Did You Hear About Mike Coolbaugh?

Archie Brown read the sad, yet inspirational story of Mike Coolbaugh this morning in the paper. Mike was drafted in the 16th round of in 1990 and decided to go pro instead of go to college, because his dream was to be a professional baseball player.

Over the next 17 years my plate and several organizations and made to brief appearances in the major leagues. But he always seemed to be caught in the numbers are behind somebody that was a bigger star.

Please let not be capitalized and in 2005 season. Mike had a superior season going in AAA, at Round Rock. The Astros were in a push for the pennant that ultimately ended up in the World Series. That aside I would call up Coolbaugh for some added strength to the bench. But that might Mike got hit by pitch and his wrist was broken. So he missed his chance to enjoy a trip to the World Series.

This season he had decided not to play any longer in the minor leagues. He had gone to San Diego and begun to try to sell real estate. But just last month he had accepted a position coaching first base for the Tulsa Drillers, which is a minor league team for the Colorado Rockies. He was thrilled to be back in uniform and have a future in the game.

Then Sunday night in the ninth inning of a game in Little Rock, Arkansas, Mike was struck on the side of the head by a line drive. He collapsed and less than an hour later was pronounced dead. He leaves behind a wife, five-year-old and three-year-old boys, and a third child to be born in October.

Mike Coolbaugh was just 35 years old.

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