For photography buff Wayne McPherson, local baseball players are like family

Wayne and Joan McPherson run on a tight schedule during baseball season.

That's because they attend most of the Southeast Missouri State University baseball games, both home and away, as well as many of the Plaza Tire Capahas' baseball games.

The couple, who have been attending the games for the last 10 years, are huge supporters, providing players with everything from photos and DVDs of them in action to meals for them and their families on game days.

"In the past, we always gave a framed picture to each player at the end of the season," says McPherson. "Now, with technology, I email pictures to the players and their parents. Then, at the end of the season, I give each player a DVD with highlights of that season. I do that every year."

McPherson also posts his pictures on the public website Flickr.com and sends them to the sports information department at the university.

Joan and Wayne McPherson enjoy attending Redhawks and Capahas baseball games at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

"I send them several and they can download and use whatever they want," says McPherson.

The McPhersons went to 85 baseball games last year alone.

"We make it to most of them," McPherson says. "We've been to Louisiana and Georgia, and wherever the team plays. Sometimes we'll travel 500 to 600 miles (to see a game)."

McPherson says he had an interest in photography for many years, but the age of the digital camera really made taking and sharing the pictures even more special.

"Since we can share all of the photos through the internet, it really means a lot to the mothers (of the players) and their families. This year SEMO has players from Florida, California, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio and Oklahoma," he says.

McPherson first got started photographing SEMO baseball players when a student came to play for the team from Canada.

"My wife's great-niece was the registrar at a junior college where the student was attending," he says. "When he transferred down here, her great-niece asked us to make him feel welcome."

The McPhersons have since been devoted to welcoming the baseball players and their families to Cape Girardeau.

"My wife will sometimes prepare meals and feed the parents of the players between the games of a doubleheader," McPherson says. "She also makes cookies for the players to enjoy after the games."

The baseball players and their families have become like family to the McPhersons.

"We don't have children, so the baseball boys are the closest thing we have to grandsons," says McPherson. "My wife and I have always had an interest in baseball. We've formed friendships with the players and their families, and through email, we are able to stay in touch with them."

McPherson uses a digital SLR camera to take his photos.

"This spring, I added a WiFi attachment to the camera. With modern technology, I can transfer the pictures to my wife's phone at the games and she can email them to the newspaper," McPherson says. "We send (the pictures) of away games to help publicize the team when the newspaper (photographer) can't be there."

McPherson's wife, Joan, is also involved in the photographic side of supporting the team.

"She makes collages for all the senior players at SEMO and gives them each one at Senior Recognition Day," says McPherson. "She also makes videos and gives one to each senior player. It's sort of a summary of the season."

Both Wayne, 73, and Joan, 74, are retired faculty members from Southeast, where Wayne taught mathematics and Joan taught health education.

McPherson points out that he never prints an unflattering picture of any player.

"We try to live by the Golden Rule," he says. "I don't share negative pictures. If I happen to take a picture of a player making an error during the game, that picture goes in the trash can."