Teolindo Antonio Acosta Lázaro (July 23, 1937 — August 2, 2004) was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. Listed at 5' 7", 168 lb., he batted and threw left handed.[1]
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Acosta and the second or maternal family name is Lázaro.
Acosta was a distinguished batter in his homeland. As a result, many people called him, in friendly way, as El Loquito que Inventó el Hit (the tiny crazy who invented the hit).[2]
Acosta broke into minor league baseball with the Class-D Dothan Cardinals of the Alabama–Florida League in 1958, batting .313 with 76 RBI and a league-leading 36 stolen bases in 124 games. For whatever reason, the parent Cincinnati Reds assigned him to Dothan for a second season in 1959, and he responded by bopping out a .337 average and again led the circuit with 46 steals. Sufficiently impressed, the Reds moved Acosta up to the Billings Mustangs of the Class C Pioneer League the next season, where he topped the loop with a .369 average (the first of his five pro batting crowns) and 45 swipes. He leapfrogged over B ball in 1961 to play for Class A Columbia Reds of the South Atlantic League, and once more was best in the league in batting (.343) and steals (40), marking his fourth consecutive stolen base titles.
Venezuelan Winter League (1956–1979)
Teolindo Acosta belong to a selected list of baseball players in Venezuela, who are in the top of several offensive departments; Acosta is the third in the list of most games played (1130); third in plate appearances (4324); he is fourth in Run scored (604); also he is third in hits (1289); additionally, is in the second place in Triples (56) and fourth in stolen bases (121). Along his long career of twenty three years in the Venezuelan winter league, Acosta won two batting titles. In between, he spent part of the 1959–1960 season with the Gavilanes and Rapiños clubs of the rival Occidental League.
Mexico League (1968–1976)
Acosta was one of the top batters in Mexican baseball for nine seasons between 1968 and 1976, winning three batting titles in a six-year span. Never a power hitter, the 5’6" 158-pound outfielder was a contact hitter who rarely struck out and sprayed the ball all over the field, similar in fashion to Rod Carew.
He cooled off a bit over the next few seasons, batting between .269 and 294 from 1962 through 1966, and after only hitting .238 for Buffalo of the International League over 49 games in 1967, he moved south to Mexico for the 1968 campaign with Puebla.
Acosta found his footing in the Mexican League, bettering .320 his first eight seasons. He hit .325 for the Pericos in 1968, followed by a Liga batting crown with a .354 average in 1969. Despite that, he moved on to Yucatán in 1970. After hitting .337 that season (including one game in which he went 6-for-6 with six runs), he was the top hitter in Mexico in 1971 with a career-high .392 BA and followed up with a solid .346 season in 1972. Acosta returned to Puebla during his .375 campaign in 1973, and won his fifth and final batting championship in 1974 with a .366 showing. After hitting .320 for Villahermosa in 1975, he wrapped up his career as a 39-year-old with Nuevo Laredo in 1976 by batting .276, his only sub-.300 season in nine Mexican League campaigns.
The left-handed Acosta carried a lifetime .328 average in 19 seasons of professional baseball, collecting 2,724 hits with 64 homers and 389 stolen bases. He did even better in Mexico, knocking out a .345 batting average (sixth-best lifetime in the Liga) with 132 stolen bases. He led all of professional baseball in batting in 1971 and 1974. Despite these figures, he is not a member of Mexican baseball's Salon de la Fama.
Career statistics
Note: Some statistics are incomplete because there are no records available.
Acosta, basically was sharing his time as active baseball player between México and Venezuela, and after 23 seasons, he decided to hung up his spikes in 1979 while he was playing with Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan winter league. Acosta retired with a lifetime .298 average, and five batting crowns in his pocket, two batting titles he won in Venezuela and the rest of them in México.
After retiring from winter ball in 1979, Acosta settled down in Valencia where died from heart problems on August 2, 2004 at 67.
Treto Cisneros, Pedro (2002). The Mexican League/La Liga Mexicana: Comprehensive Player Statistics, 1937–2001. McFarland & Company. ISBN978-0-78-641378-2
Mexican Baseball Stars by John Phillips
Nuñez, José Antero (1994). Serie del Caribe de la Habana a Puerto la Cruz. JAN Editor. ISBN980-07-2389-7
Gutiérrez, Daniel; Alvarez, Efraim; Gutiérrez (h), Daniel (1997). La Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela.
