Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-05-05
LOVER Of BASEBALL,
How Helpless Invalid Manages
Team From Bed Window.
HAS CLUB OF YOUNG BOYS.

National Sport Makes Edwin M. Dee
-r1er of Germantown, Pa, Forget Nj,
Affiction-ReaI Field Leader of Hi,
Team-PIanning For a Strong On,
Next Season.
Scorning an aflliction that has made
him belfast for six years, Edwin NJ
Deemer Of 1892 North Narraganset
street, Germantown, Pa, the most
wonderful baseball manager in tn,
United States. Is planning for the sec
ond season of the Deemer Athletic
club team.
SO helpless from an advanced stage
Of rheumatism that he cannot move
from his bed, which l. specially
made cot on wheels, Mr. Deemer, with
all the enthusiasm Of an earnest lover
OF the sport, is signing players and
arranging dates with view Of having
the champion sixteen-year-old team In
Germantown.
Most singular Of all, the good ma.
tured invalid Is actually the field lead
er Of his team. OF course it would be
an impossibility for him to be moved
from his room, but a fortunate loca-
ton has solved the problem. The mar
row world to which he Is confined Is
the rear room on the second floor of
his home. This OverloOks a spacious
lot, which has made an admirable ball
field. 1t is the property Of an estima.
BILE woman, who gladly gave Mr.. Dee
mer permission, without cost, to let his
team play.
When a game is to be played Mr..
| Deemer's cot is rolled to the large
window, and there he can see all that
Is going on in the game with the same
commanding view Of spectator In the
upper pavilion at one Of the big league
parks in Philadelphia.
By great effort Mr.. Deemer is able
to scrawl with his right hand, and
with minute care and Conscientious
ness he scores each play as it is>made.
After the game the players file to his
bedside to hear their manager COM
ment on the work of the afternoon. II
Harry Scott has made stirring play
there Is praise for him. But the inya-
lid manager is a stickler for good head
work, and II one Of the nine offends
with an exhibition Of stupidity he is
sure to feel the rebuke Of the mana
ger. Woe to the blamable one, for per-
haps he will warm the bench in the
next game.
Mr.. Deemer scrutinizes each play
with the eye Of an expert. He is quick
to make a shift in his lineup If he be-
lieves that the move will add to the
strength Of the team. He has careful
ly coached his boys in team work and
uses many Of the stratagems that are
seen in the professional circuit.
In addition, he insists that none of
the burdens Of his managerial work
fall on the shoulders Of anybody else. |
Even the detail Of arranging dates is
done by him personally. This he &C.
complishes by having his cot moved to |
a telephone In his room, and the entire |
city Of Philadelphia is at his COM
mand. Many games has he booked in
this way, and often the manager Of
the opposing team had no idea that
the weak, high pitched voice on the
other end Of the wire was that Of
helpless invalid.
Why does Mr.. Deemer bother with
baseball in his affection? Because he
is rock ribbed optimist, far greater
than the type which Is happy IN riches
and wealth. His Is the stOicism Of the
blind Milton, who opened the eyes Of
centuries to his beautiful philosophy,
and Of the poet Pope, who had to be
trussed in leather corset each day be-
fore he could proceed with his imper-
ishable work.
Prior to being incapacitated Mr.. Dee
mer's diversion was baseball. One
day early last summer he was moved
to the only vision he has Of the out
side world. There on the lot he saw
number Of boys playing desultorily. 1t
was sport, however, and Mr.. Deemer
returned to the window for several
days. Finally he reflected: "Why can't
have a team Of my own? 1t would
give me work to do and let me pass
away the time more easily" This he
told to his family circle, and IL in turn
his wish to the eligible
boys In the neIghborhood. Would they
play for the invalid in 1882? Most as
suredly! {
Johnny Jones, Harry Scott, Willie G
Smith and the others, with all the i'm {
pulse Of youth, were soon at his bed {
,ide volunteering their services. The g.,
cam was quickly formed, and the pro- I
leeds for uniforms and other parapher-
lalia were obtained by giving n porch 1
,arty at the Dcemer home.
Soon the Deemer Athletic club was
laying every Saturday, and there were 4
work and diversion for the delighted [
invalid. The grounds being open, the Y
My funds for the maintenance Of the n
cam came from passing the hat b
mong the spectators. The team. n
which had rocky road at the start. c
through changes made by 4
he manager as the season wore on. In c
he last ten games the Deemers won
light. The strctest order is always s
bserved on the field, and no rowdy- g
SIN Is tolerated. O.
Mr.. Deemer is now thirty-two years n
Id He was happily married six years 4"
90. and n devoted wife Is one of the Of
omforts of his life. He was once Fl
for Philadelphia sporting h
utilization and subsequently was en- h,
Logged by William Smith, the exNa- V,
onal league umpire. II
Tho inrnlid iS nlnnninN for Il str0nO.