Coming soon: Cuban League stats online

Fans of baseball statistics have something to look forward to.

From my colleague Bob Kimball, on USA TODAY's Game On! blog, came word recently that two historians -- Chicago limousine dispatcher Scott Simkus, 39, and North Carolina book editor Gary Ashwill, 42 -- are combining on a four-year project to put Negro League statistics from 1900 to 1948 on Baseball-Reference.com.

As part of that project, the pair also hopes to have Cuban Winter League stats from 1904 to 1913 posted by the end of the year, including what was dubbed "The American Series," which included major league teams and stars such as Ty Cobb (right in 1910) and Babe Ruth playing in Cuba.

In his 2007 book, Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Jorge S. Figueredo compiled player-by-player statistics for Cuban, Negro League and "North American" players who participated in Cuba's Winter League over the years.

But Simkus and Ashwill's project would provide the first sortable online statistics from baseball in Cuba.

Can't wait.