Texas League to celebrate Coolbaugh Day

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The Texas League and Diamond Dreams have partnered to create Mike Coolbaugh Day, which will be celebrated during the week surrounding July 22 in each of the Texas League clubs' home ballparks.

On July 22, 2007, Mike Coolbaugh lost his life after being struck by a foul ball while coaching first base for the Texas League's Tulsa Drillers. Mike was survived by his wife and three children, and Mike left behind scores of family, friends, fans, and supporters who cherish the time they spent with him on and off the field.

In the 2014 season, the Texas League and Diamond Dreams will honor Mike's memory and share his legacy during the first-ever Mike Coolbaugh Day. During the Mike Coolbaugh Day games, the players will wear commemorative wristbands, and each game will feature a special pre-game presentation about Mike and Diamond Dreams, a charitable foundation that operates in his memory. Every Texas League ballpark will be celebrating Mike Coolbaugh Day (dates and times listed below).

Mike Coolbaugh was a long-time professional baseball player and coach. He spent parts of two seasons playing in the major leagues and parts of nearly 20 seasons with minor league teams, including separate stints in the Texas League as a player and coach. As a competitor, Mike earned his peers' respect for his passion, determination, and character. To celebrate these attributes, Minor League Baseball now presents the Mike Coolbaugh Award annually to a minor league coach who embodies Mike's dedication. Through Mike Coolbaugh Day, the Texas League and Diamond Dreams look to share what Mike stood for with Texas League players and fans.

Mike Coolbaugh Diamond Dreams is a non-profit organization that honors the memory of Mike Coolbaugh by promoting safety in the game of baseball and providing support to members of the baseball community in need. Scott and Susan Coolbaugh (Mike's brother and sister-in-law) started Diamond Dreams in 2009 to honor Mike's legacy in the game. In Mike Coolbaugh's honor, Diamond Dreams has raised money to build safe, state-of-the-art batting cages and practice facilities, provided financial assistance and baseball equipment to others in the baseball community nationwide who have been affected by tragedy, and awarded college scholarships to student-athletes from Mike's high school in San Antonio and D/FW area high schools.

For more information about Mike Coolbaugh Day, please contact James Vilade ([email protected] or 903-372-1600) or the Texas League (210-545-5297).

Mike Coolbaugh Day 2014 - Dates and participants

(All times Central)

Saturday, July 19
Arkansas at TULSA, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, July 22
Frisco at MIDLAND, Game 1 of DH at 5:00 p.m.
Corpus Christi at SAN ANTONIO, 7:05 p.m.
Arkansas at NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, 7:05 p.m.
Tulsa at SRINGFIELD, 7:10 p.m.

Friday, July 25
San Antonio at FRISCO, 7:05 p.m.
Midland at CORPUS CHRISTI, 7:10 p.m.
Tulsa at ARKANSAS, 7:10 p.m.