ORLANDO — In response to the Mike Coolbaugh tragedy, major league general managers decided today that base coaches will be required to wear protective helmets next season.
Coolbaugh, a Double-A coach with the Rockies, was killed when a foul ball struck him in the head during a game on July 22. Rockies first base coach Glenallen Hill immediately began wearing a protective plastic helmet, saying “it was the right thing for me to do.” Oakland’s Rene Lachemann followed suit.
The exact type of helmet that will be worn will be determined at next month’s winter meetings. Hill wore a hard hat with no earflaps that had a protective liner, similar to ones worn by catchers for years.
“I will do whatever it is they ask. I understand that they just want to protect us,” Mets third base coach Sandy Alomar Sr. said today. “But I would have liked if they left it up to each coach decide on his own.”
Before their playoff run began, the Rockies’ players unanimously voted a full postseason share for Amanda Coolbaugh, Mike’s widow.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
