Mike Coolbaugh was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays the year he graduated from high school. He bounced around the minor leagues for the next eleven years. Finally, he got the “call-up” from the Milwaukee Brewers, playing third base in 39 games in 2001. The following season, Mike was part of the St. Louis Cardinals as a third baseman and pinch hitter. He played in five games.

In 2003, Mike played in Korea for the Doosan Bears. He returned to the United States, playing stints in the farm teams for the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies. He signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals, but shattered his wrist in spring training , ending his days as a player.

In 2007, Mike was coaching for the Tulsa Drillers, then a Double-A affiliate for the Colorado Rockies. Mike was positioned in the first base coach’s box when Drillers catcher Tino Sanchez hammered a line drive down the first base line that angled into foul territory. The ball struck Mike in the neck and pulverized his left vertebral artery. The opposing team’s, the Arkansas Travelers, general manager bounded out to the field along with the Traveler’s team doctor. Two other doctors who were seated in the stands joined those attending to Mike on the field. All sorts of attempts at resuscitation were administered with no response. Mike was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead — within an hour of the incident. He was 35 years old.

The Colorado Rockies, who were on their way to the 2007 post-season, voted to award Mike’s widow a share of the team’s playoff winnings. The Rockies made it to the World Series (losing to the Boston Red Sox) and Amanda Coolbaugh received in excess of $233, 000.

On November 8, 2007, Major League Baseball general managers decided that all base coaches would wear helmets starting with the upcoming 2008 season.

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