Bringing home a Fish

There’s no place like home.

But what exactly does that mean for members of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, who typically find themselves hundreds or even thousands of miles away from family and friends between May and September, trying to keep their baseball careers alive while living on shoestring budgets?

For some, home is a modest downtown hotel room or small apartment typically shared with a teammate or two. For others, there’s a more personal touch — one that truly connects them to the community they happen to be playing in.

Welcome to the world of billets, a longstanding tradition in this market that dates back to when the Fish first took flight back in 1994. They are a unique and valuable tool for the American Association organization and its players, with a dedicated group of local baseball fans who open their doors and roll out the welcome mat year after year.

“Host families are awesome,” Goldeyes general manager Andrew Collier told the Free Press. “You know, some guys really like that environment. They want to be able to cook, they don’t want to be in a hotel room the whole time and they like the flexibility.”

Such is the case for five current members of the team, which entered play on Wednesday night at Blue Cross Park with a 41-33 record.

Here’s the tale of two of them — along with their most gracious hosts.

Quinn Waterhouse and the Goodman family

When he’s not on the mound trying to strike out opposing batters, there’s no place Quinn Waterhouse likes to be more than a river or lake.

The 26-year-old from Iowa is an avid fisherman whose grandparents told him about a can’t-miss opportunity when he signed this past winter with the Goldeyes.

“They’ve been talking about the Red River and catfishing for years,” he said.

Waterhouse has been living with billets at prior pro stops in various American cities since graduating from Southern Illinois in 2021, and he had only one request of Collier as they tried to find him a perfect fit.

“Someone that loves to fish,” Collier recalled.

Enter Charlie and Cindy Goodman, retirees who have been hosting Goldeyes players in their East St. Paul home since 2003.

“A bit of civic responsibility,” is how Charlie explained their willingness, which doesn’t come with any payment beyond free tickets.

“But we get something from it, too. We have the room (their four children are grown up and on their own). We have a big house. And we get the benefit of meeting some interesting people.”

Not to mention a new fishing companion.

“The Red definitely did not disappoint,” said Waterhouse, who already has hooked two master angler catfish. “It’s pretty impressive fishing.”

While many of his teammates are in a hotel set-up — the Goldeyes get them a discounted rate — Waterhouse said the thought never crossed his mind.

“It’s just so nice to be able to have that homey vibe,” he said.

Waterhouse still gets birthday and Christmas cards from previous hosts and is enjoying his time with the Goodman family.

“These people really are awesome, because they open up their house to you, give you restaurant ideas, things to do on days we have off. It’s great to be able to pick their brain about the city we live in,” he said.

“They become like an extended member of your family.”

The Goodman’s actually aren’t big baseball fans and only go to a handful of games every year. But they love hearing about the daily grind that goes into being an athlete, especially one slugging it out at the independent level.

“We really have a different perspective,” said Charlie.

The Goldeyes schedule — 100 games over about 115 days, with half of them requiring long bus trips out of Winnipeg — means there’s not a ton of time to sit around the dinner table or a backyard fire pit sharing stories.

But what they lack in quantity they make up for in quality.

“I find we’re all usually very happy with the relationship,” said Charlie.

Waterhouse appreciates seeing a different side of the community, one that re-enforces just how much the baseball team means to its fans.

“This place really feels like home, and I’m happy to be here,” he said.

Raphael Pelletier and the Kuhlman family

Craig Kuhlman has never played pro sports, but he sure felt like he was a member of the 2017 Goldeyes team.

Jordan Ebert had spent the season living with him and his wife at their North Kildonan home, and Craig had jokingly suggested the talented hitter could maybe save him some champagne should they go on to win the championship.

Let the record show they did — and Ebert found Craig and Jill in the stands that night at the stadium, bringing a bottle right to their seats and spraying them with it.

“Just awesome. He was such a good guy, and that was one of the best highlights we’ve ever had. It was just such a great moment,” said Kuhlman.

“I remember we started crying, and you just felt like these guys truly are part of the family. It’s a big attachment you get.”

One they’ve been building with various players since 2009. This year, it’s rookie catcher Raphael Pelletier, the first Canadian the Kuhlman’s have hosted.

“We’re big baseball fans. Always have been. We were at a game in 2008 at the end of the year when they were honouring the host families, and I said to my wife, ‘Hey that sounds kind of cool.’ Thinking she would never go for it,” said Kuhlman.

“You know, it’s been a lot of fun. You get an insight into their lives, their day-to-day routine. I just love talking baseball, but it’s also interesting to get to know them as people.”

The Kuhlman’s have two young adult children who still live at home and have essentially grown up with a Goldeye. They’ve gone from getting baseball tips as young kids to now talking about more mature subjects such as relationships and life with players who are of similar age to them.

Craig and Jill are at every Goldeyes home game — they were beaming on Tuesday night when Pelletier delivered a clutch bases-loaded ground-rule double in the eighth inning to break a tie — and have even gone on a few road trips, including earlier this summer to Fargo.

“You follow their progress and see where they are. I remember one of the first players we ever had, he went on to become a doctor. Like what a success story,” said Kuhlman.

Pelletier has been a model guest, including helping out with dishes and even cooking some meals.

“At the start of the year he asked us, ‘What can I do?’ I told him, ‘Well, you can cut the lawn if you want.’ I was joking,” said Kuhlman.

“But it’s a great setup. He’s got a room in the basement, a bathroom down there and his own private space. We’re having a lot of fun.”

winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre