Hilton Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hilton Smith |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 27, 1907 Giddings, Texas |
|||
| Died: November 18, 1983 (aged 76) Kansas City, Missouri |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| 1932, Monroe Monarchs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1948, Kansas City Monarchs | |||
| Negro league statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 71–31 | ||
| Run average | 3.37 | ||
| Earned run average | 1.68 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
|||
| Induction | 2001 | ||
| Election Method | Veterans Committee | ||
Hilton Lee Smith (born February 27, 1907 – died November 18, 1983) was an amazing right-handed pitcher in Negro league baseball. He played alongside the legendary Satchel Paige for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1932 to 1948. Hilton Smith was honored by being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Contents
Hilton Smith's Early Life
Hilton Smith was born in Giddings, Texas. He started his baseball journey in what was like the minor leagues for black baseball players, playing with the Austin Black Senators. Hilton was also a smart student! He made the dean's list at Prairie View A&M College in 1928 and 1929. In college, he first played as an outfielder, then became a pitcher in his second year.
His first big league team was the Monroe Monarchs from Monroe, Louisiana, which he joined in 1932. In 1934, Hilton married Louise Humphrey, and they had two children together.
Playing Semi-Pro Baseball
From 1935 to 1936, Hilton Smith pitched for the Bismarck Churchills, a semi-professional team. This team was put together by Neil Churchill. In 1935, some of his teammates included famous players like Satchel Paige, Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, and Chet Brewer. That August, his team won the national semi-pro championship in Wichita, Kansas!
In 1936, some of the star players left, and Hilton Smith became the main pitcher for the Bismarck team. They went back to the national championship. Hilton won four games, but his team didn't win the championship again that year.
Hilton Smith's Negro League Career
In late 1936, Hilton Smith joined the Kansas City Monarchs. From 1937 until he stopped playing in 1948, Hilton was a star pitcher for the Monarchs. He was known for his amazing curveball, which was a very tricky pitch for batters to hit.
Even though he was a fantastic pitcher, he was often overshadowed by his more famous teammate, Satchel Paige. Sometimes, Satchel Paige would pitch the first three innings of a game, and then Hilton Smith would come in to pitch the rest of the game. Unlike many pitchers, Hilton Smith was also a very good hitter himself!
After Baseball and His Legacy
After he retired from playing baseball, Hilton Smith worked as a schoolteacher. Later, he became a foreman at a steel plant. He also helped the Chicago Cubs baseball team by scouting new players.
Hilton Smith was a quiet person, but in his later years, he spoke up for other Negro league players. He wanted them to be recognized and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He passed away in 1983 in Kansas City, Missouri. It wasn't until 2001, many years after his death, that he was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His hard work and talent are now remembered forever.
