The Energon Pub

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:11 am**

http://sports.aol.com/mlb/story/_a/trag ... 0009990001

Tragedy Strikes on Baseball Field
AP Sports
Posted: 2007-07-23 08:27:12
Filed Under: MLB
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (July 22) - 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.

Photo Gallery: Deaths in 2007

Doug Murray, AP Minor league coach Mike Coolbaugh, seen here in his playing days, dies after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach's box.

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.

Phil Elson, spokesman for the Travelers, said Coolbaugh was struck by the ball 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 for the trip to the hospital, but stopped breathing as the ambulance arrived at the facility.

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

Coolbaugh played 44 games in the major leagues over two seasons, his last appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002. The Drillers' web site said Coolbaugh joined the Tulsa team's staff on July 3.

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.

Tulsa is a Colorado Rockies' Double-A affiliate.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-07-23 02:01:03

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:25 am**

Wow, thats just nuts.

Bet that batter will have a hard time picking up a bat again.

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:39 am**

That sux. I wonder if they will implement helmets for Base coaches?

:DEVIL:

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:48 am**

DJDrew&ScoobyDoo wrote:That sux. I wonder if they will implement helmets for Base coaches?

I doubt it, cuz they'd have to do that for all players on the field then.

Its just a seriously unfortunate incident.

Remember when Tommy Lasorda got belted with that thrown bat?

It happens. Nothing you can really do to stop it.

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:13 am**

DJDrew&ScoobyDoo wrote:That sux. I wonder if they will implement helmets for Base coaches?

Nothing I hate more than over reactions like this on something that's clearly a freakish accident. If this was a common occurance, base coaches would be dropping like flies. I say, make it optional if they want them though.

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:19 am**

Yeah, I agree with Loki. If they want to let em, but not a requirement.

Just saturday i was at the BP cages and even though the sign said must wear helmet, I opted not to. Sure enough first pitch comes, real low, bounces of the ground, ricochets off the backstop right to the back of my head.

Freak accident? Yes. It happened once more while I was there but I was smart and put the helmet on. Never once before have I ever been hit by the ball in the cages.

Been playing ball for 20+ years now.

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:54 am**

Yeah, that gotta suck. I am sure his family is grieving, but thatw as a freakish accident. Its kinda fukk up way to die though.Some people might called me crazy, but in a sad way, thats kinda funny. Not for his family though. Sorry, I had to say it. Call me cruel if you want, I am a Decepticon, for life.

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:14 pm**

Ouch talk about close to home. I used to hang out with one of the guys from the Drillers when I was living in Talequah

Posted: **Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:52 am**

I really wonder how the player who hit the ball must feel...

The Energon Pub

Minor League first base coach struck in the head by a line drive, Killed

Minor League first base coach struck in the head by a line drive, Killed

Yeahh,ummm. that gotta suck.