whitesoxfan101 Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controlled Chaos Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 God Bless his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandy125 Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Very sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Incredible. RIP. Thoughts and prayers to his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sox It To Em Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Unreal. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo's Drinker Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Such a sad story....freak accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearSox Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 wow, very said. RIP and the best to his friends and family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigEdWalsh Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan101 Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlliniKrush Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 (edited) 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 July 25, 2007 by IlliniKrush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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