Bringing home a Fish

The Winnipeg Goldeyes, a minor league baseball team, recently celebrated their 41-33 record with the introduction of a longstanding tradition known as "billets." This allows players to live with local families, fostering connections to their playing communities. Five current members of the team, including 26-year-old Iowa native Quinn Waterhouse, have taken advantage of this arrangement.

Waterhouse, an avid fisherman, was matched with Charlie and Cindy Goodman, retired residents of East St. Paul who have hosted Goldeyes players since 2003. The Goodmans, who have no baseball background, enjoy the unique perspective their guests provide on the daily grind of professional athletes. They offer advice on local restaurants and activities, treating their hosts like an extended family.

Quinn Waterhouse has already caught two master angler catfish while staying with the Goodmans. Despite the team's members typically staying in hotels, Waterhouse appreciates the homey environment of his billet home. He plans to cherish the memories of his time with the Goodmans, who have become more than just hosts but like an extended family.