Gutiérrez, Daniel; Alvarez, Efraim; Gutiérrez (h), Daniel (2006). La Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela. LVBP, Caracas. ISBN980-6996-02-X
External links
player information from museodebeisbol.org(in Spanish)
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics
January 12, 2023
teolindo, acosta, teolindo, antonio, acosta, lázaro, july, 1937, august, 2004, venezuelan, professional, baseball, player, listed, batted, threw, left, handed, outfielderborn, 1937, july, 1937maracaibo, zulia, venezueladied, august, 2004, 2004, aged, valencia,. Teolindo Antonio Acosta Lazaro July 23 1937 August 2 2004 was a Venezuelan professional baseball player Listed at 5 7 168 lb he batted and threw left handed 1 Teolindo AcostaOutfielderBorn 1937 07 23 July 23 1937Maracaibo Zulia VenezuelaDied August 2 2004 2004 08 02 aged 67 Valencia Carabobo VenezuelaBatted LeftThrew LeftTeamsAguilas del Zulia Venezuela baseball league Cardenales de Lara Venezuela baseball league Industriales de Valencia Venezuela baseball league Leones de Yucatan Mexico baseball league Licoreros de Pampero Venezuela baseball league Llaneros de Acarigua Venezuela baseball league Pericos de Puebla Mexico baseball league Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo Mexico baseball league Tigres de Aragua Venezuela baseball league Cardenales de Villahermosa Mexico baseball league Career highlights and awards2 Venezuelan league batting champion 1957 1958 1965 1966 3 Mexican league batting champion 1969 1971 1974 Two Caribbean Series appearances 1960 1972 Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 2006 In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Acosta and the second or maternal family name is Lazaro Acosta was a distinguished batter in his homeland As a result many people called him in friendly way as El Loquito que Invento el Hit the tiny crazy who invented the hit 2 His skills were shown in his motherland with the Aguilas del Zulia Cardenales de Lara Industriales de Valencia Licoreros de Pampero Llaneros de Acarigua and Tigres de Araguaof the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League Besides Acosta played nine seasons in the Mexican League for the Leones de Yucatan Pericos de Puebla Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo and Cardenales de Villahermosa now known as Olmecas de Tabasco Along his prolific career of 23 years Acosta won five batting crowns two of them in his motherland and the rest of them in Mexico Contents 1 Professional career 1 1 Early years 1 2 Venezuelan Winter League 1956 1979 1 3 Mexico League 1968 1976 2 Career statistics 2 1 Batting 2 2 The Sunset of Warrior 3 Honors and Acknowledgments 4 Sources 5 External linksProfessional career EditEarly years Edit Acosta broke into minor league baseball with the Class D Dothan Cardinals of the Alabama Florida League in 1958 batting 313 with 76 RBI and a league leading 36 stolen bases in 124 games For whatever reason the parent Cincinnati Reds assigned him to Dothan for a second season in 1959 and he responded by bopping out a 337 average and again led the circuit with 46 steals Sufficiently impressed the Reds moved Acosta up to the Billings Mustangs of the Class C Pioneer League the next season where he topped the loop with a 369 average the first of his five pro batting crowns and 45 swipes He leapfrogged over B ball in 1961 to play for Class A Columbia Reds of the South Atlantic League and once more was best in the league in batting 343 and steals 40 marking his fourth consecutive stolen base titles Venezuelan Winter League 1956 1979 Edit Teolindo Acosta belong to a selected list of baseball players in Venezuela who are in the top of several offensive departments Acosta is the third in the list of most games played 1130 third in plate appearances 4324 he is fourth in Run scored 604 also he is third in hits 1289 additionally is in the second place in Triples 56 and fourth in stolen bases 121 Along his long career of twenty three years in the Venezuelan winter league Acosta won two batting titles In between he spent part of the 1959 1960 season with the Gavilanes and Rapinos clubs of the rival Occidental League Mexico League 1968 1976 Edit Acosta was one of the top batters in Mexican baseball for nine seasons between 1968 and 1976 winning three batting titles in a six year span Never a power hitter the 5 6 158 pound outfielder was a contact hitter who rarely struck out and sprayed the ball all over the field similar in fashion to Rod Carew He cooled off a bit over the next few seasons batting between 269 and 294 from 1962 through 1966 and after only hitting 238 for Buffalo of the International League over 49 games in 1967 he moved south to Mexico for the 1968 campaign with Puebla Acosta found his footing in the Mexican League bettering 320 his first eight seasons He hit 325 for the Pericos in 1968 followed by a Liga batting crown with a 354 average in 1969 Despite that he moved on to Yucatan in 1970 After hitting 337 that season including one game in which he went 6 for 6 with six runs he was the top hitter in Mexico in 1971 with a career high 392 BA and followed up with a solid 346 season in 1972 Acosta returned to Puebla during his 375 campaign in 1973 and won his fifth and final batting championship in 1974 with a 366 showing