At Friday night's game, we retired the jersey of a former player, Mike Coolbaugh. You may remember this story getting national attention a few years ago. Mike was killed instantly by a line drive while coaching first base, leaving behind his pregnant wife and two little boys. You can check out a moving video made the week of Mike's death by my good friend, Derrick Grubbs, on this site. The video link is on the right.
At the game, we had Mike's sons throw out the first pitch. In the 7th inning, we presented the family with Mike's jersey and a framed 3rd base (Mike played third base for us in 2002 and 2005) that was used in a memorial event that we did a short time after this tragedy. Last week, an artist friend of mine called about doing a painting for the family when he heard what we are doing. Now, this artist is a world renowned sports artist that has done amazing pieces for the biggest teams and players in the country....so this offer was thrilling for us that he would do something for the Coolbaughs. He is based in Austin, and let's just say I could never afford his work! But it is amazing. Turns out, he is friends with a member of the family, and wanted to do this for them. When he unveiled the painting in the 7th inning, I saw Mandy Coolbaugh immediately break into tears and say, "he got his smile!" Mandy addressed the crowd and was so strong and eloquent - it was beautiful. There was not a dry eye in the house, and the entire time....without request, the entire crowd of 10,000 plus stood up and listened to her every word. I was choked up too of course, but the part that really got me was when their youngest son caught a glimpse of the painting and walked to stand right in front of it, and could not look away. It was touching, sad, heartwarming, and inspiring all in one. Here's a photo I snapped of him.
As for the painting, the artist wrote on the back of all the symbolism of the numbers on the scoreboard, and there are a few hidden things in the clouds that you can see with the naked eye in the correct angle. It was a wonderful gift that he gave them, as is the video I mentioned earlier. Mandy said she watches it with her sons nearly every day because it will help them remember him, and their daughter know him one day.
Please keep this family in your prayers.
Visit this site to support the Coolbaugh family.
3 comments:
Wow Laura. I watched that tribute video. Amazing. The painting is graet too...love the picture with his little boy. You guys are great to celebrate his life like this.
Thanks for sharing-I had no heard this story before now.
This is such a great story. Thanks for the post and the e-mail about it, too!
On a completely different note- you have a fun prize on my blog.
This will not really work, I think like this.
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