the Arkansas Travelers, police said.

 

The game was suspended in the ninth inning after Coolbaugh was struck by a hard-hit foul ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez and taken to Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock.

 

Travelers spokesman Phil Elson said Coolbaugh was hit on the right side of his head or on the forehead -- "I'm getting conflicting reports," he said -- and fell to the ground immediately.

 

According to a report posted on the Drillers' Web site late Sunday, Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and CPR was administered to him on the field.

 

Sgt. Terry Kuykendall, spokesman for North Little Rock police, said Coolbaugh was still alive when he was put in an ambulance, but stopped breathing as the ambulance arrived at the hospital.

 

"They tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.," Kuykendall said.

 

Coolbaugh, 35, played 44 games in the major leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers over two seasons. The Drillers' Web site said Coolbaugh joined the Tulsa staff on July 3 as a batting coach. He played for the team briefly in 1996.

 

Tulsa is a Colorado Rockies affiliate.

 

A native of Binghamton, N.Y., Coolbaugh went to high school in San Antonio and was drafted in 1990 by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round.

 

He played third base and bounced around the minors for a decade, before making his major league debut with the Brewers in 2001. He played five more big league games for the Cardinals in 2002. He hit two home runs in 70 major league at-bats.

 

Coolbaugh's older brother, Scott, also played 167 major league games over parts of four seasons with Texas, San Diego and St. Louis in the early 1990s.

 

The Travelers, an Angels affiliate, led 7-3 at the time the game was suspended with no outs and a runner on first in the top of the ninth inning. Officials said a date and time for finishing the game had not yet been chosen.

 

Coolbaugh is survived by his wife, Mandy, and two young sons, Joseph and Jacob. Mandy Coolbaugh is expecting another child in October.

 

Unreal, so horrible. RIP.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 23, 2007 -> 11:02 PM)
What's the chances they make all base coaches wear helmets now? Joey Cora should have been wearing a helmet last year, but that was for a different reason.

 

I said the same thing to my son earlier tonight.

 

LOL! By the way that's a funny comment about Cora. Seriously though, as I mentioned in another thread I was at the Great Falls game in Orem tonight and they had a moment of silence for Coolbaugh, as I wouldn't doubt they did in most ballparks. Jeez, it was very emotional.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 01:02 AM)
What's the chances they make all base coaches wear helmets now? Joey Cora should have been wearing a helmet last year, but that was for a different reason.

 

Though it might not look "cool," it should be done. I know it was something that every league I played in from little league to high school required. Your head is no less immune to these freak accidents once you make it to college.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 12:02 AM)
What's the chances they make all base coaches wear helmets now? Joey Cora should have been wearing a helmet last year, but that was for a different reason.

 

Vin Scully has been calling for it ever since I've been watching Dodgers games on DirecTV and MLB.TV, which is several years now. Looks like he was right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Which begs the question, how long until pitchers wear helmets (or for that matter, a mask or something)? Starting last year in HS you could actually wear head and/or face protection on defense. I haven't seen anyone do it, but it's in the rules now.

 

I've seen a few 3B in girls softball wear a type of mask thingy (it's not quite a catcher's mask, it isn't quite as bulky and it's easier to see out of) because they are ridiculously close to the batter when they play in a little bit.

 

Edit:

 

Following up on this...I don't think it will be many more years until college/hs/little league start using wood bats.

Edited by IlliniKrush
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...