After hitting 320 for Villahermosa in 1975 he wrapped up his career as a 39 year old with Nuevo Laredo in 1976 by batting 276 his only sub 300 season in nine Mexican League campaigns The left handed Acosta carried a lifetime 328 average in 19 seasons of professional baseball collecting 2 724 hits with 64 homers and 389 stolen bases He did even better in Mexico knocking out a 345 batting average sixth best lifetime in the Liga with 132 stolen bases He led all of professional baseball in batting in 1971 and 1974 Despite these figures he is not a member of Mexican baseball s Salon de la Fama Career statistics EditNote Some statistics are incomplete because there are no records available Bold denotes category leader Batting Edit Season Team League GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG Ref1956 1957 Licoreros de Pampero LVBP 21 42 12 10 0 1 0 3 0 238 286 3 1957 1958 Licoreros de Pampero LVBP 38 148 35 57 4 2 1 11 3 385 459 3 1958 1959 Licoreros de Pampero LVBP 45 188 30 63 9 4 0 15 7 335 426 3 1959 1960 Gavilanes de MaracaiboRapinos de Occidente LOBP 18 71 12 19 4 0 1 11 3 268 352 3 1959 1960 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 29 106 16 31 2 1 0 10 5 292 330 3 1960 1961 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 46 172 27 47 1 0 0 11 8 273 279 3 1961 1962 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 49 198 30 65 5 1 2 18 5 328 394 3 1962 1963 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 39 169 32 54 7 6 0 12 8 320 432 3 1963 1964 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 45 174 24 48 4 4 0 20 13 276 345 3 1964 1965 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 48 195 29 63 7 1 0 11 6 323 369 3 1965 1966 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 55 221 34 77 8 1 0 14 8 348 394 3 1966 1967 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 59 229 29 66 6 2 0 15 5 288 332 3 1967 1968 Industriales de Valencia LVBP 46 182 26 51 6 2 0 3 4 280 335 3 1968 Pericos de Puebla LMB 99 354 53 115 16 6 4 39 15 325 438 4 1968 1969 Llaneros de Acarigua LVBP 59 230 27 73 7 2 0 14 13 317 365 3 1969 Pericos de Puebla LMB 142 534 87 189 29 9 6 82 18 354 476 4 1969 1970 Aguilas del Zulia LVBP 52 192 20 46 6 1 0 5 4 240 281 3 1970 Leones de Yucatan LMB 140 469 76 158 26 14 3 55 14 337 471 4 1970 1971 Aguilas del Zulia LVBP 21 68 8 21 2 1 0 2 0 309 368 3 1970 1971 Tigres de Aragua LVBP 35 139 22 49 7 5 1 19 4 353 496 3 1971 Leones de Yucatan LMB 133 441 75 173 22 11 7 71 17 392 540 4 1971 1972 Tigres de Aragua LVBP 60 242 31 68 6 4 0 17 5 281 339 3 1972 Leones de Yucatan LMB 134 492 77 170 25 11 4 51 11 346 465 4 1972 1973 Tigres de Aragua LVBP 60 251 37 74 7 5 0 14 6 295 363 3 1973 Leones de Yucatan LMB 121 419 64 157 17 8 9 66 11 375 518 4 1973 1974 Tigres de Aragua LVBP 59 225 40 82 6 6 1 27 0 364 458 3 1974 Pericos de Puebla LMB 122 464 93 170 17 6 2 43 20 366 442 4 1974 1975 Tigres de Aragua LVBPL 57 213 17 50 3 0 0 15 0 235 249 3 1975 Villahermosa LMB 109 416 43 133 9 8 0 30 19 320 380 5 1975 1976 Tigres de Aragua LVBP 59 231 24 65 5 4 0 15 3 281 338 3 1976 Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo LMB 101 384 48 106 5 0 0 19 7 276 289 4 1976 1977 Tigres de Aragua LVBP 41 126 8 24 0 1 0 10 5 190 206 3 1977 1978 Cardenales de Lara LVBP 63 237 39 67 5 2 0 27 7 283 321 3 1978 1979 Cardenales de Lara LVBP 44 146 7 38 3 0 0 10 2 260 281 3 The Sunset of Warrior Edit Acosta basically was sharing his time as active baseball player between Mexico and Venezuela and after 23 seasons he decided to hung up his spikes in 1979 while he was playing with Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan winter league Acosta retired with a lifetime 298 average and five batting crowns in his pocket two batting titles he won in Venezuela and the rest of them in Mexico After retiring from winter ball in 1979 Acosta settled down in Valencia where died from heart problems on August 2 2004 at 67 Honors and Acknowledgments EditIn 2006 Acosta received the honor of induction into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 1 Sources Edit a b Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Teolindo Acosta Biography Archived from the original on 2013 12 03 Spanish Gutierrez Daniel Alvarez Efraim Gutierrez h Daniel 2006 La Enciclopedia del Beisbol en Venezuela LVBP Caracas ISBN 980 6996 02 X a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Purapelota com Teolindo Acosta LVBP Statistics a b c d e f g h Estadiscaslmb com Teolindo Acosta LMB Statistics Baseball Reference MiLB Teolindo Acosta statistics Treto Cisneros Pedro 2002 The Mexican League La Liga Mexicana Comprehensive Player Statistics 1937 2001 McFarland amp Company ISBN 978 0 78 641378 2 Mexican Baseball Stars by John Phillips Nunez Jose Antero 1994 Serie del Caribe de la Habana a Puerto la Cruz JAN Editor ISBN 980 07 2389 7 Gutierrez Daniel Alvarez Efraim Gutierrez h Daniel 1997 La Enciclopedia del Beisbol en Venezuela Gutierrez Daniel Alvarez Efraim Gutierrez h Daniel 2006 La Enciclopedia del Beisbol en Venezuela LVBP Caracas ISBN 980 6996 02 XExternal links EditTeolindo Acosta player information from museodebeisbol org in Spanish Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Teolindo Acosta amp oldid 1113962236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
