OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : AUGUSTA SAUNDERS

 

 

                                       Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with "MONROE'S LIVING LEGEND, FRANK TAYLOR!" As we talked, he mentioned  that there used to be a White-owned Company that once employed many Negroes    in Monroe. Surprisingly,    the name of the company was,"THE LOUISVILLE COOPERAGE COMPANY."      The company was actually  located at 2500 Jackson Street, on the Southside of Monroe, Louisiana, near the railroad tracks. By the way, it's been reported that in the COMPANY'S HAYDAY, it employed "OVER 135 PEOPLE, AND PROCESSED  SEVERAL MILLION TONS OF WHITE OAK & COW OAK TREES A YEAR." As I end this portion of my article,    I would like to say that it sure is strange how a  company as large as " THE LOUISVILLE COOPERAGE COMPANY," which employed so many Negroes and White  People in Monroe, was never mentioned at any of the schools in Monroe, while I was in school! With that said, on to this week's Black Pioneer! Augustus Leon Saunders Jr. was born on August 9, 1909, in Whistler, Alabama. Also, he was married to Mrs.Rosaline Parker Saunders. After playing a season of baseball for the Monroe Monarchs, Augustus decided to stay in Monroe, and make Monroe his home. While there isn't much information online about Augustus, I was able to find out that he played in The Negro Baseball League from 1927 to 1932. For the first 3 years of his career, he played second baseman for the Cleveland Hornets. Next, Augustus played a year with the Detroit Stars, before finishing his career with the Monroe Monarchs. By the way, The Monroe Monarchs played their home games in Monroe at "CASINO PARK," which was located in the area between Carroll High School and the railroad tracks along Renwick Street in Monroe, Louisiana. A couple of years ago, I was able to view the City marker for the Monroe Monarchs Baseball Team, which was located near Carroll High School. For those who didn't know, in 1932, Augustus and the Monroe Monarchs played "A CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AGAINST THE LEGENDARY PITTSBURGH CRAWFORD NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM." Incidentally, two of the Negro players on the Pittsburgh Crawford Team just happened to be "SATCHEL PAIGE AND JOSH GIBSON!"  Additionally, the Championship Series was dubbed as "THE NEGRO WORLD SERIES!" For a moment, I would like for everyone to just Imagine that it's "GAME ONE OF THE SERIES, IN THE TOP OF THE  SECOND INNING."  Satchel Paige is pitching, and Augustus Saunders comes up to bat. Satchel throws his first pitch, and Augustus swings and misses, and the umpire Yells..."STRIKE ONE!" Next, Satchel throws a fast ball straight down the middle, and this time Augustus gets a hit off of the famous Satchel Paige that Augustus would remember for the rest of his life!      Well, as far as the series went, the Pittsburgh Crawford Team went on to win the 1932 Championship Series over the Monroe Monarchs, 5 games to 1. Finally, years later when Rev. Roosevelt Wright was producing a play about the Negro Baseball League, at the Monroe Civic Center, Augustus Saunders made a special appearance, where he signed several baseballs for some of the Black Youth. Sadly, in February  of 1999, at the ripe old age of 89, Augustus Leon Saunders Jr. went home to be with the Lord.