Hilton Smith - - The forgotten Hall of Famer

Every year in early August, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York inducts new members into their exclusive club.

In 2001, much of the induction coverage was centered around Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield, & Bill Mazeroski. Puckett, possibly the most beloved player of his era, had his brilliant career cut short by an eye condition in 1996. Winfield was one of the best all around players of the past 30 years, and Mazeroski was the sentimental favorite, delivering an emotional induction speech. All of these were compelling stories, but the fourth and often forgotten man, Hilton Smith, might have the most interesting tale.

Smith is a former Negro Leaguer that, 18 years after his death, finally received the recognition that he never gained in life. Like many of his Negro League contemporaries, Smith's statistics are sketchy at best. The statistics that are available, however, are mind boggling. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Smith had an astounding streak of twelve 20+ win seasons with the Kansas City Monarchs, including a 93-11 record from 1939-42. In 1941, he went 25-1, including a 10-0 league record during which he allowed only 39 hits in 89 innings.

"Hilton Smith was unbeatable there for a spell, from '38 to '42," said fellow Hall of Fame Negro Leaguer Buck O'Neil in an interview for mlb.com. "He had more natural stuff, a good rising fastball and an excellent curveball with good control."

"My land," continued O'Neil, "he would have been a 20-game winner in the Major Leagues with the stuff he had. We played against an All-Star team once with Stan Musial and Johnny Mize, and they said they'd never seen a curveball like Hilton's curveball."

Hilton Smith was born on February 27, 1912 in Giddings, TX. He began playing baseball for his father's local team. Smith's pro career began in 1932 with the Monroe (LA) Monarchs. He led the Monarchs to the pennant, but lost to the mighty Pittsburgh Crawfords that featured legends Satchell Paige and Josh Gibson. After four years with Monroe and several short stints with small-time clubs, Smith signed with the Kansas City Monarchs with whom he would finish his career.

Smith made his name with Monarchs pitching in the considerable shadow of Satchell Paige. Paige was the league's biggest box office draw, often he would pitch the first two or three innings to draw in a crowd and then give way to Smith. By all accounts Smith was a very quiet and unassuming man, and this role suited him just fine. On days he didn't pitch, Smith would play outfield to get his bat into the lineup. He is credited with a .326 average from 1944-48, including a .431 mark in 1946.

The true measure of Hilton Smith's greatness extends beyond the baseball diamond. At the time the Negro Leagues were littered with players that were unable to read or write. When an illiterate player joined the Monarchs, Smith would teach them reading and writing skills on the team bus between games.

"He (Hilton Smith) was one of the best men I've ever known," said Buck O'Neil.

Hilton Smith retired from baseball in 1948 at the age of 35. He allegedly turned down several Major League Clubs that wanted him to join one of their minor league affiliates. There was nothing minor league about Hilton Smith. He died on November 18, 1983 at the age of 71. He had spent the last days of his life sending letters to the Hall of Fame to remind them that he and several of his Negro League contemporaries should not be forgotten.

Finally in January of 2001 the call came -- Hilton Smith has finally been given the title he had earned long ago -- Hall of Famer.