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Smith, Like Most Negro Leaguers, a Mystery

© Joseph J. Checkler

Unfortunately, it is impossible or me to write an entirely thorough article about the career of Hilton Lee Smith, who was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this week. Like many of his contemporaries, Smith was pushed into relative obscurity as a result of the times that he lived in.

A negro league star from 1932-1948, the prime of his career is represented more by the spinning of yarns, and I'm not talking about the ones on the baseball. From compilations that I have scoured over, he had a devastating breaking ball, mixed his pitches masterfully, pitched a no-hitter (in 1937), and went undefeated for an entire season (in 1938). Fittingly, statistics were kept for the games that he pitched against white major leaguers, where he went 6-1.

He was an all-star from 1937-1942, that is known. Beginning in the 1940's, the Negro Leagues began to catch up with record-keeping methods, but Smith had already begun his decline. He did win one game apiece in the 1942 and 1946 Black World Series, for the Kansas City Monarchs. Offensively, he was so talented that he often pinch-hit and played in the outfield. He hit .326 from 1944-1948, the only years where his offensive numbers were reliably recorded.

It is almost impossible for me to fathom records not being kept for an athletic event. Now, I can log on to the internet and see what pitches Mike Cameron likes to swing at the day after he eats at Burger King (I'm barely exaggerating). But what is even more unfathomable is the likes of Smith being kept out of baseball because of the color of his skin. No matter how many times I hear this sad song, I'll never get used to it. A league with so many talented players is relegated to hearsay and story-telling instead of cold, hard, facts.

Who knows how many Negro League players would have been superstars, let alone Hall of Famers, had the barrier been broken earlier (or never been set). No matter how multi-cultural the game is now, it will never make up for the players from Hilton Lee Smith's time that were never given an opportunity.

I'd like to celebrate the induction of Hunter Lee Smith, nevertheless. His son accepted the honor on his behalf, and on the behalf of a lot of players that will hopefully follow his father. Smith, known for pitching in the shadow of the great Satchel Paige, has continued the lifting of the shadow for many of his negro league counterparts.