A defensive back took a vicious hit in this December 2003 contest, knocked unconscious, and Mitch Bibb and his team of trainers sprang into action, The Clarksdale Press Register wrote in a feature on the trainers.
The player was out for about 45 seconds. The trainers quickly assessed him and sent him straight to the hospital, Bibb explained to The Press Register.
"In our position, we are responsible for lives," Bibb told The Press Register. "Oftentimes with an injury like (the player's), they stop breathing and their heart stops. It can be a life-or-death situation, but that's what we're all trained for."
Bibb turned to high school training after a career as a trainer in minor league baseball, where he served more than a decade at various levels in the Orioles system, including single-A Wausau.
Bibb's career began by 1989 out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Bibb served in 1989 as trainer for rookie Bluefield, then moved to single-A Wausau for 1989.
He later served as trainer at high-A Frederick and AA Bowie. At Bowie in 1994, Bibb tended to player Rob Lukachyk, who suffered a neck injury on a slide and had to be airlifted from the game, The Washington Post wrote.
"He was not scared," Bibb told The Post later. "His first question was, 'Am I out or not?' He stayed calm and that is his job. When I saw him in the hospital he was cutting up with the nurses."
In June 1997, Bibb got to deliver some good news. The Orioles called up David Dellucci directly from Bowie and Bibb became the messenger, calling Dellucci with the news late, The Baltimore Sun wrote.
"I had just gone to bed. I couldn't imagine who it would be," Dellucci told The Sun. "(Bibb) told me, 'This is the first time I've ever had to do this,' and I was like, 'What's going on?' Then he told me. I thought he was joking. I can't describe what was going through my head."
By 2003, Bibb had left the pros and moved to Mississippi to work in youth sports through the Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center. By 2018, he was back home in Alabama, serving as trainer at Pell City High.
- Washington Post, June 6, 1994: Bowie's Lukachyk recovering from neck injury
- Baltimore Sun, June 1, 1997: O's add outfielder, place Davis on DL
- Clarksdale Press Register, Dec. 17, 2003: Rehab team does more than just tape ankles
Made the Majors:1,276-33.8%
Never Made Majors:2,499-66.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:525
10+ Seasons in the Minors:313
More 1990 Minor Leaguers
- Steve Bethea proved valuable at Spokane, saw six pro seasons, 10/24/15
- Ed Beuerlein took work ethic to three pro seasons, made AA, 9/23/13
- Arnie Beyeler took quarter century, made majors coach, 10/14/13
- Dave Bialas used baseball instincts over decades in game, 2/5/19
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