iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Given the late starts, I suppose it’s no surprise that Marrero lived until he was two days shy of 103. A god damn legend.

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Marrero started the series with a win. The papers call it his 20th win, not seeming to worry about regular season vs. postseason records. The paper refers to it as a “four game” playoff for some reason. The series would end up going to 11 games.

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I found one article that referenced “24 wins” but I needed to verify. To newspapers dot com, we go. Through August 29, he was 19–12.

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Time to work on the legendary Conrado Marrero tonight.

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Wishing a happy 52nd birthday to Venezuelan slugger Alex Ramírez! After belting 113 minor league home runs and 12 more in 332 major league at-bats, he went to Japan at 26. He played 13 more years in the Far East, collecting over 2,000 hits, a pair of MVP awards, and another 380 home runs in NPB.

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Ángel Scull, Orestes Miñoso, and Edmundo Amorós. Over 10,000 professional hits in this photo.

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Ángel Scull is one of the coolest to ever do it. He’s one of the guys who launched me down this rabbit hole. He’s one of the reasons my baseball fandom will never be conventional. He’s Ángel Fucking Scull.

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Cuban outfielder Ángel Scull was born 98 years ago today. The speedster played in the minors, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. We’ve got a minimum of 3,445 hits and 434 stolen bases. He had a Topps card, but was injured before Opening Day and never made it to the bigs.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

We’re visiting my son at Syracuse University. Yesterday, he went on a field trip to La Casita Cultural Center and did a double-take when he saw photos of George Crowe and Jim Gilliam. Turns out, they have an exhibit on Latin American baseball that has been running since 2016.

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Earl Wilson was born 92 years ago today. On July 28, 1959, he became the first Black pitcher in Red Sox franchise history. His debut came just a week after Pumpsie Green broke the Red Sox color barrier. The team was the last to integrate—12 years after Jackie Robinson integrated the Dodgers.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Oh no, starting to really get into this set (1972-73 Venezuelan) too. Luckily these were absurdly cheap. Seven guys, all in the book, for under $20 shipped. 👀

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Took the day off. Here’s what I got this morning: 11 cinnamon raisin. 6 of them have a buttery, sugary topping I tried that mostly slid off. 8 spinach and garlic. I had less spinach than last time, so 6 also get everything bagel topping.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Totally forgot I randomly made little cheesecakes for the first time last night. 👀

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Learn the Difference. The Sports Reference Hub.

A Sports Reference Hub featuring the Atlanta Hawks and Iowa Hawkeyes

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Boy, when they walk like this, I actually feel like a successful dog parent

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Another arrival yesterday… Luis Peñalver is third all-time in wins in the Venezuelan League (84-70, 3.07). He had a 79–84 record and 3.62 ERA in Mexico and went 74-58 with a 3.39 ERA and 33 saves in the minor leagues. He was a 7x champion in Venezuela (6x with Caracas).

1970 Ovenca Venezuelan Luis Peñalver (front)

1970 Ovenca Venezuelan Luis Peñalver (back)

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Wishing a Happy 50th Birthday to the legednary Calvin Pickering, my 15th most-used player in Immaculate Grid.

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To the nine other Teolindo Acosta collectors in the world, I want to let you know that dreams can come true.

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He was part of the inaugural class of the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He seems like a huge oversight by both the Mexican and Latin Baseball Halls of Fame. The cards in his Venezuelan run (starting with the top left) are:

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Teolindo collected a few more hits in the minor league postseason, Caribbean Series, Interamerican Series, and a brief stint in the Dominican Republic. At this point, we’ve collected professional totals of 4,213 hits, 2,089 runs scored, 183 triples, 521 steals, and a .319 batting average.

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Acosta thrived south of the border, playing nine more seasons, collecting three more batting titles, and batting an incredible .345 (fifth in league history). He added another 1,371 hits his ledger—his third different country with more than 1,000 hits.

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After winning the Venezuelan League batting title in 1957–58 at age 20, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite a decade in the Cards and Reds systems with a .312 average, 1,353 hits, and 257 stolen bases, he never got a chance in the majors. At 30, he decided to give Mexico a try.

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So where did he play? Acosta debuted in the Venezuelan League at 19 and played 23 winters there, retiring with a .298 batting average and a league-record 1,289 hits (currently third behind Víctor Davalillo and Robert Pérez). He batted .340 in the Venezuelan League playoffs, adding 125 more hits.

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A couple years ago, I became hyper-focused on comiling statistics for the players in the 4,000 Professional Hit Club. Thanks to @vonspalding.bsky.social, I learned that Teo was one. In fact, he’s one of only 4 of the 23 confirmed members of the exclusive club who never played in the majors.

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So, who is Teolindo Acosta? He was a compact, speedy, contact-hitting outfielder born in Maracaibo in 1937. His incredible nickname, “El loquito que inventó el hit,” translates to “The little madman who invented the hit.” The mischievous outfielder turned collecting hits into an art form.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I’ve slowed a bit with my collecting as my interests have gotten a bit more… eclectic. But I figure I have to share this little milestone. I love Venezuelan League cards and stickers. Today, the last sticker I needed for the complete run of Teolindo Acosta arrived. Here they all are.

Teolindo Acosta cards:

1967 Topps Venezuelan #102
1970 Ovenca Venezuelan #162
1970 Ovenca Venezuelan #189
1972-73 Venezuelan Winter League Stickers #36
1973-74 Venezuelan Winter League Stickers #17
1974-75 Venezuelan Winter League Stickers #NNO
1976-77 Venezuelan Winter League Stickers #12
1977-78 Venezuelan Winter League Stickers #212
1977-78 Venezuelan Winter League Stickers #218

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Have you ever been close to tragedy or been close to folks who have?

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

One of the popular feature requests for the Sports Reference Hub is a way to follow general league content rather than just the teams you follow. Luckily, we were already working on that! Playoffs for MLB and the WNBA launched today. We’re working on more!

WNBA content on the Sports Reference Hub

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

🇳🇮 Nicaraguan pitcher Vicente Padilla turns 49 today. He was the second-ever player from his country to earn an All-Star selection, win 100 games (108), and reach double-digit WAR (11.4). The all-time leader in all figures, of course, is “El Presidente” Dennis Martínez (4x All-Star, 245 W, 48.7 WAR).

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Time to write about The Barber.

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Let’s try spinach bagels 😍

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Luis “Canena” Márquez got me to 130,000 words tonight.

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The hardest part is waiting for them to cool

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Oh no, I can’t do anything productive outside of the house this weekend? I have to stay home, write, cuddle dogs, make sweet bagels, and drink whiskey? I’m devastated.

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The sky is like “this is to apologize for what I’m going to do to you this weekend.”

Gorgeous sunset in Rehoboth, MA ahead of the Nor’easter

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Cuban outfielder Valentín Dreke died 97 years ago today from tuberculosis. He was only 29 years old. A tremendous all-around center fielder, he hit over .325 in the Negro Leagues with the Cuban Stars and .305 in Cuba (10th all-time).

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