2062.08 - Letter from Abigail Radtke to Tony Radtke (dated 6/12/62)

[R.Umali]

Brother Bern!!!

Congratulations on making it and having so much success. Of course, I knew that you had gotten "the call." Mom and Dad were able to use the satellite phone to tell me. Apparently, having a brother make the big leagues is just as important as reporting rabid bear sightings. FWIW, Chicago did invite me to your inaugural game but it was impossible for me to do so. In fact, I won't be getting off the mountain until after September. But by then Chicago will be in the playoffs, right?!

No seriously, I heard that they are doing better.

For one, Mom thinks they'll make the playoffs. For real. She's just so excited. And that's so typical that she was yelling scripture at you on your first game. What was she doing - yelling the book, chapter, and verse or the whole thing? Whatever, that's so hilarious. "Go Bern Go! Josh 2-7!" (Remember that one?) I wonder if she had a sign. I would not put it past her if she had made a sign. "Philippians 4:13 ... in bed" (Ha ha - now it's your turn to burn this letter!)

What's really coincidental is that one of our guests last week was a couple from Vancouver. Diehard Mounties fans. All Mounties gear all the time. (Even PJs as they took breakfast in their PJs.) They just about lost it when they learned I was your sister.

(BTW, is this what I am to expect from now on? Can I not wear any of my Mad Popes gear anymore?)

The couple were in the late 50's. They were here only from Thursday to just this Monday morning. They were doing the circuit on horseback and were heading up to Deer Lodge after us. Anyway, they apparently saw you pitch at the Outpost! How was it pitching there?! They always have big crowds. It must've been surreal. I wonder if our cousins were there?

They said you looked good but that their rookie (Royce Hinkle?) took you deep in the 2nd and that you ran out of gas in the 5th. They said you were "very composed" but that the Mounties had Chicago's number. Apparently they swept them. Mounties seem competitive this year, according to them. Inside I'm like "Yeah but what about them Mad Popes?" Do you play them anytime soon? I would try to head down to Banff for that!

Not much else happening on the mountain. The bear watchers are still coming up but they should taper off soon and then we got a huge wedding group renting almost all the cabins at the end of June. Then lots of newlyweds. Love is in the air. 3-Toed woodpeckers, too. Grizzlies were spotted up in Shadow Lake. So, too, a larger than usual gang of Roosevelt Elk. Staff is still awesome. Hannah still works here just so you know, but she's thinking of getting her master down in Utah or Montana so ... time is limited! She seemed mildly interested that you are now a big league ball player. I told her you were on the league minimum and she's thought that meant that you were making millions.

I told her that you were making half a million and she was somewhat impressed. But then I told her you got a 6.5 million signing bonus six years ago. (Didn't tell her that you gave half of it to the Mission - that would've been a real turnoff, I think.) Hannah said: "Not bad." Which I thought: "Not bad?!? How many other 22 year old multi-millionaires does she know?" So ... I think there's still a chance! She likes guys with beards so maybe grow one next time you come out. And study up on your ducks!

Love,

Sister Abby

p.s. I do remember Timofei Gadomsky. You introduced him as "Full Pack" which really embarrassed him. And I do remember Ricardo Capeles. How could I not? He was going to be great for Sacramento. That's so coincidental that he was your first strike out victim.

p.p.s. Happy Early Birthday. Don't eff it up.
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Tony Radtke did lose to the Vancouver Mounties on June 6, 2062. His line: 4.1 IP 6 H 3 ER 2 BB 3 K 1 HR 79 PI. He's still on a pitch count but he indeed was laboring, walking his last batter, Greg Clover, on 4 straight pitches.

Radtke would win his next game, a 3-1 victory over the 26-40 Long Beach Surfers in front of 41 thousand people at Vito Costantino Memorial Stadium. Radtke showed signs of poor control, walking 4 and striking out 2, but he upped his record to 3-1 on the season. He's lined up to face Bikini Krill next.