Mike Coolbaugh was the epitome of what makes baseball a great game. As a player, Mike always seemed to surpass expectations and was often described as a great teammate. Following a 16-year playing career in professional baseball that included brief stints in the majors with the Brewers and Cardinals, he joined the Drillers as a coach midway through the 2007 season. Just weeks later, on July 22, 2007, Mike was tragically killed when he was struck by a line drive while coaching first base during a game in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mike’s legacy lives on throughout pro baseball as all base coaches now wear batting helmets for protection.