Coolbaugh, Mike

MLB third baseman, shortstop, and pinch hitter. He was tragically killed on July 22, 2007, at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, AR while coaching first base. A line drive off the bat of Tino Sanchez struck him in the head during the top of the 9th inning. A rule was soon adopted forcing all coaches to wear helmets when coaching at first base or third base. Minor League Baseball created the Mike Coolbaugh Award in Mike's memory. The award is given every year to "a person who has shown outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field."--baseball-reference.com.