Mike Coolbaugh was a first base coach for the Colorado Rockies’ AA team in Tulsa. In July, he was killed when a line drive hit him in the neck.

The Rockies made the playoffs in amazing fashion this year, and the team has voted to give Coolbaugh’s widow a full player’s share of their playoff winnings. I don’t know how much money that is, but the gesture is very symbolic and classy.

If you’re not a big baseball fan, or like the game but your team’s not in it anymore, might I humbly suggest rooting for the Colorado Rockies. We hear so much bad stuff about professional athletes, much of it is justified, and they are vilified for it. Let us also acknowledge when they do something very right.

From Mike Greenberg’s blog:

To me, this is totally different than if the team had just come together and given the family $50,000. Voting a playoff share is something symbolic. It’s a gesture that is greater in it’s own way than the money. She may need the money more than the gesture, but the gesture I found very touching.

Go, Rockies.