Last year also contained family health scare

A mold infestation in the family's Florida home forced the Radkes to get checkups and destroyed sports memorabilia.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: December 20, 2006 - 6:18 AM

Brad and Heather Radke, who live in Florida during the offseason with their two sons, often talked about spending a Christmas in Minnesota.

They finally are doing so this year. Just not the way they planned.

Their home in Largo, Fla., is in danger of being demolished because of mold infestation. They had to have their sons, Kasey, 11, and Ryan, 7, examined by specialists to make sure they weren't seriously harmed (they are fine). But the Radkes had to move to a condo in Clearwater Beach. They still own a home by Lake Minnetonka.

It's likely they won't be able to salvage anything from the Florida home.

"We really won't know until the environmentalists come in," Heather Radke said. "The house is just sitting there and we're in litigation and everything is at a standstill.

"The types of mold that were in the house, I don't think anything is salvageable."

A family's legacy is stronger than bricks, concrete and decorations, but there were items in the house of significant sentimental value. That includes nearly every piece of memorabilia Brad Radke has collected in his career, from high school awards to photo albums from his minor league days to baseball memorabilia.

The Twins also are trying to help them rebuild their collection.

"I'm trying to recapture some of the stuff," Heather Radke said, "but it's been the Kirby [Puckett] stuff that's been the most [disappointing loss]."

Heather Radke said her husband was affected "a lot" by losing his memorabilia but, when asked about it, Brad Radke looked as unaffected as he did when pitching out of bases-loaded jams.

"It's not so much for me but for the kids," he said. "There's material stuff, some pictures and stuff, but it's tough on the kids.

"You go through a baseball life and I've been pretty much through it all. When things [like this] happen, I'm like, 'What else can go wrong?' You know?"

It was another layer to Radke's tough 2006 season, as he worried about his family's health while pitching with a worn-out shoulder that eventually led to his retirement.

But the family is moving forward. Radke was born in Eau Claire, Wis., and will celebrate Christmas this year with extended family in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They also are building a 12,000-square-foot home in Clearwater Beach.

"Eighteen [thousand square feet] with the porches," Ryan Radke added.

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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