Baseball Stringer

Usually eclipsed by his more boisterous teammate, Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith is often the forgotten-about ace of the Kansas City Monarchs, but if you asked any player who faced both Smith and Paige they would tell you that there was no denying the two of them were equal in talent. "The old-timers would all say that if you were going to hit anything, you better hit it off Satchel Paige, because you weren't going to touch Hilton Smith." Bob Kendrick. During his 12 year tenure with Monarchs, won more than twenty games each year. In 1938 AND 1941 Hilton Smith won EVERY Negro League game he pitched. During 1939–1942, Smith compiled a record of 93 wins, 11 losses against all levels of competition. Pitched a no-hitter in 1937. "Hilton Smith had one of the finest curveballs I ever had the displeasure to try and hit. His curveball fell off the table. Sometimes you knew where it would be coming from, but you still couldn’t hit it because it was that sharp. He was just as tough as Satchel was." Monte Irvin. "The Master of the Curveball." Hilton Smith Best EVER curveball in baseball!