Carl Saunders
| Date and Place of Birth: | March 18, 1896, Leonardsville, NY |
| Date and Place of Death: | February 24, 1919 Vals-les-Baines, Ardeche, France |
| Baseball Experience: | College |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Military Unit: | 310th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division AEF |
| Area Served: | France |
Carl C. “Birdie” Saunders, son of Ocran and Cora Saunders, was born on March 18, 1896, in
Leonardsville, New York. He pitched for the Leonardsville team in 1914
and 1915, before entering Colgate University at Hamilton, New York in
September 1915.
Saunders made the Colgate varsity pitching staff his sophomore year and
John S. Wheeler made the announcement with style in the Brookfield Courier
on April 19, 1916:
“During his freshman year at Colgate, Carl C. Saunders has been a
diligent student of athletics in addition to his regular work in
college. ‘Birdie’ has made no secret of his ambition to become
a member of the ball team supported by the University, and has achieved
the honor, to the great delight of all his friends at home, who have all
along been confident that he had the requisite ability
to "make" the team, and win the laurels of a baseball star of brightest
ray. His faith and theirs has been well founded, for last week before
the Easter recess it was learned that Carl had earned the
right to wear a maroon uniform this season, and that the firm belief of
the home fans that as a pitcher he could produce the goods had been
confirmed by the watchful college coach, who had given him the place he
long had sought with all the ardor of his youthful spirit.”
Saunders, a pitcher, made his first mound appearance in May 1916,
against Franklin & Marshall College, beating them 10-9 while striking
out 10.
In September 1917, Saunders was one of 15 men who left Madison County
for military service. A musician, he trained at Camp Dix, New Jersey,
and went overseas as a band corporal with the 310th Infantry Regiment,
78th Division.
Corporal Saunders served at Meuse-Argonne and St. Mihiel. He died on
February 24, 1919 from spinal meningitis in Vals-les-Baines, Ardeche,
France. He is buried at the Leonardsville Cemetery in Leonardsville, New
York.
Sources
Brookfield Courier, Sept 16, 1914, Sept 15, 1915, April 19, 1916, May
17, 1916
Madison County Leader and Observer, Sept 6, 1917
Madison County Times, April 4, 1919
Date Added June 10, 2012 Updated July 23, 2013
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