Royals Announce Silent Auction Weekend to Benefit Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Fund
July 30, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA, NE - The Omaha Royals will hold a silent auction August 17-19, with all proceeds going to the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Fund. Coolbaugh, who played for the Royals in 2006, became the hitting coach for the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, earlier this month. He was tragically killed on Sunday, July 22nd, after being struck in the back of the neck by a line drive while coaching first base during a game in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Coolbaugh, 35, is survived by his wife Mandy and young sons Joseph and Jacob. Mandy is expecting the couple's third child in October. The Tulsa Drillers Baseball Club and Spirit Bank in Tulsa, Oklahoma have set up a memorial fund to benefit the Coolbaugh family.
The Royals' silent auction will begin with the first pitch of the Royals 7:05 p.m. game vs. Iowa on Friday, August 17th and conclude with the last pitch of the club's 1:35 p.m. game vs. Albuquerque on Sunday, August 19th. Fans attending any of the three games will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of quality sports-related items to be displayed at Rosenblatt Stadium. In addition to viewing and bidding during the three games, the auction will be open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 18th.
The Royals are accepting silent auction items from the baseball community, area businesses, the team's sponsors and the local sports community. To donate a silent auction item, deliver it to the Royals offices at Rosenblatt through Wednesday, August 15th, or mail it to the Omaha Royals, 1202 Bert Murphy Avenue, Omaha, NE, 68107.
A listing of the auction items will be posted on the team's website, www.Oroyals.com, beginning on Thursday, August 16th.
Coolbaugh finished his 17-year professional baseball playing career as a member of the Royals last season. He played in 44 games in the Major Leagues with Milwaukee (2001) and St. Louis (2002). Coolbaugh belted 258 home runs and had 1,007 RBI during his minor league career. He played for four other Pacific Coast League clubs, including Colorado Springs, Memphis, New Orleans and Round Rock and was named to the PCL post-season All-Star team in 2005, after hitting .281 with 27 home runs and 101 RBI for Round Rock.
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