Minor-league coach killed by line drive.

Ex-major leaguer Mike Coolbaugh was hit in the head by a line drive while acting as first base coach for the AA Tulsa Drillers. He was immediately knocked unconscious and despite receiving CPR on the field, he was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

Coolbaugh never played for the Pirates, but he passed through nine different organizations during a seventeen-year pro career, spending parts of two seasons in the major leagues. He's the brother of the equally well-traveled Scott Coolbaugh, who spent parts of four seasons in the majors before retiring in 1999.

Mike Coolbaugh had only been a coach for three weeks. He took over for ex-Buc Orlando Merced, who resigned for personal reasons, and who must be feeling very strange right now.

Coolbaugh was married with two kids, and a third on the way. More info about the situation here, in a good article by the Tulsa World.

At a time like this, remember that even though we're stuck with a lousy GM and corrupt, venal ownership, we're still all very lucky.