iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 24m

Time to work on the legendary Conrado Marrero tonight.

Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Ramírez has become a Japanese citizen. He and his wife Miho started Vamos Together, a non-profit that “aims to maximize the talents and individuality of special needs children and create a society where they can live independently.” Happy birthday to Ramichan!

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Early in his career, he played winter ball in Venezuela, but that also ended at 25. Overall, he accumulated at least 3,310 professional hits and 520 home runs. He is the NPB’s foreign leader in hits (2,017) and is 2nd in homers behind Tuffy Rhodes. He became the first Latino manager in NPB in 2016.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

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

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

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 · 03/10/2026

It was so cool to see the work of friends like Tom Van Hyning and Adrian Burgos Jr. on display. It was so great to meet Tere—it’s really something when you meet someone and you have so many mutual friends and acquaintances already.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Last night, we arrived for a visit. Today, Elliott brought me to check out the exhibit. Turns out, the executive director of La Casita is Tere Paniagua, daughter of Reinaldo Paniagua—former owner of the Cangrejeros de Santurce. The Paniagua family has provided some awesome artifacts.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

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

In 11 major league seasons, Wilson went 121–109 with a 3.69 ERA. In 740 career at-bats, he crushed 35 home runs and drove in 111 runs. In retirement, he served as an executive for BAT (Baseball Assistance Team), providing support to retired players in need.

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

Not even counting his excellent hitting, his 5.9 pitching WAR led the AL. Wilson followed up his 18–11, 3.27, 200-K split season by tying for the major league lead in wins in 1967. He went 22-11 with a 3.27 ERA, striking out 184—the 3rd season in a row where he finished in the Top 10 in whiffs.

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

Wilson went 56-58 in 7 seasons for the Red Sox, posting a 4.10 ERA. A trade to the Detroit Tigers in June 1966 breathed new life into Wilson. Just 5-5 with a 3.84 ERA at the time of the trade, he went 13-6 the rest of the way, dropping his ERA but a full run. He also blasted 7 homers on the season.

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

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 · 02/10/2026

Luckily I’m not a complete set collector 😂

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

Marcano has an interesting story as the first Venezuelan player to appear in NPB… bsky.app/profile/adar...

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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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Reposted by Adam Darowski

Jacob Pomrenke @buckweaver.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Today SABR launched an incredible new book and companion website on Baseball at Manzanar: How We Played the Game, 1942-1945. It’s the story of 120,000 Japanese Americans who were removed from their homes after Pearl Harbor and forced to live at remote incarceration camps: sabr.org/baseball-at-...

Cover image for SABR’s “Baseball at Manzanar: How We Played the Game, 1942-1945,” edited by Russ Speiller and James Forr.

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

+1 what a time that was. I definitely have the job I have now because of a fun side project from that time period (Hall of Stats).

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

The last thing I want to do is let them decide where I’m going 😂

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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

Doing a little something special for Hispanic Heritage Month at the moment.

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

Watching the playoffs and writing about a Cuban baseball player who won a batting title in 1887 and was later [adjusts glasses] killed by attack dogs during the Guerrita de Agosto in 1906. 😳

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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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

That one is my favorite—the my second favorite may be the one that just came in (middle one).

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I’m still very much enjoying their Cuban and Mexican lines.

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

1967 Topps Venezuelan 1970 Ovenca Venezuelan 1970 Ovenca Venezuelan (w/Gustavo Sposito) 1972-73 Venezuelan Stickers 1973-74 Venezuelan Stickers 1974-75 Venezuelan Stickers 1976-77 Venezuelan Stickers 1977-78 Venezuelan Stickers 1977-78 Venezuelan Stickers (w/Roberto Muñoz)

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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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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Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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 · 29/09/2026

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

Then 68-70 is a ridiculous relief peak

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

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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Reposted by Adam Darowski

Baseball Reference @baseball-reference.com · 28/09/2026

Opened Sports Reference Hub this morning and noticed a lot of no-hitters in the On This Day widget… No date in baseball history has had more no-hitters than 9/28. 🤯 Customize your FREE Hub now: info.sports-reference.com/hub?utm_c…

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

Oof. Hadn’t thought about that in a while, but… oof.

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