Tulsa Drillers coach killed by foul ball

CrocodileHunter · Jul 23, 2007

sad news

Drillers' first base coach dies after being hit by foul ball
By Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The first base coach of the Tulsa Drillers died after being struck by a foul ball during a game at Dickey-Stephens Park on Sunday night, officials confirmed.

Mike Coolbaugh was hit in the side of the head during in the top of ninth inning with Drillers player Tino Sanchez at bat. Coolbaugh collapsed to the ground and lay there motionless as medical personnel and team members came to his side. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on the field.

Coolbaugh, 35, then was transported to Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock. He was pronounced dead a short time later, according to Sgt. Terry Kuykendall, spokesman for the North Little Rock Police Department.

According to the Tulsa Drillers Web site, Coolbaugh joined the team on July 3.

The game was suspended with the Arkansas Travelers leading 7-3 with no outs in the ninth inning.

GreenDoberman · Jul 23, 2007

Wow, freak accident.

Horseshoe · Jul 23, 2007

Who cares if it looks cool or not, all 1st Base & 3rd Base coaches should wear batting helmets from Little Leagues on up..and dugouts need mesh or plexiglass miniwalls.

Peace be with his family.

billhill999 · Jul 23, 2007

Just got an espn alert on that stroy.
Guy went out doing what he loved.

CrocodileHunter · Jul 23, 2007

Apparently this guy didn't join the Drillers coaching staff until earlier this month.

A STRANGE TWIST of fate has Mike Coolbaugh back in baseball and back in Tulsa, where he played briefly during the 1996 Drillers season.

The former major leaguer (he played for Milwaukee and St. Louis) suffered a broken wrist last year and put his baseball career on hold after not getting any offers in 2007.

"I only played about a month last year and didn't get a call to play this year," Coolbaugh said.

The abrupt resignation of Tulsa hitting instructor Orlando Merced created a opening. A call from Coolbaugh's brother, Scott, also a former Driller, put Mike back in the sport he loves as the Drillers new hitting instructor.

"Scott called (Tulsa manager) Stu Cole and mentioned I might be an option for the job," Mike said. "I visited with the Rockies and things just worked out. It sort of came out of the blue but I'm happy with it. Maybe it's time for me to take this road.

"This game is funny. You never really know. When you think you're out, you're in. When you think you're in, you're out. It really just worked out."

Coolbaugh and his wife, Mandy, have two sons, Joseph and Jacob, and the couple is expecting another child in October.
My boys really missed the game," he said. "My friends told me I would miss it. I had a good time playing (17 years) and enjoyed every minute of it. But I really don't miss playing, but I love talking about it. This is a way for me to show somebody what I can bring to the table. I'm really happy with the route I've taken and I hope the organization is happy too."

earl · Jul 23, 2007

Horseshoe said:
Who cares if it looks cool or not, all 1st Base & 3rd Base coaches should wear batting helmets from Little Leagues on up..and dugouts need mesh or plexiglass miniwalls.

Peace be with his family.

good call! simply put helmets save lives and you saw what hockey did after that little girl was killed by a puck at an NHL game a couple of years ago.

lapdance · Jul 23, 2007

a sad, sad story.

TTinCO · Jul 23, 2007

Horseshoe said:
Who cares if it looks cool or not, all 1st Base & 3rd Base coaches should wear batting helmets from Little Leagues on up..and dugouts need mesh or plexiglass miniwalls.

Peace be with his family.

Not bad ideas at all. Two young kids with a third on the way....shitty, really shitty.

He played for the baby Royals last year.

Illini · Jul 23, 2007

Horseshoe said:
Who cares if it looks cool or not, all 1st Base & 3rd Base coaches should wear batting helmets from Little Leagues on up..and dugouts need mesh or plexiglass miniwalls.

Peace be with his family.

1st and 3rd base coaches will never wear batting helmets, nor should they. How gay would that look? They are athletic and they can duck. Besides, is a pitcher going to wear a batting helmet? He's in the most danger. It's the fans that are in danger of foul balls. I can't believe there isn't at least one death a year in the stands.