05/21/2006

For players, it's home away from the ballpark

Beach Bums stay with local residents

by cymbre foster

Special to the Record-Eagle

GREILICKVILLE — Kathye Johnson was driving to work when she heard that the Traverse City Beach Bums were looking for host families to house players during the team's inaugural baseball season.

An avid sports fan, Johnson thought it sounded like a great idea. She and her husband, Lee, decided to go to an informational meeting to see what it entailed.

The host family program is an integral part of every minor league team. In Traverse City, it meant possibly opening their Elmwood Township home to players, coaches or other Beach Bums personnel from May to September without compensation.

Johnson couldn't wait to fill out an application.

"This is perfect because I love living in a house that is full of people and active and vibrant," she said.

Also, as the parents of two girls and now grandparents to four girls, the couple was looking forward to having some boys in the house.

However, Johnson said it seemed like there was a lot of interest in the host family program and she was dubious about whether or not they would be accepted. After nearly a month, she had almost given up on the idea but checked back and was told that they were on the list, pending a home visit.

"They made an appointment to come and check out our house. I don't blame them, they want to see where these young men will be staying," she said.

There are currently 17 host families housing some 29 players through spring training. Although host families are not compensated, by living with players they have the opportunity to see firsthand what life in the minor league entails. They also receive two free season tickets and a Beach Club membership discount card.

The Johnson's were assigned two players for the entire season. One more was assigned to stay during spring training only, although she is hoping he will make the cuts and be able to remain through the season as well.

"We absolutely adore them," she said of her houseguests, who were complete strangers when they met. "They're very nice young men, very polite, they all say 'yes, ma'am."'

The first thing she did upon learning their home had been accepted as a host family was to replace the bedding in the guest rooms.

"They were decorated for girls and I told them that I figured that they probably didn't want to sleep on Holly Hobby sheets," she said.

It took just a few days for the threesome had settled in.

"I told them if you just want a place to eat and sleep, that's fine, but if you want a family this is it," she said. The Johnsons gave each player a house key and told them to make themselves at home.

"I told them if you need anything either ask or feel free to rummage for it," she said.

Although it is not required, Johnson cooks for her houseguests whenever she knows they will be home. She believes it is an important part of her role as a host family.

"It's just Lee and I most of the time so it's been fun cooking for them — but they do eat a lot," she joked.

Once the season gets underway the Johnsons will see less of their guests, who are on the road about half the time.

"Mrs. Johnson is doing a fine job keeping us fed," said Beach Bum Justin Holmes, 24, of Orlando, Florida.

One of the Johnsons' guests, Holmes said he is already feeling at home in his temporary dwelling.

"Mrs. Johnson is a complete angel," he said. "This situation is not alien to most of us, and we know you have to be an incredibly brave person to take a complete stranger into your home.

"I really hit the jackpot."

Holmes, who played three years of university ball and two seasons with the Cleveland Indians organization(*), said he also feels lucky to have been invited to join the new Traverse City ball team.

"The town is beautiful and the facility is wonderful, very nice, cozy, fan-friendly," he said.

Holmes did not know his roommates before they became teammates, but said it's all part of life as a minor league player. "It's just the way it is. It's also about compromise and being respectful of other people's things," he explained.

When he's not in uniform, Holmes plans on exploring the area. He said the Johnsons have already shown them around a little.

"I'm going to try to absorb as much of the local pleasantries as I can," said Holmes, who added that coming to Traverse City marked the first time he had ever seen one of the Great Lakes. "This is just a fabulous place. I don't think I could have asked for a better situation."